Today, we learn the topic of Growing Bean Sprouts in Jar in your home garden. Sprouts are the most popular food which is consumed and they come from beans or other types of plants such as nuts, grains, seeds, and vegetables. Though they come from different varieties of sources, sprouts are mainly the young plants which can be consumed in a raw or cooked manner. The bean sprouts are specifically a very good source of protein which is plant-based and also consists of a variety of vitamins and minerals.
Bean sprouts are tasty and also nutritious and the growth of bean sprouts is done by the germination of legumes like mung beans and soybeans. Most of the grocery stores will consist of the sprouts which are mostly used in sandwiches, stir-fries, salads, soups and other types of recipes. But you can grow the bean sprouts easily at your home and for that, you will need a very few simple tools along with few dried beans. You can generally sprout bean varieties, seeds, legumes, peas, and a trick is to rinse the beans and drain them several times a day to maintain them moist as they undergo the process of germination. In this article, we will discuss how to grow bean sprouts indoors or growing bean sprouts in jars.
Read:How to Grow Spices in Home Garden.
Washing the beans and soaking them:
The jar has to be sterilized. Mason jars are considered to be ideal for sprouting but you can make use of any glass which has wide mouth or you can also use a plastic jar. The jar has to be washed well in the water which is hot and soapy for the removal of dust, dirt and any other particles which are present in the jar. The jar has to be dried by making use of a clean towel and after that, keep it aside.
The growing of the sprouts will also lead to the growth of the bacteria and fungi which are not wanted. That is why it is very much essential to use the equipment which is sterilized. Always make sure that you are washing your hands before handling the beans which you want to sprout.
Now, it is time to rinse the beans. For this, you will need to measure about a ½ cup of the beans and keep them in a bowl which is clean and pure. The beans have to be covered with fresh water and by making use of your hands, swish the beans. The beans have to be transferred to a colander for draining the water and rinse them till the water is clear when you are rinsing. You can make use of any dried and whole bean, seed or legume for the purpose of sprouting which includes Alfalfa, chickpeas, Mung beans, adzuki, sunflower seeds, lentils, quinoa.
The beans have to be covered by making use of freshwater. For this, the beans have to be first transferred to a sanitized jar. This jar has to be filled clean water which has room temperature. Cheesecloth or a tidy towel has to be placed on the mouth of the har and it has to be placed securely by making use of an elastic. This will let the flow of air and also helps in the prevention of dirt and particles from coming into the jar.
For legumes or beans, the jar has to be filled ¼th with the bean of your choice. For the seeds such as alfalfa, you can make use of 2 tablespoons of seeds in one mason jar. This will give the sprouts lots of space for growth and lets the air circulation in between the sprouts.
The jar has to be kept aside and the beans have to be left for soaking for several hours. Tiny grains such as quinoa will have to be soaked for about 3-4 hours. Medium legumes such as lentils will have to be soaked for about 8-9 hours. The beans which are larger like the kidney beans and chickpeas have to be soaked for half a day that is for 12 hours.
As the beans start to soak, they will absorb the water and start growing in size and this will start the process of germination.
Bean sprouting:
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When the beans have sufficient time for soaking and have become two times their actual size, the cheesecloth has to be removed and the water has to be drained out. The beans have to be covered by making use of freshwater and the beans have to be swirled as a part of gentle washing. The water has to be drained and the cheesecloth has to be kept back in the mouth of the jar.
As the sprouts start growing, you will have to put the jar at an angle of 45 degrees with the jar’s mouth facing downwards. This will let the moisture which is in an excess amount to drain out and for the air circulation to take place. You can also prop the jar up towards something in order to put it at the right angle or store it on a dish track.
When the beans have to be kept moist for germination, you will not want any excess amount of water in the jar as this may lead to the growth of bacteria and mould.
The jar which consists full of beans has to be placed at room temperature or at a place which is away from direct sunlight. You should not store the beans at a dark place but you should keep them away from the sun, else they will start to cook.
As the growing of sprouts takes place, it is very essential to rinse them on a regular basis so that the pathogens can be kept at bay and the sprouts will also be moist. The cheesecloth has to be removed and the sprouts have to be covered with clean water, the sprouts should be drained and again covered with cheesecloth. The jar should be tilted and the sprouts should be returned to their actual growing place.
The sprouts can be rinsed as many times as you wish but ensure that you are doing it for every 10 to 12 hours at a minimum or the beans may get dried out.
The sprouts have to be grown for several days till they reach the required length. Different types of legumes and beans will need varied sprouting times but the sprouts will be ready with 2 to 7 days. You can consume the sprouts as soon as they will reach the same length as the actual bean. You can also continue allowing the sprouts to grow for about 6 days, till they reach a length of a few more inches.
When the sprouts reach the required length, take off the cheesecloth and move the sprouts to a colander. These have to be rinsed with clean water and have to be left to drip dry for several minutes or you can even pat them dry by making use of a clean towel.
There are several ways you can consume sprouts like cooking or consuming them raw. Sprouts are also a snack which is very delicious. The leftover sprouts can be wrapped in a clean piece of paper towel and should be moved to an airtight container. The sprouts can be kept in a refrigerator for a minimum of three days.
That’s all folks about growing bean sprouts in jars of the home garden. Keep gardening!.
