Sprouting

[veggiemre]

I started sprouting so I could have fresh food while backpacking. My set up was minimal - a water bottle with holes cut into the lid and a cloth bag.

Now that I sprout mainly in the comfort of my apartment, I've gotten more toys and gizmos including sprout trays. Mason jars and cheesecloth still serve me well.

My favorite sprouts are clover, lentils, and adzuki beans.

What are your favorite sprouts and methods for sprouting?

[stonecrest]

what different methods for sprouting exist? i'll try some and let you know which is my favorite :) but seriously, i'd be interested in doing some sprouting if i knew how

[Coney]

I failed at my first attempt at sprouting. I haven't tried it since. Does it work in the fridge, or do the seeds have to be room temp? Mine went rancid before they were sprouted. Sad, sad.

[FafaFrappy]

mmmm... sprouted lentils.. :drool:

All I do is soak mine over night in a jar, then I drain it, and rinse it a couple more times/day for 2-3 days, and viola! I have yummy lentil sprouts..

With chickpeas, the only success I have with those is in a collander. Soak them overnight, then set them in a collander, and rinse them a few times/day.

Yum.. sprouts.. :)

[Erin_S2S]

mmmm... sprouted lentils.. :drool:

All I do is soak mine over night in a jar, then I drain it, and rinse it a couple more times/day for 2-3 days, and viola! I have yummy lentil sprouts..

I do the same thing, but with a seed mix (favorite 5) by Sprout-Ease. It's really easy. They never seem to taste as good as the ones in the store, but they suffice.

[veggiemre]

The general method is simple. Soak the seeds for 4-12 hours. Drain seeds and place in a container with some air circulation. Rinse every 6-12 hours until the sprouts are the desired lenght. The differeces are in the soak and rinse times and the type of containers used.

For the most part, seeds won't sprout in the fridge. Wheat and some other cool weather grains might, but it would slow their growth. Room temperture works well for me. I do notice that I get better results if I rinse more often if it is warmer.

I'll have to try the collandar idea for chickpeas. I have sprouted them in a Mason jar, but more often than not, they go bad.

[Coney]

so, do you always have them sitting in water? or just soak them overnight, then keep them in a jar damp from the soaking, and just rinse them a couple times?

I had mine sitting in water for a couple days and they went bad. I'm starting to think I did it wrong. :-/

I want to get it right so I can have healthy cheap food at home. :sunny:

[Oatmeal]

Here is the best sprouting article I found on the net. It's by Tom Billings (yes, the Tom Billings or beyondveg.com). Nevertheless it's good ;)

http://chetday.com/sprouts.html

[Oatmeal]

Jamie, yes you did it wrong :)

The seeds are not supposed to soak and sit in water all the time. You soak overnight, then drain well, and put them back in the (empty, rinsed and drained!) container. You rinse them 1-2 times a day, always draining well. There should be some moisture, but they should not actually sit in water.

Plants need air (oxygen and CO2) to grow, and if the seeds just sit in water, they won't get any, but will eventually rot.

:)

[Coney]

Thanks, dude! I guess I never read that they're not suposed to be underwater, just a bit damp from their swim.

I will take them out of the deep end next time. :up:

[Coney]

IT'S ALIIIIIIIIVE!!!!

HA HA HA HAAAAAAA!!!!!

I sucessfully sprouted LENTILS!!

I feel like Dr. Frankenstein!! I created LIFE!

[juniper]

how do you guys store your sprouts after they're done? Do you just eat them that day? The first day or 2 they're great, but after that they get dry, should I keep them wet even after they're done. I just keep them in a bowl in the refrig. I know that's not the greatest storage idea, but I dont want to put them in plastic. Any ideas?

[MollyGoat]

veggiemre, do sprouts keep well when backpacking? Wow, it would be great, to have fresh food in the backcountry!

[veggiemre]

veggiemre, do sprouts keep well when backpacking? Wow, it would be great, to have fresh food in the backcountry!

Dried beans and seeds keep well and that is what I pack with me. I sprout them as I hike. Clover and alfalfa take 5 days to sprout, so I only take those on long trips. Lentils and quinona only take a couple of days, so I will take them on short trips.

I take one water bottle to soak the seeds in and then a cloth bag to sprout them in. I hang the damp bag on the outside of my pack and rinse the seeds a couple of times a day.

How well the sprouts keep depends on the weather, but I don't usually keep them around long enough for that to matter much.

[Ronelalala]

Dried beans and seeds keep well and that is what I pack with me. I sprout them as I hike. Clover and alfalfa take 5 days to sprout, so I only take those on long trips. Lentils and quinona only take a couple of days, so I will take them on short trips.

I take one water bottle to soak the seeds in and then a cloth bag to sprout them in. I hang the damp bag on the outside of my pack and rinse the seeds a couple of times a day.

How well the sprouts keep depends on the weather, but I don't usually keep them around long enough for that to matter much.
I hike a lot and its allways a problem so I just wanted to give your system my full appreciation. :)

[Meadow]

I sprouted quinoa successfully. Then I used it as I would couscous for a grain salad. It was great. All I used was a mason jar and cheesecloth with a rubber band around the neck. I kept my jar in a semi dark place when sprouting it.

I haven't tried rice yet. Anyone sprout it successfully?

[Coney]

"I haven't tried rice yet. Anyone sprout it successfully?"

Yes, I did. After I succeessfully sprouted my lentils, I got adventurous and tried rice. I have this awesome mixed rice that I soaked overnight, then rinsed 2 times a day for 3 days (I think) and sure 'nuf, they started sprouting. It took them more like 4 days to get to be the length of the grains.
I made a sprouted lentil and sprouted rice salad with avacado and cucumbers and apple cider vinegar.

[mushroom]

Oatmeal, thank you for posting the sprouting link. :)

[Rawmama]

I love my sprout too

For those having trouple with the sprouts starting to rot they are probaly a bit damp still. My method is to soak them in a jar over night. Cover the mouth of the jar with cheescloth and a rubber band then leave the jar mouth facing down on a 45 degree angle. I find a dish drainer perfect for this, then just rinse a couple of times a day.

Hope this can help someone

[Cinnamon toast]

I'm interested in giving this a try. Where do you get the seeds to start with? Are they special or just off the grocery shelf?

Can you sprout flax?

:confused:

[Lelena]

I use the mason jar/cheese clothe method as well. I usually sprout: alfalfa,radish,broccoli mix, wheat, spelt, kamut, lentils, mung beans and chickpeas. I have to lightly cook the peas and beans though as I cannot stand the raw taste of them. For some reason millet never works for me. I'll have to try quinua though.