Growing Sprouts in a Mason Jar

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Our local organic market sells all kinds of sprouts – broccoli sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, bean sprouts, and more.  Sprouts are incredibly healthy and high in nutrition.  They’re also darn expensive.  But guess what?  You can grow your own sprouts in a mason jar.  It’s cheap, fast, super simple, fun for the kids, and they’re the freshest, crunchiest sprouts you’ll find anywhere.  Here’s how…

Step 1. Pick Your Sprouts.  Sprouts are simply germinated seeds, beans, peas or lentils.  Pick up a bag of alfalfa seeds at your garden shop or farm supply store, or grab some dried lentils, garbanzo beans, or my personal favorite…mung beans, which are commonly used in asian cooking.

Step 2. Prepare Your Jar.  Use a 1 quart mason jar and lid.  Drill holes in the lid (I used a drill press) so it looks like a sieve.  Add 4 tbsp of your sprouting medium into the jar and cover about 3-4 inches with water.

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Step 3. Soak Your Seeds.  Allow to set 6-8 hours or overnight, then drain the soaked seeds, rinse thoroughly then drain again.

Step 4.  Set it in a Sunny Place.  Set the jar horizontally on its side next to a sunny window.  This allows the seeds to spread out a bit.

Step 5.  Rinse and Drain Morning and Night.  Rinse and drain the seeds every morning and every evening, returning the jar back on its side in front of the window.

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Within 2 days you’ll see the seeds begin to sprout.  Within 5 days, you’ll have a jar full of spouts.

Step 6.  Eat your sprouts.  Store your sprouts in an air tight container with a dry towel to absorb the moisture.  This allows the sprouts to stay fresher longer.  Keep them refrigerated.

That’s all there is to it!  Fresh home grown sprouts for the whole family!  For more information, including an online source for sprouting mediums and demonstrations of other sprouting methods, check out this video from mountainroseherbs.

Happy sprouting!!!

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