Sprouting Newbie Questions

[Jacques]

Hi,

I want to start sprouting. From what I have read it seems like it would be best to get wide mouth mason jars and cheesecloth does that sound right?

I have been to http://www.i4at.org/lib2/sprouts.htm and thesproutpeople website, but I still have some questions.

1. When you sprout different items (beans, grains, nuts, etc.) when they are ready to eat, do you eat the bean, grain, or nut along with the sprout or do you cut the sprout and just eat that?

2. How many sprouts do you get per jar? I was thinking of having 5 jars and staggering them so start jar 1 one day, jar 2 the next day so I have sprouts ready every day. It is just me and the wife, will this make too much?

3. I understand the importance of rinsing the seeds/sprouts, but I have seen a couple posts about sprouts getting contaminated and people getting sick from them. How often does this happen or if you do the rinsing every day and do this in a clean environment is it not an issue?

Thanks,

Jacques

[BlackKat]

I am a beginner sprouter and the first batch of alfalfa sprouts i made was enormous.. i thought, well this doesnt look like much! and then POOF! in a few days the jar was full... so you have to experiment. There is a good chart in Alissa's LOLF, and RFFE. That's what I usually refer to for soaking and the amount of time it takes to develop. Make sure you remember to rinse, and don't be too rough with the little buggers they are delicate at first.

Check this thread out... lots of good info here. we have quite a few people on this forum who know what they are talkin about. ;-)http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?64973-Sprouting!&highlight=sprouting

[big foot marty]

Have fun, experiment, and read a few books and lots of website info andblogs.

Try different seeds and sprout for different times- 2 days long sprouts , 3 days add a littl greenn...etc..

All seeds are different
Have fun

[DebB]

1. When you sprout different items (beans, grains, nuts, etc.) when they are ready to eat, do you eat the bean, grain, or nut along with the sprout or do you cut the sprout and just eat that?

Good question! You eat the whole thing.

2. How many sprouts do you get per jar? I was thinking of having 5 jars and staggering them so start jar 1 one day, jar 2 the next day so I have sprouts ready every day. It is just me and the wife, will this make too much?

It really just depends on how many sprouts the two of you can eat. Some may have no problem eating a quart jar full every day or two. I would be hard pressed eating that many right now.

3. I understand the importance of rinsing the seeds/sprouts, but I have seen a couple posts about sprouts getting contaminated and people getting sick from them. How often does this happen or if you do the rinsing every day and do this in a clean environment is it not an issue?

I've read about people getting sick, but I never have. I actually rinse my sprouts twice a day and make sure I get as much water out after rinsing as I can. You don't want it to be really wet in the jar or it may possibly mold or get sour. I've had such good luck sprouting and I've never had a negative experience with it yet.

I really enjoy these sprouting lids that I can get at our local health food store. The ones I buy are a set of 3, each a different size hole for very small seeds to large ones. The set of 3 is less than $5.00 But this gives you the idea: http://www.wheatgrasskits.com/sprouting/sprout_lid.htm?gclid=CMzO6sXtj60CFQVwhwod2jNtnA I've never had mold or any other issues using these lids, they allow very nice air flow.

[RawDad]

I was intimidated by sprouting at first, but I've finally gotten the hang of it, and you don't even need a jar.

My method is soak the seeds/beans in a bowl for 8-16 hours. Make sure the bowl is a decent size bigger then the seeds/beans you are starting with and cover them with water enough to keep them covered through their expansion. Then I rinse them in a strainer. (I have a water distiller (http://www.amazon.com/Water-Distiller-Countertop-Enamel-Collection/dp/B00026F9F8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324408895&sr=8-1) that I use to make the soaking and rinsing water) I rinse the bowl I used (I just use tap for this) and wipe it out with a towel. Then I return the rinsed and strained seeds or beans back to the bowl. I put the bowl, uncovered, in a black pillowcase in my closet, and check on them once a day to rinse them and then return then to the dark.

I've eaten the sprouts at many stages from just starting to poke out to growing inch long tails. Try them at different intervals, they are tasty any time.