Edamame vs Soybean: Difference and Comparison

Soybeans belong to the legume family and are a very popular food crop, whereas edamame is an immature soybeans and is now gaining importance in Western countries.

Key Takeaways

1. Edamame is a soybean that is harvested early, while soybean is harvested after it has matured fully.
2. Edamame is a popular snack in Japanese cuisine and is served boiled and salted. In contrast, soybean produces various food products, including tofu, soy milk, and soy sauce.
3. Edamame has a higher protein and lower fat content than soybean, making it a healthier snack option.

 Edamame vs Soybean

Edamame are also known as vegetable soybeans, which are immature soybeans that are boiled, steamed, and served with condiments. It is a Japanese dish. Soybean is a legume that is native to East Asia but widely grown for its edible bean, which is used to make soy milk, tofu and more.

Edamame beans, which are referred to as vegetable soybeans, are a type of soybean preparation. This immature is a very popular dish in Japan.

Soybeans are legumes that constitute an important component of the Asian Diet. It is considered the World`s most popular food crop. Soybeans can be consumed in a variety of ways, such as tofu, milk, and many other products.

 Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Edamame	Soybean
Consumption	Edamame is consumed as a fresh steamed vegetable	Soybeans are cooked or are fermented
Color and taste	Green and sweet can be eaten raw as vegetables	Yellow, black or brown, has a crunchy and nutty taste.it must be cooked or processed
Nutritional value	The carbohydrate content in edamame beans are 3% D per 100 gram, and the fat content is about 9g per 100 g	The carbohydrate content in soybean is 10% DV per 100 grams, whereas the fat content is 19.9 g per 100 g
Uses	The edamame beans are mainly used by humans	Soybeans have several industrial benefits, which include soy milk, tofu, etc.
Cost	The edamame beans are quite expensive because they grow on a small scale	The soybeans are cheaper as compared to edamame because of their large-scale production

What is Edamame?

Edamame is an immature soybean that is gaining widespread importance in various Western countries. There are a few other types of edamame as well that are named as follows: tempeh, miso, and tamari.

It is an optimal choice for vegans because it is a rich source of protein and iron, and these two key nutrients are found in meat. Several other health benefits include the maintenance and support of bone health, improved glucose tolerance, etc.

What is Soybean?

Soybeans belong to the legume family and are one of the most widely grown beans with well-known nutritional properties. It is also referred to as vegetable meat because the amino acid content is almost equal to meat, milk, or egg proteins.

Soybeans contain phytochemical compounds such as phytonutrients and antioxidants that show various health benefits. The health benefits of soybeans are cancer, which is one of the leading causes of death in our society.

Soybeans have an exceptional nutritional value. It is the only plant food with a wide range of protein, carbohydrates, and fat content. Not only is it beneficial to humans but also animals.

 Main Differences Between Edamame and Soybean

1. The edamame can be stored as a fresh vegetable or can be stored frozen at low temperatures, whereas soybeans are stored in large bins or bunny bags.
2. Edamame is expensive because it grows at a small scale and requires various equipment, labour, and transportation costs.

References

1. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1745-4565.2008.00121.x
2. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf035053p

Last Updated : 26 August, 2023