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How easy is it to grow mung bean sprouts at home?

Most people are probably not that familiar with mung bean sprouts but chances are they have eaten them before. Anytime you order Chinese food or visit the salad bar at a restaurant, there is a very good chance you have eaten mung bean sprouts. Most people have simply referred to them as bean sprouts or even sprouts. This tasty alkaline food is easy to grow at home with a sprouter and some organic seeds.

To start, always make sure to purchase organic seed. Mung bean seeds are small and dark green. They have a small whitish colored dot on the underside. When you are growing mung bean sprouts you need organic seeds for 2 reasons. First, organic seeds are certified to be free of pesticides, fungicides and other harmful chemicals. This is important for your long term health. Secondly, organic seeds tend to have a better germination rate. This means that more of the seeds will actually sprout when you put them inside your sprouter. If a seed does not sprout, then it will most likely rot and be a source for mold to grow on.

Taking your seeds out of their packaging, soak them in clean filtered water for 6 to 8 hours. One handy trick is to soak them overnight in your refrigerator and then in the morning they are ready to go. Soaking softens the skin on the seed and helps with the germination rate. Rinse the soaked seeds and place them in your sprouter. Keep them in darkness while the mung bean seeds are sprouting. Depending on the sprouter you have, cover or place it in a cupboard. Twice a day, rinse the sprouts with some more clean filtered water. After repeating this process for 4 to 6 days your mung bean sprouts will be about 3 inches long.

When the leaves appear, they are ready to be harvested. The mung bean sprouts will produce 2 small yellow leaves if you have kept them dark. For the last 6 to 8 hours, leave them uncovered in an area that is lighted for them to 'green up'. Careful not to expose them to too much light as they can get bitter easily. This wonderful alkaline food is great in stir fry recipes, salads, on top of soups, in sandwiches and as a snack. Mung bean sprouts are both easy and economical to grow. Try some at home and you will be amazed with your results.

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