How to Sprout Dried Beans
Bean sprouts are made from a variety of dried beans and the process can be done simply at home. There are two popular methods for sprouting dried beans and both can be done with items already in your kitchen. The beans, once sprouted can be used for eating in a variety of ways. In many cases, prepackaged store bought dried beans can be used, but to ensure the best results, purchase beans designated for sprouting. Sprouting beans can be found at your local health food store or online at bulk food or health food outlets. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Sprouting in Paper Towels
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1
Remove two paper towels from the roll without separating them at the perforations.
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2
Wet the paper towels thoroughly, squeeze out excess moisture and then spread them over a full-sized dinner plate.
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3
Cover the wet paper towel with dried beans, allowing for 1/8 to 1/4 inch of space between the individual dried seeds.
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4
Wet a second set of two paper towels and smooth the towels over the top of the dried beans on the plate.
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5
Keep the paper towels wet by soaking the top paper towels twice daily until the dried beans have sprouted to the desired length. The beans should begin sprouting on the second day and will be ready for harvest four to seven days later.
Glass Jar Sprouting
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6
Place up to 1/2-inch of dried beans into a glass jar.
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7
Fill half the jar with warm water and allow the beans to soak 12 to 18 hours.
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8
Drain the water from the beans.
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9
Cover the top of the jar with cheesecloth and secure the cloth with a rubber band.
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10
Rinse the beans with cool water twice daily, draining the beans after each rinse.
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11
Allow the bean sprouts to grow to the desired size.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Most bean sprouts are ready to harvest in three to five days.
Sprouted mung beans are often used raw in salads and on sandwiches. Soy, lentil and other beans are best cooked as an addition to soups, stews and stir-fry.
Store sprouted beans in a covered container in the refrigerator. While they are best eaten fresh, they will keep refrigerated for five to seven days.
Bean sprouts can also be frozen. Remove the outer skin from the bean seeds, and steam the sprouts for three minutes. Immerse the sprouts in cold water to stop the cooking process and drain. Package the sprouts in air tight containers, label and freeze until needed.
Avoid placing the sprouting beans in direct sunlight. This can cause them to become bitter.
