How to Sprout Mung Beans at Home

Sprouting your own mung beans allows you to choose the length of sprouts you grow.

Asian cuisine is rife with interesting and unusual ingredients. Mung bean sprouts, or bean sprouts as they are referred to in America, are a staple in Asian cooking, used in dishes from stir fry to soup. Those spindly, nearly translucent sprouts started out as beans, and with a little bit of planning and preparation, you can grow mung bean sprouts at home.

Things You'll Need

• Sieve or colander
• Dried mung beans
• Water
• Glass jar
• Cloth
• Container

Instructions

1. Thoroughly rinse dried mung beans in a sieve or colander with cold water until the water runs clear.

2. Place the mung beans in a wide-mouthed jar and cover with cold water. Leave to soak overnight.

3. Rinse and drain well. Return the beans to the jar and cover with a thin piece of cloth. Store the jar in a cool, partially lit area.

4. Rinse and drain the mung beans every eight hours and then return them to the jar.

5. Prepare the mung beans for eating by placing them in a covered container in the refrigerator until you are ready to use them.

Tips & Warnings

• Mung beans will double in size once sprouted so sprout only the amount you can eat in about two weeks.

• The size of the sprout is affected by how long you allow the beans to sprout. Sprouting for two to three days will produce grain of rice-sized sprouts. Sprouting for about a week will result in taller, thicker sprouts.

References

• Chef in You: How to Sprout Mung Beans