Sprouted Beans - How?

[sunpuppy]

I've been(!) reading up about sprouted beans and apparently they're really good for you, with all sorts of nutrients in them and yummy too.

Does anyone know a quick, easy and idiotproof method for growing sprouted beans? I've got some aduki and mung beans that I want to sprout but am not sure what kind of container would be best for them while they're sprouting?

[FluffyMuppet]

Hi sunpuppy,

Aduki beans and mung beans are easy to sprout. The easiest way is to get something like a jam jar, and make a mesh top. You need to soak the beans in water for 25 hours, then drain them (hence the mesh lid). You then need to rinse and drain them at least once (preferably twice) a day until they are ready to eat. The seed cases come off, and need to be separated.

I have a special sprouting jar which has a plastic mesh lid.

Mung bean sprouts won't look like the ones you get in Chinese food - they won't grow straight and they still have the beans attached. The commercial ones are grown under weights to make them straight, apparently.

If you're going to eat sprouts raw then you need to pay attention to the rinsing to keep them fresh.

[rhyddid]

[wulf]

It's a while since I last sprouted things but it was basically putting the beans in the jar just covered by water and then rinsing every day. I used to use peanut butter jars - it's easy to drill through the plastic lids, making lots of holes to drain the water (small holes for alfalfa seeds, larger ones for bigger beans).

Wulf

[Wombat]

Or you can cut the to of the lid out and cover with old panyhose, then screw the lid back on!

Nev

[sunpuppy]

Thanks for the advice everyone - I'm going to have a bash at sprouting over the next few days!

[Wombat]

G'DAY sunpuppy,

From my experience, the important thing is to keep a regular check and remove any beans that start to rot, otherwise they all wind up a very smelly pile of yechh

Nev

[judyofthewoods]

check this thread
http://www.selfsufficientish.com/forum/ ... =sprouting

and this on the downsizer forum
http://forum.downsizer.net/viewtopic.ph ... =sprouting

If you use the jar method you can also just hold a tea strainer over the mouth as you pour off the water, and leave the jar open. I have used that method successfully when I've used jars. But having discovered the method I mentioned in the above threads, I prefer that one.

[Muddypause]

I love the taste of sprouted sunflower seeds

I read this, went and got some sunflower seeds out of the cupboard, and now have a jam jar of sprouting seeds.

How long do I grow them for? They are about 1" long ATM, and some of them are shedding their husks to reveal a tiny pair of leaves (why did I assume that leaves formed on the other end of the sprout?). Do I need to separate the husks, and if so, what is the easiest way?

Finally: Stir-fry? Cooked? Raw? All of these?

[hay331]

I have a great wee book (£5 from Amazon) specifically for sprouting. It has yummy recipes too!

"The Sprouters handbook" by Edward Cairney

Alternately, if anyone has any specific questions about sprouting or would like a particular kind of recipe I can post it here.

[Andy Hamilton]

Or £4.99 from our book people eco logic http://www.eco-logicbooks.com/index.cfm ... iate_id=18

They follow totally ethical practices, including using recycled packaging.

[hay331]

I didn't know about this site for buying books, will use it in future.

I just LOVE this Selfsufficientish website

[Andy Hamilton]

Cheers Hay

If you use the link at the top of the page next top the google ads we get a bit of commision on the books and it helps us keep the site going. You won't have to pay any more either.

[sunpuppy]

Postscript: I grew some mung bean sprouts!! They were delicious, quite nutty tasting, and it was fascinating watching them sprout over a few days.

Took about five days in all, before I lost patience and decided to eat them!

[shiney]

Oh you lot have got me all enthusiastic about sprouting!

I have to say last week in my Abel Cole fruit and veg box delivery, I got some sprouts in a box. They are delish! There's a right mix, chick peas, lentils, mungs and all sorts in there. Anyone else use Abel Cole btw?

I must make a big effort to nip out and get some beans to sprout. I used a big old fashioned plastic sweety jar last time I did some, with some of Nev's tights pulled over the top, secured with a rubber band.