How to Cook Edamame

Co-authored by Hunter Rising

Last Updated: May 6, 2021 References Approved

Edamame are young soybean pods packed with protein that make delicious snacks or side dishes. You can cook a great and healthy snack in a few minutes when you buy them fresh or frozen. Whether you want to enjoy them boiled, steamed, or pan-fried, bring edamame into your next dinner!

Ingredients

Boiled Edamame

3 US quarts (2,800 ml) of water
1 teaspoon (5 g) of salt
2 pounds (910 g) of frozen edamame pods

Makes 6-8 servings

Steamed Edamame

1 cup (135 g) of edamame
4 cups (950 ml) of water
Salt to flavor

Makes 2 servings

Pan-Fried Edamame

1 pound (450 g) of edamame
2 tablespoons (30 ml) of sesame oil
2 tablespoons (30 ml) of soy sauce
3 cloves of minced garlic
⅛ teaspoon (0.23 g) of red pepper flakes

Makes 3 servings

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Making Boiled Edamame

1
Heat 3 US qt (2,800 ml) of water to a boil. Put the water in a large pot and add 1 teaspoon (5 g) of salt for flavor. Bring the water to a steady boil over high heat on your stove.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- Put in more salt if you want to add more flavor.
2
Pour 2 lb (910 g) of frozen edamame pods into the water. Take the edamame right out of the freezer and put them into the pot. Stir the pods around to mix them in the water. Cook the edamame until the beans inside the pods are tender. Break apart one of the bean pods after about 5 minutes to see if the beans are tender.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- You may also use fresh edamame if you have it.
Advertisement
3
Strain the edamame once the beans are tender. Set a strainer in your sink and pour your edamame into it. Wait for the boiling water to completely drain out before handling the pods. Be careful–they will be hot!^{[3]
X
Research source}
4
Serve the edamame with salt. Transfer the edamame into a large serving bowl and sprinkle them with salt to your desired flavor. Break apart the pods and enjoy the delicious beans inside.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- You can serve edamame hot or let it chill in the fridge for up to 4 hours.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Making Steamed Edamame

1
Fill a steamer pot halfway with water and bring it to a boil. Pour 4 cups (950 ml) of water into the bottom section of the steamer pot. Turn the heat on your stove onto high and let the water come to a boil. Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat down to medium.^{[5]
X
Research source}
- Steamer pots are available at your local kitchen goods store.
2
Place 1 cup (135 g) of edamame in your steamer rack. You can use edamame that’s either fresh or frozen. The steamer rack is a small bowl that sits inside the steamer pot. Rinse the edamame under cold water to quickly clean them. Shake the excess water out of the rack.^{[6]
X
Research source}
3
Put the steamer rack in the pot and cover it for 5 minutes. Rest the lip of the steamer rack on the edge of the pot. Immediately cover the pot to keep the steam inside. Let the edamame cook for at least 5 minutes or until the bean pods are tender.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- If the bean pods are not fully cooked after 5 minutes, keep them in the steamer pot for an additional 2 minutes before checking them again.
4
Plunge the bean pods into ice water to stop the cooking process. Hold the steamer rack with oven mitts and dip the entire rack into a bowl filled with ice water. Take the rack out of the bowl immediately so the beans don’t get too cold. Sprinkle salt on the bean pods to flavor them.^{[8]
X
Research source}
- Edamame can be served hot or cold.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Making Pan-Fried Edamame

1
Combine the soy sauce, garlic, and red pepper flakes. In a mixing bowl, pour in your sauce and spices. Stir them together until they are thoroughly mixed.^{[9]
X
Research source}
- Grate a knob of ginger into the sauce for added flavor.
- Adjust the amount of spices to however hot you can handle.
2
Place the skillet over high heat with sesame oil. Turn on your kitchen’s exhaust fan so it doesn’t get smoky. Heat the oil on your skillet until it’s steaming and bubbling. Move the oil around the pan so it doesn’t burn.^{[10]
X
Research source}
3
Add the edamame to the hot pan and let them blister for 1-2 minutes. Once you put the edamame into the skillet, don’t move them around. Let the edamame sear and blacken on one side to add a char flavor.^{[11]
X
Research source}
- Add the edamame slowly so the oil doesn’t splash out and burn you.
- You can use fresh or frozen edamame.
4
Mix in the soy sauce mixture with the edamame for 2-3 minutes. Slowly pour the soy sauce into the same skillet as the edamame. Let the edamame simmer in the sauce so they can absorb the flavor.^{[12]
X
Research source}
- Use a mixing spoon to coat all of the edamame pods.
- If the skillet starts bubbling too much, you can turn the heat down on your stove.
5
Serve the edamame in a serving bowl. Transfer the edamame into your serving bowl and eat them while they're warm. For a hint of fresh flavor, squeeze a wedge of lime over the edamame.^{[13]
X
Research source}
- Don’t eat the pods since they have a tough and chewy texture.

Community Q&A

Question

Do I remove the beans from their pods while eating them?

Community Answer

Yes, you can squeeze the edamame beans out of the pods. They will easily pop out.
Question

Can I season edamane with anything else besides or in addition to salt?

Community Answer

Soy sauce and/or Japanese "white" sauce (shrimp sauce), or duck sauce are all nice. Or, try garlic powder or vegetable salt. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top.
Question

Can I eat the pods after cooking?

Community Answer

You can eat the pods, but they are very woody and hard to eat. They are primarily the vehicle to get the bean to your mouth. I suck on them. That is where the seasonings are.