If you’re growing edamame beans for the first time you may feel a little unsure about when it is best to harvest them. It’s fairly straightforward – once the pods reach approximately 2-3 inches long you’ll see the shape of the beans forming inside them. The best time to harvest them is when you can see that the beans inside are nice and plump and the outer pod is still very green. When the pods turn more yellow, the beans will be a little overripe but you can still harvest them – it is better to get them while they’re green though!
You can boil or steam the pods whole, and then squeeze out the cooked beans from inside – enjoy them as a snack, or add them to dishes like stir-fries or salads.