In-shell Edemame

Test date: July 2010

Testers: Michele and husband Marc

Products for this test purchased at QFC, Whole Foods, Albertsons, Fred Meyer, and Trader Joe's.

Note: All products cooked according to package directions, except as otherwise noted below.

MICHELE'S OPINION: This test really highlighted the BAD options rather than easily highlighting a BEST product. If you're a Whole Foods shopper, stay away from the 365 option. Others are equally good. If you go to Trader Joe's, we both prefer the Touch of Salt option. There were a few bad ones (365, Trader Joe's All Natural, Private Selection Edemame Pods), and all the rest had a slightly different flavor but were just fine to eat. Read on for more details on price, nutrition, taste, and the taste test winner:

PRICE COMPARISON FOR 16OZ OF EDEMAME (store first, then brand):
$5.58 Whole Foods Columbia River
$3.68 QFC Private Selection, 4 Individual Packs
$3.42 Whole Foods Seapoint Farms
$2.49 Fred Meyer Private Selection Steam Select
$2.05 Albertsons Shirakiku
$1.69 Trader Joe's All Natural High Fiber
$1.69 Trader Joe-san's Edemam in a Shell with a Touch of Salt
$1.69 Whole Foods 365 Organic

1. Shirakiku Boiled Soy Bean Edamame: This product tastes a bit undercooked and firm. However, I cooked them according to package directions and they required the longest cooking time of all of the products! They have a nice soy flavor and a crisp light consistency. Marc likes these a lot.

2. Private Selection Edamame Pods, 4 Individual Packs: This is a microwave-only pack, with no stovetop directions. They tasted a bit undercooked, but have a sweet taste. Unfortunately though, I guess since they are microwaved in their plastic bag, they taste a bit like plastic as well.

3. Private Selection Steam Select Edamame: These are not as sweet as the other Private Selection product above. Marc likes these a lot.

4. Trader Joe's All Natural High Fiber Edamame: These taste earthy and bit grainy. Not great.

5. Trader Joe-San's Edamame in a Shell with a Touch of Salt: This product only gives microwave instructions, and once I completed those, the pods were still frozen so I had to nuke them for another minute. They have a sweet and light crunch, they are not grainy like the other Trader Joe's product. Marc thinks these are somewhat mealy. I like them a lot!

6. Seapoint Farms Edamame Organic Soybeans in Pods: These have a rich soy flavor and a firm consistency. I like these a lot.

7. 365 Organic Edamame: These have a mealy, beany flavor. Not great.

8. Columbia River Organic Edamame: These pods are  considerably smaller than the other products and after cooking many of the shells had opened and the beans fell out. They have a very nutty flavor and are lightly crisp. Marc likes these; they have a unique taste compared to the other options.

NUTRITIONAL NOTES: Very surprisingly, these products have differing levels of calories, fat, and protein per 75-85g (about a 1/2 cup). Calories range from 80-120, fat ranges from 3-5g, and protein fluctuates from 9-13g. For the lowest calorie option, go for Columbia River Organics. For the highest protein punch, choose the 365 product (although they don't taste very good; for the next highest protein content that tastes better, go for the Trader Joe's product or Shirakiku, which have 10g per serving).

 

TASTE WINNER: Shirakiku, Private Selection Steam Select, Trader Joe's with Salt, Seapoint Farms, or Columbia River Organic