What Are Soybeans Used to Make?

The soybean is a type of legume native to East Asia. The plant has provided staple foods in China and other Asian countries for over 5,000 years, and today, soybeans are used to make many food products all over the world. Few would guess that soybeans are used in dozens of other capacities. Aside from food, soybeans are vital to the production of livestock feed, industrial oils, infant formula, soaps, solvents, clothing and other household objects.

Reasons for Widespread Use

Soybeans are very high in protein, fiber and amino acids. In addition, these proteins are fairly heat-stable, which enables many forms of processing and cooking. Soy (and soy products) tends to be very low in cholesterol and fat and thus are thought to reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, and osteoporosis. Although soybeans were not widely grown outside of Asia until around 1900, the increased industrialization of agricultural systems in the 20th century quickly led to the soybean becoming one of the largest cash crops in the world; the United States now produces over 80 million tons of soybeans each year.

Traditional Soy Foods

The oldest, most common foods made from soy are tofu, tempeh, soy milk and soy sauce. Tofu is made from soy milk in much the same way that cheese is made from milk, by coagulating the milk and processing the curds. Tempeh is made in a similar way, except that the whole bean is used rather than just the milk and consequently the product has a rougher texture and stronger flavor. Soy milk is made from soaking soybeans and then processing them with water. Soy sauce is made by fermenting soybeans and adding grains, water and salt.

Vegetarian Diets

Because soybeans can easily be processed to resemble other foods, they are used widely in meat and dairy substitutes. Today, there are many varieties of soy milk, soy ice cream, soy butter, soy yogurt and soy cheese available at supermarkets. Meat substitutes such as veggie burgers, soy bacon and even soy hot dogs have also become increasingly popular. In addition, many vegetarians use tofu and tempeh as the major protein sources in their diet.

Soy Oil and Soy Meal

Soybean oil is used in many processed foods, and it is also used as a fixative for other essential oils in cosmetic and insect-repellent products. The husks discarded in the production of soybean oil are used to make soybean meal, which is a major source of animal feed in America. Around 98 percent of soybeans grown in America are used for this purpose.

Other Products

Other food products made from soy include soy nuts, soy bars, miso, soy flour and even soy pasta. Soy is also used to make candles, crayons, beauty products, cleaners and floor waxes. Soybean oil is also a major source of American biodiesel.

References

• Stuffed & Starved From Farm to Fork: The Hidden Battle for the World Food System; Raj Patel; 2008.
• History of Soybeans
• Soybeans in the Diet

Resources

• Products Made from Soy
• Soy Foods? It's more than tofu...