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Original poster

Sprouting beans

28 replies

WigWamBam · 24/03/2006 14:14

Got myself a sprouter (yes, I know I could have used a jam jar - it was half price though) but the instructions are pretty crap, which might explain why it was half price, I guess ...

There was a thread about this recently but I can't find it. I know I have to soak the beans overnight, then drain and rinse, but what then? I remember someone on the thread saying you have to rinse them a couple of times a day but do I leave water in the jar in the meantime, or leave them drained?

Help!!

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Original poster
WigWamBam · 24/03/2006 14:36

I know there are some lentil-weaving bean-sprouters out there somewhere ... Wink

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Original poster
WigWamBam · 24/03/2006 16:38

Anyone? Please?

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quanglewangle · 24/03/2006 16:54

Is it the type with stacking perforated trays? You just rinse them and let the water drain away, the residual wetness is enough. tbh I don't find the need to soak them, but I might rinse them more than twice the first day as they take up a lot of water.
I love alfalfa sprouts and have good intentions, especially in winter, but often find that we forget they are there and they get wasted so I don't do them very often.

Original poster
WigWamBam · 24/03/2006 17:04

It's just a jar with a perforated lid for draining, and a handle so that you can put it at an angle to drain the water completely away ... not very sophisticated!

I'm starting with chickpeas, which I think need soaking overnight but am prepared to be put right on that one.

Thank you - I thought I'd probably have to drain them completely but wasn't sure and didn't want to poison myself Wink

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quanglewangle · 24/03/2006 20:27

Oooh, haven't tried chick peas, haven't even thought of it - it sounds a good idea. They are big so I expect they do need soaking. It is only the smaller ones I get away with without soaking.
Rinsing is to stop them getting musty as well as to provide water for them to grow, and they need draining so that they stay wet but aren't water-logged.
I tried fenugreek expecting them to be spicy but they weren't.
Good luck - let me know what chick pea sprouts taste like. Smile

Feistybird · 24/03/2006 20:36

WWB - can I ask why it is you want to sprout beans, is it to grow the plants?

Original poster
WigWamBam · 24/03/2006 20:37

Noooo! I want to eat them!

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Feistybird · 24/03/2006 20:38

but why sprout them - are they better for you?

Original poster
WigWamBam · 24/03/2006 20:41

They're meant to be good for you but I don't know whether that's true or not. When you sprout them you don't have to cook them, you can eat them raw - I eat a lot of beans and pulses, and this is just another way to scoff them really Wink

I used to buy packs of sprouted beans from Sainsbury's many moons ago, and I loved them - they're crunchy and tasty, really nice in salads. And I was in Julian Graves yesterday, everything was half price, there was a sprouter there and I had this sudden yen to sprout some beans! My dd will enjoy watching them grow too.

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Feistybird · 24/03/2006 20:46

ah yes, I've had sprouting beans too, albeit not very often....didn't know you could sprout DIY - let us know how it goes!

Original poster
WigWamBam · 24/03/2006 20:58

I will - looking forward to crunching on my sprouts Grin

Thanks for the info on rinsing and draining, qw ... will let you know how the chickpeas turn out!

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Original poster
WigWamBam · 27/03/2006 10:30

Just to let you know ... sprouted chickpeas are gorgeous! They have a lovely fresh taste, and they were really fast too - I started them off on Friday, and was eating them yesterday. I now have some mung beans and some aduki beans soaking, ready to start those off later today.

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Detta · 27/03/2006 10:59

i sprout alfafa and mung beans. nice raw or mung beans in oriental type stir fry with fennel, chinese 5 spice and veg. yum

moondog · 27/03/2006 11:01

Ah WWB,I do mine on a grill pan covered by a teatowel. I pour water over it every day.

Tell me,did you have to soaK THE CHICKPEAS THEN,AS I WANT TO TRY THEM NEXT?

Original poster
WigWamBam · 27/03/2006 11:11

I soaked the chickpeas overnight first - it was a bit of a guess because I couldn't find any instructions but seems to have worked!

I would never have thought to use a grill pan, moondog! I wanted to do some but thought I'd be better off starting with something with instructions ... then found the instructions for the germinator are in German, which I don't speak.

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moondog · 27/03/2006 11:29

Oh thanks,I'll try it tonight.
Yes WWB,thought it was a flash of brilliance (and no way was I splashing out £££ on more plastic.It's the bane of my life already!)

Original poster
WigWamBam · 27/03/2006 11:31

I wouldn't bother with plastic either ... I bought a glass one (so my green credentials aren't too dented by it Wink). It was only a couple of pounds, and I'm the sort who needs proper instructions (then goes off and makes it up as she goes along later).

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moondog · 27/03/2006 11:37

Tell you what though..my lentils didn't sprout (I had a mixed 'harvest' Smile)

Wonder why......?

Original poster
WigWamBam · 27/03/2006 11:43

That's weird ... maybe some are easier to sprout than others.

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moondog · 27/03/2006 11:58

Yes.
Am in a protracted period of experimentation.Also with my sourdough bread,but that is going very badly.
Even the squirrels won't eat it.

Original poster
WigWamBam · 27/03/2006 12:02

Do squirrels generally eat sourdough bread?

(Silly question time ... you did use whole lentils, I presume ... not split ones?)

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moondog · 27/03/2006 12:04

These buggers eat anything!
No,they were whole..in a BiosnaCKY (RIDICUlOUS name) mix.

Original poster
WigWamBam · 27/03/2006 12:06

Biosnacky ...

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quanglewangle · 27/03/2006 13:26

Thanks WWW, I'll go and dust of my sprouter now and get some chickpeas soaking.

This is my \link{http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=695\sprouter}, you can do 3 types at once or do successional cropping. I bought it cos it was cheap. I just wish it had a lid like \link{http://cj.uk.shop.com/op/~3_Tier_Sprouter-prod-14839106\this one}.

Or hows about this one at a \link{http://www.energiseyourlife.com/EasyGreen-Automatic-Sprouter-pr-65.html\silly price}. Good grief, have I nothing better to do? Am trying to avoid getting heavy with the fecking builders....

quanglewangle · 27/03/2006 13:26

Sorry, meant WWB Blush