Sprouting Beans

Sprouting beans is the easiest way to acquire astounding nutritional value such as proteins, vitamin A, C & B-6, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and much more by making meals with beans. The best part about eating beans and lentils is that you can incorporate them in all types of foods, cook them with your favorite recipes, and also eat them raw. Sprouting various beans is a process where the seeds are soaked, drained, and then rinsed in constant intervals till they pullulate (sprout/shoot). Let's take a look at how wonderfully easy it is to sprout beans and lentils at home.

Sprout Beans and Lentils

There is not much difference between beans and lentils; beans have carbs and lentils have proteins. Most common beans found in a regular household are garbanzo, green peas, kidney beans, black-eyed peas, chickpeas, etc; common lentils found in the supermarket are yellow, red-orange, brown, black, white, and green.

How to Sprout Beans

• Before we begin, take out the beans from the plastic bag and clean them. Rinse the beans properly under cold running water at least 2 - 3 times.
• Take a large bowl and keep the beans in it. Pour warm water to soak the beans and keep 2 inches above it. Soak the beans overnight.
• In a bowl, pour the beans in and cover the bowl with a muslin cloth and fasten a rubber band around it. Rinse the beans twice a day by refilling the jar with water (fresh) and drain it completely.
• In 3 to 4 days, you should find the sprouted beans in the bowl. Keep them in the sun for couple of hours when you start seeing one inch long shoots. The seeds that did not sprout should be discarded.

How to Sprout Lentils

• Each lentil has a different flavor and depending on the size of the seeds, the sprouting time may vary. Submerge the lentils in clean, lukewarm water overnight for 8 - 12 hours. Take only desired amount of lentils as they tend to quadruple when you sprout them.
• Next morning, rinse thoroughly so it can remove all the toxins and acids that have formed on the surface. Drain the water properly and keep them in a large bowl. You can opt to slightly cover the bowl with a lid or a clean cloth. Store the bowl in a dim-lighted, cool place.
• Leave it for another 8 - 12 hours for at least 3 days and keep rinsing it everyday, twice a day. Check the tenderness of the lentils by eating few of them after 2 days. If you want the lentils more tender, leave them another day or so.
• On the final day, rinse the lentils thoroughly and refrigerate the bowl with a cloth as a cover. Use the lentils within 2 weeks of sprouting them.

Sprout Beans in a Jar

A common method of sprouting the beans is in a glass canning jar that are easily found in your local grocery store. The most important aspect is to buy one that can provide enough fresh air and cover the mouth of the jar with a muslin or nylon cloth. Your grocery store might also have special lids designed for sprouting.

• Assume you bought a quart-size jar. Depending on which type of beans you want to sprout, pour 2 tablespoons of it into the jar. Add warm water inside, rinse the beans, drain it, and pour warm water in so that it stays at least 1 inch above the seeds. Place the sprouting lid or muslin cloth on top and soak them for about 8 to 12 hours or overnight. Keep a clean towel wrapped around the jar to protect it from light.
• The next morning, rinse the beans couple of times in water (fresh) for 2 to 3 days. Drain the beans properly so that no trace of water remains. Place the jar over to its side so the beans have enough room to spread. Keep a clean towel wrapped around the jar as it still can't be exposed to any light. After couple of days, the jar should be filling itself with the beans.
• Regularly check if your beans have sprouted or not. Once they do, take them out of the jar, rinse them again, and use them immediately. You can also refrigerate the sprouts for a week or so, provided you rinse them at least once a day. Sprouts get really sensitive toward frosting, so avoid placing them in a freezer.

Draining the beans thoroughly will provide you sprouts without any sticky molds. Using a fine cloth, instead of a sprouting lid, to cover the mouth of a jar or bowl is found helpful with small size beans or lentils. Enjoy the important, beneficial nutrients from sprouting beans which also aid in preparing healthy meals for you and your family.