Prepare the Edamame:

1. No need to thaw: Take the frozen edamame directly from the freezer—no thawing required! If there’s excessive frost or ice crystals on the pods, you can quickly rinse them under cool water and pat dry with a clean kitchen towel, but this usually isn’t necessary.
2. Season the edamame: Place the frozen edamame in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with 1-2 teaspoons of oil (start with 1 teaspoon and add more if needed). Toss well to coat all the pods evenly. The oil helps the seasonings stick and promotes crisping.
3. Add seasonings: Sprinkle the salt, garlic powder, black pepper, and any optional seasonings over the oiled edamame. Toss again thoroughly to distribute the seasonings evenly across all the pods. Make sure every pod gets some seasoning love!

Air Fry:

4. Preheat the air fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 2-3 minutes. Preheating ensures even cooking and better crisping from the start.
5. Arrange in air fryer: Transfer the seasoned edamame to the air fryer basket in a single layer. It’s okay if they overlap slightly, but try not to pile them too deep. If your air fryer is small, you may need to work in two batches for best results.
6. Air fry: Cook at 400°F for 8-10 minutes total. At the 4-5 minute mark, pause the air fryer and shake the basket or use tongs to toss the edamame around. This ensures even crisping on all sides. Continue cooking until the pods are nicely browned and crispy at the edges with some charred spots. They should look roasted and smell nutty.
7. Check for doneness: The edamame are done when the pods have developed golden-brown, slightly charred spots and feel crispy to the touch. Cooking time may vary slightly depending on your air fryer model and how frozen the edamame were. If they’re not crispy enough after 8 minutes, continue cooking in 1-2 minute increments.
8. Final seasoning: Remove the edamame from the air fryer and transfer to a serving bowl. While they’re still hot, taste one and adjust seasoning if needed—add more salt, a squeeze of lemon juice, or a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Toss to combine.
9. Serve immediately: Serve the air fryer edamame while they’re hot and crispy for the best texture and flavor. Provide a small bowl for discarded pods. To eat, simply pop the beans out of the pods directly into your mouth and discard the pods (they’re not meant to be eaten).