Edamame is a super nutritious and easy to cook healthy snack that is versatile enough to be cooked and enjoyed in a number of ways. If you've recently tried using it for a recipe and have some leftovers, you may be wondering- can you reheat edamame and enjoy it at another time?
I recently tried my hands at quite a few edamame recipes (with my spicy garlic edamame being an all time favorite), and naturally, I had some leftovers. That's when I experimented with and tried out different ways to reheat edamame to preserve its nutritional value and its texture and flavor.
PinI tried reheating both shelled and unshelled edamame and experimented with using the microwave, steam, boiling water and other cooking methods to reheat the humble beans to the best, and I've outlined everything I could in this little post.
Read on to discover the best way to reheat edamame, how you can store edamame leftovers you might have, how to put shelled or unshelled edamame to use and more.
Jump to:
- How Long is Leftover Edamame Good For?
- Can You Reheat Edamame the Next Day?
- How Can I Reheat Leftover Edamame?
How Long is Leftover Edamame Good For?
Edamame is safe to reheat and eat if it is refrigerated well. You'll need to use a clean container, preferably one with an airtight lid to store any leftovers that you might have, and then reheat well to ensure that they are safe to eat.
The leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 2 days, if not more.
Can You Reheat Edamame the Next Day?
You definitely can!
It is absolutely safe to reheat edamame the next day, regardless of the reheating method you're using.
Is it Okay to Reheat Edamame Beans?
It is completely okay to reheat and eat edamame that has been cooked before and stored for later. And then of course, you can also eat edamame cold if you want to.
Remember that the taste of reheated edamame will be slightly different than edamame that has been cooked and served fresh. To improve its taste, you can top it with a seasoning of your choice or some freshly chopped herbs- or both.
How Can I Reheat Leftover Edamame?
There are several ways to reheat edamame. You can choose to use a microwave or an Air Fryer to reheat edamame pods, or reheat edamame in a steamer or in the toaster oven.
Can I Boil Edamame to Reheat it?
PinBest for uncooked, shelled edamame
Yes, you can! Boiling is actually a very easy way to reheat edamame and even cook fresh edamame for that matter. Remember to use plain edamame or edamame without any seasoning on them if you plan to boil and reheat them.
To do this, put the edamame in a pot of boiling water for a few minutes (it usually takes 5 minutes or less) and then remove them on a paper towel for all the excess water to get absorbed.
Let the edamame rest for a minute before enjoying it and putting it to use again.
Can I Reheat Leftover Edamame in the Microwave?
Best for frozen, cooked, unshelled and shelled edamame
The best way to reheat edamame is to microwave the edamame. This method is particularly helpful is you have a seasoning or some sauce (like soy sauce) drizzled over the bean, and you want to reheat it without the risk of all the flavors getting burnt or washed off.
I like to reheat the seasoned edamame in microwave oven for a few minutes until it is ready to eat. Reheating edamame in a microwave also helps preserve its nutrients as opposed to other cooking and reheating methods.
To reheat edamame in the microwave, simply follow these steps.
- Place edamame in a microwave safe container.
- Sprinkle some water on it and cover it with cling wrap. Poke a few holes into the cling wrap to let the steam escape.
- Microwave the edamame for anywhere between 1-7 minutes. If the edamame is at room temperature, it will need just a minute or two in the microwave, while refrigerated and frozen edamame might take longer.
Can I Microwave Frozen Edamame?
You sure can! Just remember that it will take slightly longer to reheat the frozen beans.
Can I Reheat Leftover Edamame in the Air Fryer?
Best for shelled and cooked edamame
Using the Air Fryer is another one of the easiest methods for reheating edamame, and are great if you don't want to fry edamame or reheat edamame by roasting in the oven.
To do this, add the edamame to your Air Fryer basket that has been sprayed with some cooking spray, and reheat it for a few minutes.
You may also want to shake the Air Fryer basket midway through the cooking time to ensure that all the beans have reheated from all sides.
PinCan I Reheat Leftover Edamame in the Oven?
Best for seasoned, shelled and cooked edamame
If you love the crunch and texture of roasted chickpeas, you've got to try roasting edamame too!
As opposed to deep frying edamame, this method can help make edamame retain its nutritional value better.
It's very easy to reheat edamame in the toaster oven. All you need to do is preheat your oven and remove any excess moisture from the surface of the beans before you pop them in the oven.
Roasting can take anywhere between 10-20 minutes depending on how you want the edamame to be in terms of texture.
Can I Reheat Edamame in Steamer?
Best for shelled, unshelled, frozen and cooked edamame
Steaming edamame is a great idea if you're not too keen on boiling the beans and washing away all of the seasonings or getting them all mushy and soft. This is also a great way to reheat frozen edamame.
All you need to do is place the edamame in a steamer basket and cook them for 2-3 minutes if you are using refrigerated edamame.
If you want to reheat or cook frozen edamame, it might take slightly longer- around 8 minutes. Just remember to remove the extra water from frozen edamame before you reheat it.
How Do I Use Leftover Edamame?
If you enjoy popping edamame, and have some leftovers that you want to put to use, here are a few good ideas you can try out.
- You can add the unshelled edamame to your salad bowl to bump up its nutritional value.
- The green beans can also be added to your soups and stews to bring some much need protein into the picture.
- You can sprinkle some seasonings into the boiled or cooked edamame and enjoy it as a healthy snack on its own.
- Your leftover edamame can also be added to your homemade pasta sauce or pesto to make it more healthy and nutritious.
- You can also throw a handful of the edamame into your pasta or rice bowl.
