soyBEANS?

[Kristen]

Well I was at the health supermarket today and picked up all the ingredients I'll need for the rat food. But...I was looking everywhere for soy NUTS, when they have soy BEANS....though the beans do resemble nuts. I got a bunch of them...are they ok to use?

[Kristen]

just moving this up

[RatStalker]

I've fed my rats soybeans, but I don't think they're the same as what you bought.

The ones I use are refrigerated, steamed and look like peas in the pod, sort of.  They're called Edamame Beans & are really popular snacks among the vegetarian set.  LOL!  Anyway, I use those & the rats go NUTS over them.  You "shell" them because the casing isn't edible, and just give them the beans inside.

[Kristen]

Hm, mine look nothing like what you described...they look more like peanuts. So I guess the store just got the labeling wrong. Thanks!

[amymckee]

Soy nuts are soy beans that have been roasted like coffee. They do look a lot like peanuts in this form. There's also dried soybeans, but those are more for humans to put in soup. My rats had no interest whatsoever in dried ones.

As for Edamame beans, are they actually cooked first?

[RatStalker]

I'm pretty sure the Edamame (spelling?  pronunciation?) are steamed first.  The big package I bought at Costco said steamed & seasoned.  

They came in a round plastic "bowl" with a lid for $3.99, and you just open the lid, shell, and eat.  They're really good, and the rats freak out over them.

[Raven Paw]

Now I'm really confused.  I though soy nuts and soy beans were the same thing, and they looked a bit like light brown peas. What exactly am I supposed to get for my ratties?

[DebW]

When I buy soy beans, they are dried and in a bag just like other dry beans.  They need soaked and cooked to be eaten.  I make up a pot full and then lay them on a cookie sheet in the freezer.  Once they're frozen I dump them in a freezer zipper type bag and just defrost and use as needed.

[Suebee]

Soy nuts are roasted soybeans -- they sometimes call them "nuts" to make them more palatable as a snack food -- it's marketing ploy.