If you have been wanting to know how to grow sprouts in a jar, but have been confused about how to do it, here is an easy breakdown on getting started! This guide will show you how to sprout anything for a beginner!
I always thought that if produce was bought “fresh” from the store, it just HAD to contain more nutrients than anything I bought frozen, freeze dried, or canned. Well, I was totally wrong. The produce we see “fresh” in the store are usually far from it. It’s usually picked way before it’s ready, grown using toxic chemicals, has been sitting in storage for months already, and the list goes on.
The issue then was what about when we don’t have fresh produce to pick from the garden and I’m wanting something crisp (i.e. not from the freezer or a jar) That’s when we discovered sprouts! They are easy to grow right on your countertop!
Why We Sprout
We are huge advocates for growing our own food. Of course, we don’t have a garden going all year round. With sprouts, we can have fresh greens in just a few days! They are extremely nutritious and help really play up some of your favorite dishes.
How to use Sprouts
Sprouts can be used in so many ways!
- Put on your sandwiches or burgers instead of lettuce
- Mix into a salad to give it both more flavor and make it more nutrient dense
- Use as a side salad with a vinaigrette if you are wanting/needing a vegetable
- Pair with any kind of eggs (poached, eggs benedict, over easy) for breakfast time
- Eat as a snack with some avocado and lime juice (one of our favorites!)
What is the difference between micro greens and sprouts?
At first I thought micro greens and sprouts were the same thing. They are similar in the fact that they are grown from the same seeds, but they are grown differently and have a different nutritional value.
Both have their pros and cons and both offer a wide array of nutritional value. We decided to go with sprouts because they do not require soil and it was just easier for us. We already had most of the supplies on hand when we started.
Some Types of seeds you can sprout
Alfalfa is the most popular, but it isn’t the only seed you can “sprout”. Here are a few popular ones and their flavor profile.
- Alfalfa – Tastes similar to romaine lettuce so perfect for using as a lettuce substitute
- Broccoli – Has a little zest and best for adding more depth of flavor when mixing with alfalfa
- Mung Bean – Tastes like green beans, great for snacks on or adding to alfalfa for a salad
- Radish – Has a bit of a spice to it, almost similar to arugula. Great to mix with alfalfa and broccoli to make a flavorful salad!
What You Need for Sprouting Sprouts
To grow sprouts, all you need are a few simple tools, and you may already have some things on hand!
Wide Mouth Mason Jars – this is the container you will be actually sprouting your seeds in.
Some kind of dish to drain your jars into – They sell some dishes specifically for sprouting, but you can just simply use a glass brownie pan or cake pan (depending on how many jars you have going) and it will easily do the trick!
Sprouting lids that drain – You will be storing your jars upside down to allow airflow and keep any extra water draining out of your jars. We like these ones because it gives some space between the jar and the dish they are in.
Sprouting Kit – If you want a dedicated kit for sprouting, this is one we have tried and recommend
Seeds – Most important are seeds! you can find these easily online. These are the ones we like to use.
How to Grow Sprouts in a Jar
Add 2 TBSP sprout seeds to mason jar and fill with 1.5 cups of water.
Add your sprout lid and let the seeds soak in the water for 5 minutes. Once they have soaked for 5 minutes, strain out all of the water and repeat; add 1.5 cups water and allow to soak again for 5 minutes.
After the second soak, drain and refill with 1.5 cups water and let sit for 8-10 hours.
Wait 8-10 hours, drain water and now you want to thoroughly rinse the seeds. Now its time to store them upside down so they get airflow and germinate!
You want to repeat rinsing, draining, and then storing upside down until the sprouts are, well, sprouted! This takes about 3-4 days.
TIP: We do our rinses once in the morning before work and then in the evening after work.
Once done, store in the fridge in an airtight container with paper towel for up to 5 days
I have been sprouting for a while now and this is a very good and simple explanation on how to do it well!
Thank you for an easy explanation of how to grow sprouts! I have done broccoli and radish so far. I just set my son in-law up for his first batch!