sprouting seeds**to eat**

sarahmelita

Now I've sprouted my alfalfas, how do I store them? I've just put them in the fridge in a tub with some kitchen roll underneath to catch any excess water - is this ok?

leonie_2

Right ive got my mung beans from Tesco, they arent organic though and they dont mention sprouting on them. They do however say 'do not eat raw' in bold letters so will these be ok to sprout? I want to grow them big enough for stir fries, just like the beansprouts you buy in a bag

Gingham_Ribbon

I am not sure whether I had any luck with my mung beans or not. They sprouted well, but they tasted bitter. I left them and left them until they grew inch long leaves on them too and I finally threw them out.

Are they always bitter when raw? I know a place that sells a delicious carrot and sprout salad that tastes raw and has the sweetest sprouts. I was hoping I'd be able to make that.

annie-c

Leonie - I used Tesco's dried mung beans for sprouting and I am still alive...! I think the packet instructions are just intended for recipes using cooked mung beans.

Mine didn't grow as long as packet beansprouts though - they were shorter, curlier and still had the bean attached - but absolutely delicious! I tried getting them longer in an earlier batch but I found that after the four-day mark, they didn't grow any longer but went mushy and 'off', so I just decided to eat the second batch whilst still short and crunchy.

Gingham Ribbon - I don't have very much experience of sprouting beans (only had about 4-5 goes so far) but they have never tasted bitter - always quite sweet and crunchy.

annie-c

sarahmelita wrote:

Now I've sprouted my alfalfas, how do I store them? I've just put them in the fridge in a tub with some kitchen roll underneath to catch any excess water - is this ok?

This is fine sarah, but you will need to use them up within about 3 days to enjoy them at their best.

leonie_2

Thank you Annie-c

I havent dared try my mung beans yet but I have wheat on the go. Trouble is its over an inch long already, I cant keep up with eating it!

I know people juice wheat grass but its nice just eaten as a snack I think.

Btw my microwave steamer is fantastic for sprouting. Its got a lid, a meshy bit for the seeds and a bottom for draining water in. Just 20p from my local carboot sale!

leonie_2

leonie wrote:

I know people juice wheat grass but its nice just eaten as a snack I think.

QUOTE]

Well now I know why people juice the wheat grass. Mine has got about two inches long and suddenly its inedible!

Will remember not to let it grow this long again.....

Queenie

Gingham - just wondering, did you soak them overnight before you began the 'sprouting' process? I've sprouted mung beans and they didn't come out bitter, but nor did they come out like the commercial version either.
You could blanche them before eating so they aren't 'cooked' but not raw either.

Gingham_Ribbon

Thanks, Queenie. Yes, I soaked them overnight. I'll give it another go. They were very spidery in shape but I didn't mind that. I didn't keep them in the dark, so I'll try that next time too.

Queenie

My 3-tier sprouting trays aren't designed to be used in the dark, it's a kitchen-window job and most of my sprouting experiments have proved satisfactory. :think: Hmm, yes, think I'll have a go at mungs in the dark and see what results I get.

Have you tried chickpeas yet? I'm very impatient with chickpeas ... I end up nibbling them when I'm washing up, they have such a lovely 'nutty' texture and taste.