HOW TO SPROUT MUNG BEANS
Very popular in stir fries. Mung bean sprouts are crisp, with a slightly nutty tasting addition to any meal.
They are usually simply labeled as “bean sprouts” in the supermarket.
These are among the fastest beans and seeds to sprout; you can grow bean sprouts as quickly as one or two days.
Rinse the beans:
Rinse the mung beans until the water runs clear.
This help from anything which might have been in the soil, like metals and toxins. It will also wash away things like mites!
Mung beans get much bigger once they sprout, so be careful not to make too much.
Place the rinsed beans in a clean, clear bowl.
Add the water:
Pour enough luke warm water into the bowl to immerse the beans, generally around 2 to 3 times the volume of the beans on their own.
Soak for 6-12 hours.
After 6-12 hours (usually around 8 hours), the beans will swell.
How long they have to soak will depend on the beans and the temperature of where you live.
Drain and rinse the beans:
Drain away the excess water, rinse them with cold water, and drain the water again.
Place in a jar (We used a colander, or you can use a sieve).
Cover with cheesecloth (we put a single layer cheesecloth at the bottom as well as top).
Put in a cool, dry, dark place.
Find a place that gets little to no sunlight where the beans will not be disturbed.
The bottom of a closet or pantry is a good option.
Wait!!!
You will now have to go through a 2-5 day cycle of rinsing and draining the beans every 12 hours and replacing them in the dark spot.
How long you wait depends on how sprouted you want your beans to be.
Done! When you see your beans sprouted to the length you desire, they are ready to eat.
Enjoy!
TIPS:
Shaking the sprouts allows water to circulate better during rinsing and gives the sprouts room to grow.
This way, you won’t end up with a tangled lump of sprouts.
Be sure to shake gently however; if you shake too hard, you will damage the sprouts.
What is the best way to remove the green seed covering when the mung beans are sprouting?
You have to wash the beans twice a day. Changing the water will reduce a smell if there is one.
Be gentle while washing, as you can break the young sprouts that already came out.
After the initial 8-hour soak, it will take about 24 to 36 hours for tiny sprouts to appear.
When ready, store them in the fridge and treat them as though they were fresh produce.
Eat them within three days.
You can buy them at natural foods stores, or larger grocery stores.
Posted: Amanda Conradie
Photo: Elize de Kock
