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Sprouts are the healthiest addition to meals when you're looking to cut down some pounds from your weight, savour plant-based protein and improve digestion. There are many benefits to eating sprouts every day, which is why nutritionists prescribe them in everyday diets.
However, when it comes to buying sprouts from the supermarket, it may not be convenient. The sprouts you buy from the market or grocery store have many disadvantages, like food safety concerns, hygiene conditions, limited shelf life, chemical contamination and the risk of rotting easily. Therefore, growing and making sprouts at home may be a more efficient option.
Generally all viable seeds, from legumes to spices, can be sprouted and added to recipes. Some example include kidney beans, moth beans, mustard seeds, broccoli seeds, sunflower seeds and so on. Different seeds require different time period to sprout but normally it takes 3 to 7 days. Some sprouts like kidney beans need to be cooked before eaten, whereas others can be savoured raw after rinsing. You can add these sprouts to your meals in many ways including salads, stir fries, garnish, burgers and wraps.
When you have control over the conditions and hygiene and have the assurance of freshness, homegrown sprouts naturally become a perfect choice. If you're thinking it requires a caboodle of equipment and the process is fussy, here are some tips you can follow to make growing sprouts easy.
9 Tips To Follow When Growing Sprouts At Home
1) Choose Quality Seeds
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First and foremost, you need to check what you're sowing. The seeds of low quality and damage, which have a chance of being infested with insects and treated with chemicals, are certainly not suitable for making sprouts. Before you sow the sprouts, make sure every seed is in good condition and is less likely to be treated with chemicals. Be it green gram, Bengal gram, etc., select organic seeds rather than packaged ones.
2) Select Suitable Containers
A clean glass jar, muslin cloth or a specialised sprouting container with drainage holes to grow your sprouts must be used. Make sure the container is large enough to allow the sprouts to expand and have good airflow.
3) Pre-soak the Seeds
Before you sow the sprouts, make sure they are presoaked. Seeds usually require 8–12 hours or overnight, to soak up the water through osmosis. This helps to kickstart the sprouting process and soften the seeds' outer shell.
4) Rinse and Drain
It is important to rinse and drain the soaked seeds with fresh water to prevent mould and bacterial growth. After soaking, drain the seeds and rinse them with fresh water. Repeat the process 2-3 times a day, depending on the climate and the type of seeds you are sowing.
5) Provide Adequate Air Circulation
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Keep the sprout container in a well-ventilated area to ensure proper circulation of air. Avoid stacking multiple sprout containers on top of one another to make sure the airflow is not impeded. As seeds require air and carbon dioxide to grow, staking them closely packed can build up excess moisture and lead to rotting.
6) Keep Moist But Not Waterlogged
Sprouts naturally need moisture to germinate and grow, but as said above, excess moisture and water can lead to rotting. Therefore, make sure the sprouting container drains well and remove any excess water after rinsing.
7) Control Temperature and Light
The moderately correct temperature to grow sprouts is about 70°F or 21°C, along with indirect sunlight. To make sure the sprouts grow easily, try to keep the surroundings slightly humid. Avoid exposing the sprouts to direct sunlight, as it can dry them out and make them overheat.
8) Harvest at the Right Time
Sprouts generally take 3–7 days to germinate completely. Therefore, harvest your sprouts after 3 or 7 days. The time period can differ based on the type of seeds and the desired length. When you feel you have achieved the proper length of sprouts, you can harvest them and add them to meals.
9) Store Properly And Practise Good Hygiene
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Once the sprouts are harvested, rinse them one more time and drain thoroughly. Store them in a clean container in the refrigerator, where they can stay fresh for a few days without growing further. Always rinse them before consuming. Wash your hands well before handling sprouts and sanitise the sprouting equipment regularly to prevent bacterial contamination.
With these nine easy tips, you can grow sprouts at home efficiently. Growing sprouts at home is not only a good solution for keeping them fresh; it also gives you a sense of control and freedom of variety without being dependent on supermarkets.
