Fresh sprouts are a wonderful way to add flavor, texture and tons of nutrients to your favorite meals (and snacks, too!). From improving gut health to boosting your immune system, these tiny greens are the definition of “small but mighty”—a veritable powerhouse of nutrition.
Best of all, growing your own at home is easier than you’d expect, even if gardening isn’t exactly your thing. You may already have everything you need to get started. In the simple guide, you’ll learn the basic how-to, along with other helpful information.
Growing your first batch of sprouts is a 3-to-5-day process, and the daily hands-on time is about five minutes. Watch this short video for a quick overview, then review the simple steps provided below for more detail.
Helpful hint: there are several methods of sprouting seeds. If using another preferred growing method, please follow the instructions that comes with the equipment.
1.Soak. Cover your seeds with water in the jar and let them soak for at least 6 to 8 hours, or overnight.
2.Drain and rinse. Drain the water through your sprouting lid, then rinse with fresh water and drain again. Give the jar a gentle shake and rotate to coat the inside with seeds.
3.Repeat daily. Rinse and drain 2 to 3 times a day (we suggest 3) for 3 to 5 days, until your sprouts are grown to your liking.
4.Harvest. Remove the sprouts from the jar and rinse them in a bowl of water.
5.Skim. The seed hulls will float to the top, so just skim them off and discard. Any inactive seeds will float to the bottom
6.Drain and dry. Drain the sprouts thoroughly and pat them dry on a clean kitchen towel or paper towel. Proper drying will stop growth and slow spoilage.
7.Refrigerate. Store in the fridge in a breathable container with a paper towel underneath to catch extra moisture. Your sprouts will keep for about a week.
8.Enjoy! Once you’ve started growing sprouts, it’s hard to stop. Use them on fresh salads and sandwiches, and add to many of your favorite recipes. Or just grab a handful and enjoy the natural crispy crunch.
CAUTION: Sprouts are highly perishable and have a high risk of bacterial infection due to the humid setting. More information is provided below to help keep your growing environment safe.
Store seeds in a clean, dry place, out of direct sunlight at a temperature of 70 degrees or less. Most sprouting seeds will maintain good germination potential for three or more years if stored correctly.
You may choose to disinfect your sprouting seeds as an added safety measure. This step is completely optional—Nature Jim’s seeds are batch-tested for harmful pathogens, but that is not the case for all seed providers.
If you’d like to add disinfection to your seed sprouting routine, we’ve put together a simple guide with everything you need to know.
Remember, there is no single, perfect way to grow sprouts; all the most popular methods work very well. What’s important is to choose what works best for you. And if you want to combine your favorite ideas from a few different guides, go right ahead!
(or similar)
Nature Jim’s provides a wide variety of sprouting seeds
Buy Now
Here’s how much time you’ll need, on average, for the five most popular sprouting specific seeds:
And keep in mind, just because you wake up one morning to find sprouted seeds doesn’t mean they’re quite ready. Alfalfa, for example, often sprouts within two to three days. But you don’t want to harvest them until they’re about three centimeters long, which happens around the fifth day.
With all this new knowledge, you’re ready to start sprouting seeds of your own in the comfort of your home. But as with any food, you should research both the seeds themselves and the company that sells them.
Here at Nature Jim’s, we’ve been passionate about helping people eat healthy since the 1950s. That’s why our sprouting seeds are non-GMO, proudly made in the USA and certified organic (excluding our non-organic Mung Bean Sprouting Seeds).
And our sprouting seeds come in a convenient, resealable bag to preserve freshness from the day you open the bag to the day you empty it. If you’re ready to start enjoying your own, home-grown fresh sprouts, you’re just a click away.