Sprouting in jars

[cracker]

This is my first attempt at this, I've grown wheatgrass and sunflower seed in the dirt trays. But I am trying to sprout clover, radish, broccolli in jars. I soaked and have now to the stage of rinsing twice a day and draining. What now???
1) do I continue to rinse twice a day after they sprout?
2) the sprouting book says to put in the refrigerator after they sprout. I didn't understand do I put a screen lid or a sealed lid on the jar to refrigerat?

Can someoe whos done this tell me all the steps and what to expect when? thanks

[juliebove]

Yes you still need to rinse them until they've sprouted to how you want them. But also important is making sure to get every speck of water off of them after you've rinsed them. Otherwise they'll go bad. If your jars have a screen lid on them, then turn them upside down. Shake them and bang on them over the sink until no more water comes off at all. Another important step is to gently stick a fork in there and turn them over to loosen them once they've begun to sprout. And when they're just about done, you want to expose them to some sunlight to help green them up a bit.

Before putting them in the fridge, give them once last rinse and let them sit out for about 8 hours to get all the water off. You might also try tossing them in a paper towel or clean dish towel. Every last bit of moisture must be off of them or they will spoil. Then store them in a sealed container so they don't dry out. I just double checked this with the sproutpeople website and it says if they are warm or wet when you put them in the fridge, then you should have holes in the bag or lid until they do dry out, then transfer to a sealed container once they do dry out. I guess a lot would depend on your weather here. If your kitchen is hot and humid you might have to refrigerate them before they are fully dry.

http://www.sproutpeople.com/grow/bits/refrigerate.html

[Lay-Lay]

mmmmmmmmm.....yummy....sprouts!

[spicyfull]

You soak, to soften the skin. You rinse to keep it moist, so they won't dry out(like watering your plants) once the sprout has sprouted enough for you, you store the in the fridge to STOP the sprouting.

I find Sunflower seeds taste bitter if they are sprouted too long.

I hope I shedded light in your direction......

[sport]

I never dry mine either during the sprouting process or during the subsequent storage. I just place at an angle and let them drain away as the day goes on.
When ready and greened I give them a final rinse and immediatly I just put them in a bowl and cover it with cling wrap and place in the fridge.
They can last for up to a week if I have done a large batch but usually I do small and more frequent.

[cracker]

May thanks for your answers. I really needed them. Now I feel better. We'll see if I can follow directions.....

[NFrawRUNNER]

OK, I've been raw over a year and still intimidated by sprouting. When you sprout sunflower seeds for example, can I sprout them and then grind the whole thing to make "burgers"....I find cutting the wheatgrass, etc...too time consuming. I want something I can grow and use all of. I do not eat any grains due to gluten probs so sunflower seeds sound like an alternative???? any suggestions? Also, WHERE do you order your seeds from? ;)

[sport]

OK, I've been raw over a year and still intimidated by sprouting. When you sprout sunflower seeds for example, can I sprout them and then grind the whole thing to make "burgers"....I find cutting the wheatgrass, etc...too time consuming. I want something I can grow and use all of. I do not eat any grains due to gluten probs so sunflower seeds sound like an alternative???? any suggestions? Also, WHERE do you order your seeds from? ;)

I have used sprouted sunflower seeds to make crackers (I do not do burgers) and see no reason why you can not use them in anything you want.

[NFrawRUNNER]

Thanks for the tips! Where do you buy your seeds/nuts? Any ideas on the cheapest online source? I don't mind buying in bulk.... Thank you.

[Nix]

I get all my seeds locally at the health food coop, my favorite have been lentils so far. But I have been sprouting alfalfa, clover, radishes and the like for years. It is still a grand experiment each time though, if I wait too long for one I think should grow more (my chick peas went south recently... sigh) or if I don't get them rinsed well enough. Mostly I am wildly successful...
I put mine in a salad spinner right into the fridge when they are done. They drain and I don't seem to have any problems with needing t make sure they are dry. I do not have a very sophisticated spouter, in fact I have been using a bio sprouter I got on clearance from a "Drug Town" several years back. I love it and am planning to branch out with some different types of sprouting "equiment" including maybe the whole hemp bag idea. Does anyone have trouble removing the sprouts from the back or does everyone transfer them right away to trays to keep them from anchoring to the material?
Nix