Salad sprouts are so tasty and good for you. They’re also rather pricey. $4 and up for a teeny box of half-dead grocery sprouts? No thank you.
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Thankfully, growing your own sprouts is easy and fun to do. You need very little- a screw-top jar, some water, and, of course, sprouting seeds! Sprouting seeds can be purchased online or from a local health food store, and they come in many different varieties. While $12-20 for one bag may sound like a lot, the bag will give you way more sprouts than what you could purchase pre-grown for the same amount.
Here’s how to do it:
- Put 2-3 tablespoons of sprouting seeds in a mason jar, covered with about four times as much water. (You could do more or less seeds, depending on how much you’ll eat at one time.) Screw on the lid and leave for about 12 hours at room temperature.
- Drain the seeds through a fine mesh colander or cheesecloth. Rinse very well with water. I like to spray mine with the hose attachment on high. Make sure seeds are well drained from the rinse.
- Put seeds back in the jar and cover with a paper towel and rubber band, or other loose covering that allows for air flow. Leave at room temperature for another 12 hours.
- Every 12 hours or so, re-rinse and drain the seeds. By the second day, you’ll see the beginning of little white sprouts. By day 2-3, the sprouts will grow longer and they are ready for eating.
- When the sprouts are ready to eat, rinse and drain one final time. Store in the refrigerator.
FAQs
What happens if I accidentally skip a rinsing? One skip probably won’t hurt. Don’t make a habit out of it, though. You don’t the sprouts growing mold.
How long can I store sprouts? I’ve never gone more than a week or two before eating them all, but I’d say to use your best judgment. If they start to get slimy, grow mold, or otherwise seem questionable, then toss them. Hopefully you’ll eat them before then!
How do I eat sprouts? Any way at all! Try sprouts in salads, on a sandwich, in your eggs, or as an appetizer topping. Use your imagination and see what you come up with!
Have you ever made your own sprouts? What’s your favorite way to enjoy them?