I usually buy sprouts but with e. coli outbreaks happening with increasing frequency, I thought that maybe it was time to learn how to grow them myself. For some reason I thought they would be difficult, but it turns out that sprouts are pretty easy to grow!
1. Choose your sprout…
Sprouts are grown from many plants, but alfalfa, radishes, lentils, chickpeas, broccoli, and fenugreek are some of the more common ones.
2 Make sure the seeds are untreated…
Studies have revealed that contaminated seeds are the source of e. coli and Salmonella spp. bacteria that cause food borne illness. Make sure the seeds you buy are certified pathogen-free seeds and request that the certificate accompany the seeds.
4. Wash the seeds….
Rinse the seeds under tap water for one minute, then place in a bowl and cover with water. Skim off any debris and seeds that float to the top.
4. Use clean sanitized containers...
Jars with screw on lids are fine; just make sure they are clean and dry before use. As an extra precaution sanitize the jars with a solution of bleach and water.
5. Start growing…
Place the rinsed seeds in the jar and cover with water. Cap the jar with cheesecloth and place in indirect sunlight so they produce chlorophyll. Drain and rinse the seeds twice a day.
Once you learn how to grow your own, you will have a steady supply to use in sandwiches, stir fry, sprinkled on salads, or sprout slaw. They don’t keep well so use them quickly. Enjoy!
One note of caution: To be safe, anyone with a compromised immune system should probably stay from eating sprouts, including the elderly and very young children.