Interested in sprouting but have never done or seen it done. How do you guys eat the produce and did you buy a sprouter? Thanks, Debbie

-- debbie (bwolcott@cwis.net), January 17, 2002

Answers

I used to sprout mung beans (for Chinese food) and alfalfa sprouts for salad. It was kind of a fad in the 70s. You have to rinse the growing sprouts every day so they don't get nasty.

-- Rose (open_rose@hotmail.com), January 17, 2002.

Debbie- I do quite a lot of sprouting. I started out using a quart canning jar, then switched to a 3-tired sprouter when I found one on sale. I use the sprouts in jsut about everything- on salads, in soups and stews, on sandwhiches, in omelets and scrambled eggs; whatever I can think of.

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), January 17, 2002.

They are great and simple to do, don't take a lot of water to grow, bought mine after the study done on broccoli sprouts by Johns Hopkins, use sprouts in just about everything.

-- BC (desertdweller44@yahoo.com), January 17, 2002.

Debbie -- I've used a commercial sprouter (which is basically a one-quart jar with a plastic lid with lots of holes) and a quart canning jar that I covered with a ring and a piece of cheesecloth. I prefer the plastic -- because unlike the cheesecloth, it never gets tangled or kinked -- but if you're trying sprouting for the first time, and aren't sure whether you'd actually use the sprouts, the cheesecloth's cheaper.

I like the sprouts on salads and sandwiches...and sometimes, I sprout birdseed for my cockatiel. He's crazy about it!

-- Christine (cytrowbridge@zianet.com), January 18, 2002.

I sprout in baskets, the basic cheapo tight weave basket. Put the sprouting seeds in the basket and spray them with water, then spread them around, put in a large zip lock (don't seal it) and set them in a warm location out of direct sunlight, rinse them everyday and then put them back into the bag (not sealing it); when they start to sprout, move them to a sunny location, do this for about 5 or so days and then when the sprouts are nice and green and the right size store them in the refrig (you'll still need to rinse them daily--if they start to fade in color, you can put them in the sunny window for a couple hours and then back in the frig). It works great and they don't get slimy so easy like sometimes they do in jars. Love sprouts!

-- Sharon (spangenberg@hovac.com), January 18, 2002.

ooops--slimely (not slimy). Bye the way, after you are done "picking" them, dump out any remaining sprouts, rinse basket, let it dry in the sunlight, and shake out any remaining sprouts pieces and you're ready to do it again. They will last several days in the refrigerator.

-- Sharon (spangenberg@hovac.com), January 18, 2002.

We do sprouts every winter. Makes us feel good to continue to 'grow produce' through the winter. We bought the fancy sprouters from the seed catalogs years back. We sprout all kinds, including onion (my favorite). Make sure Onion is on the bottom if you use a tier system though, otherwise everything below tastes like onion! We have 9 tiers now, but usually only have 3 or six going at once - depends on the varieties. We love it. We buy bulk, although you only need a tsp. or so for each tray. We use them everywhere we can, and sometimes in place of lettuce for salads! Good luck!

-- Michelle in NM (naychurs_way@hotmail.com), January 18, 2002.

Michelle, where do you get your bulk seeds. I've been unsuccessful in finding a good source. Sharon, I like your method. I've tried really hard to visualize what type of basket you use. (Maybe I'm brain-dead today! LOL) Is it an Easter type basket? Where did you get it? Or is it a flat basket without a handle? Thanks!

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), January 18, 2002.

I have the three tier sprouter too. I love it. We do alfalfa, mung bean, clover, and I buy a mix called spicy lentil crunch. I buy the seeds at my health food store. I use them anywhere lettuce would be used on sanwhiches, burgers etc also add other minced vegetables (grated carrots, beets, my canned green beans etc) for a fresh salad. My kids eat them plain as a side dish or snack. I am going to try wheat sprouts next as they are supposed to taste like watermelon??!! I find it a very inexpensive way to provide fresh "greens" here in Winter (Canada) BTW I noticed at the grocery store last week that brocolli was $3.99 a bunch and an english cucumber was the same! In US funds that has to be about $2.20. Who buys this stuff?!

-- Terri in NS (terri@tallships.ca), January 18, 2002.

Bren, the best way to describe the baskets I use would be they have no handle, I think they are made from split willow, they are approximately 6-8 inches in diameter. They are very plain, something you might serve rolls in at the table. They are like a buck or two to buy. Very basic. Tightly woven, you need a little looser weave for mung bean sprouts. I've had them for years, but there is nothing special about them. They are still here and there available today (Wal-Mart sometimes, Pier I, etc.). I hope this gives you a better idea of what I'm talking about. I guess any basket with a tight enough weave would work (I wouldn't use a basket that was dyed, painted, or stained though). The ones I use are natural. The little sprouts kind of send their little roots into the basket weave. It works really well.

-- Sharon (spangenberg@hovac.com), January 18, 2002.

Thanks, Sharon. Yes, that gives me a better idea of what you are using. I was wondering if they were made with a natural material or dyed so thanks for addressing that.

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), January 18, 2002.

Bren, don't remember where we got this batch - as we've transfer them to containers. I'll have to ask the hubbie to see if he recalls. I knew we've gotten bulk through Shumway's, but for some reason I think we got these rom a couple other mail orders. Guess I should find out as we're needing a bit more soon!

-- Michelle in NM (naychurs_way@hotmail.com), January 19, 2002.

I use a qt jar with a piece of plastic screening I got at the hardware store. Very cheap. Our grocery store (Super 1) sells alfalfa seeds in bulk. Just make sure you rinse the sprouts every day so you don't grow something besides sprouts. This is so much cheaper than buying them. I share any leftovers with the chickens. They love it.

-- Bonnie (stichart@plix.com), January 21, 2002.