Growing your own sprouts at home really is a quick and easy process. Continuing reading this guide on growing sprouts at home to have fresh sprouts for salads, sandwiches, and more every day.
A few years ago, I got on a sprouts kick ha-ha! I started researching how I could grow them at home. I came to the realization that it really wasn’t that hard to do and didn’t require much of my time. It became something I did for quite some time. We loved having them to add to different meals here and there, especially salads.
Although, I fell out of the habit of doing it after a little while. Recently, I was reminded about them! My sister had the girls in the family over and she had homemade chicken salad sandwiches with fresh sprouts for lunch. We got into a conversation about making your own sprouts at home. They didn’t know how to make them from home, and it got me thinking… “who else out there would be making them from home if they knew how to?”
So, if you are here, you are most likely one of those people who doesn’t know how to make them at home but wants to get into it. Well, before you get to that point, there are a few things you should know about sprouts!
Benefits of Eating Fresh Sprouts
Eating fresh sprouts has a lot of benefits for your body. If you are unsure about wanting to grow these at home, knowing how great they are for you could help change your mind! Here are a few of those benefits…
- improved digestion
- great for building muscle
- strengthening of the immune system
- improved blood sugar levels
- prevent anemia
- great source of antioxidants
- improve heart health
Now, trust me, I could go on and on about the benefits. Although I feel like stating that sprouts improve heart health is a good place to end. I have a feeling I sold you with that list.
Tools That Make Growing Your Own Sprouts Easier
There are a few cheap tools you should know about that could help your homegrown sprouts journey a little easier.
The first tool that would make your sprout growing journey a little easier is these sprouting jar lids. When you drain the water from the jars, these lids are super helpful for that. You can dump the water and not worry about the beans falling out.
Here are a few other tools. This kit even includes the lids above! The stands in this kit help the water to continually drain out of the jars onto the plate so none go bad from getting too much water.
Now, don’t get me wrong. You can absolutely make sprouts at home without these tools. I have. And to be completely honest I still do. I would love to buy those lids. They would make my life so much easier. However, I just started getting back into making sprouts so I want to give it some time before I do that.
In the past, I have just taken a regular mason jar and put holes in the top of it. No, it doesn’t work as good. Although, it did the job.
Different Things You Can Sprout
There are many different things you can turn into a sprout. Although just so we are on the same page, I have only ever sprouted lentils. However, the process for the other options listed below is the same.
- chickpeas
- lentils
- green peas
- black beans
- broccoli
- radish
- quinoa
- almonds
To summarize, you can really sprout any legumes, seeds, nuts, grains, and beans. The options are endless! Try a bunch and see what works for you.
How to Grow Your Own Sprouts
Alright, we have discussed the benefits of eating sprouts, tools that would make your sprouting journey easier, and different things you can sprout. I feel like it is time to actually tell you step-by-step how to grow your own sprouts.
Growing your own sprouts is a process that goes day by day over the course of about 5 days. Let’s go through the days together!
Day 1
Day 1 is the easiest day. All you have to do is take a 1-liter mason jar and fill it with 1/2 cup of dry uncooked lentils (or whatever you are sprouting). Cover the 1/2 cup of lentils with water and let soak for at least 12 hours. I like to start them in the morning, so the soaking is done by the end of the day. After those 12 hours (it doesn’t have to be super exact), dump the water and let sit in a spot that doesn’t get direct sunlight.
Day 2 – 5
Day 2 to day 5 are the hardest days. Which says a lot because it is slightly the same as day 1, we are just repeating it. So, what I mean by that is, in the morning you are going to rinse and drain the lentils and let them sit in the spot that doesn’t get direct sunlight throughout the day. Make sure the lid you are using, weather it is the ones shown above or even a paper towel, that air can get through. Then, repeat that step again in the evening – rinse, drain, let sit. Repeat that step up until day 5 when you should have nicely grown sprouts!
Great Ways To Use Sprouts
There are so many ways to use sprouts. Nothing is off limits! Although here are a few suggestions to kick start some ideas…
- Salads – this one is a little obvious and I have said it a few times throughout this post, although it is probably my favorite one yet – salads! They add the perfect crunch and texture factor to your favorite salad.
- Sandwiches – I have suggested sandwiches a couple times in this post as well, although, let me paint a picture for you. Imagine this – you have fresh sourdough bread toasted, it’s layered with creamy hummus, a juicy tomato, slices of avocado, grilled chicken, and crunchy sprouts. Doesn’t that sound so delicious?!
- Burgers – This one kind of goes along with sandwiches. Sprouts would add such a lovely flavor and crunch to a juicy burger.
- Smoothies – Adding sprouts into your favorite smoothie would be similar to adding spinach into it. It is a great way to sneak in some extra healthy greens.
- Snacks – This might sound weird but sprouts taste so good by themselves. They are light and crunchy. They would be so good drizzled with your favorite dip or dressing and then sprinkled with salt, pair it with some fruit/veg and a protein and you have a great snack.
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