Protein head-to-heads · July 2026
Edamame vs Ground beef 90/10 (raw): which protein is cheaper?
USDA macros joined to current US grocery prices, reduced to the two numbers that decide it: dollars per gram of protein, and protein per calorie.
Edamame is 1.7x cheaper per gram of protein ($0.033/g vs $0.055/g), while Ground beef 90/10 (raw) is the leaner choice at 11.4 g protein per 100 kcal against 9.9 g. Budget favours one, a calorie cap favours the other.
| Food | $/g protein | 30 g protein costs | You need | kcal that come with it | Protein/100 kcal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edamame | $0.033 | $1.00 | 250 g | 303 kcal | 9.9 g |
| Ground beef 90/10 (raw) | $0.055 | $1.65 | 150 g | 264 kcal | 11.4 g |
Full macros, per serving
| Food (per serving) | Price | kcal | Protein | Carbs | Fat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edamame (100 g) | $0.40 | 121 | 12 g | 9 g | 5 g |
| Ground beef 90/10 (raw) (100 g) | $1.10 | 176 | 20 g | 0 g | 10 g |
A week of protein from each
Hitting a common 100 g/day protein target from edamame alone costs $23.33 a week; from ground beef 90/10 (raw) alone, $38.50. That is a gap of $15.17 every week for the same protein. In practice you mix sources: the planner computes the cheapest mix for your exact target and calorie cap, live from the same dataset.
Budget says one, calories say the other
Edamame costs $0.033 per gram of protein against $0.055, so it saves $15.17 a week at a 100 g/day target. Ground beef 90/10 (raw) answers a different question: 11.4 g of protein per 100 kcal against 9.9 g, which is what matters once calories, not dollars, are the thing you run out of first.
One of these is a convenience purchase
Ground beef 90/10 (raw) ranks #23 of 25 on cost per gram of protein, near the bottom. It is not a bad food, it is an expensive way to buy protein: $1.65 per 30 g against $1.00 for edamame. If it is in your basket for the protein, swap it. If it is there because it travels well or you enjoy it, that is a different and perfectly good reason.
Compare against other foods
- Edamame vs Oats (dry)Ground beef 90/10 (raw) vs Oats (dry)
- Edamame vs Peanut butterGround beef 90/10 (raw) vs Peanut butter
- Edamame vs Lentils (cooked)Ground beef 90/10 (raw) vs Lentils (cooked)
- Edamame vs Tofu (firm)Ground beef 90/10 (raw) vs Tofu (firm)
- Edamame vs Black beans (cooked)Ground beef 90/10 (raw) vs Black beans (cooked)
- Edamame vs Whey protein (1 scoop)Ground beef 90/10 (raw) vs Whey protein (1 scoop)
- Edamame vs Greek yogurt (nonfat)Ground beef 90/10 (raw) vs Greek yogurt (nonfat)
- Edamame vs Eggs (~2 large)Ground beef 90/10 (raw) vs Eggs (~2 large)
- Edamame vs Chicken breast (raw)Ground beef 90/10 (raw) vs Chicken breast (raw)
- Edamame vs Canned tuna (in water)Ground beef 90/10 (raw) vs Canned tuna (in water)
Frequently asked
- Which is cheaper for protein, edamame or ground beef 90/10 (raw)?
- Edamame, at $0.033 per gram of protein against $0.055 for ground beef 90/10 (raw) (July 2026 US grocery prices). A 30 g protein serving costs $1.00 vs $1.65.
- Which has more protein per calorie, edamame or ground beef 90/10 (raw)?
- Ground beef 90/10 (raw), with 11.4 g protein per 100 kcal against 9.9 g for edamame, 1.1x leaner. That matters when you are cutting and calories are the binding constraint.
- Which should I buy, edamame or ground beef 90/10 (raw)?
- Depends on your constraint. On a tight budget with room in your calories, edamame is cheaper per gram of protein. On a calorie-capped cut, ground beef 90/10 (raw) gives you 1.1x more protein per calorie and is usually worth its $0.055/g price.
Prices are representative US grocery prices as of July 2026; your store will differ. Educational content, not medical or dietary advice. Dataset: free download, CC-BY.