Sprouting 101: The Ultimate Guide to Sprouting Literally Any Seed or Nut
Even if you’re a total beginner, you can do this and power up your diet.
Although sprouting is one of the best ways to boost the nutritious level of your food, many people dread the process because it looks and seems more intimidating and time-consuming than it is.
Trust me, I know! Even though I was aware of the immense benefits of sprouts, it took me years to start sprouting.
Why? Because, probably like you, I was daunted by the process. It sounded, looked so fancy and complicated; the need for a sprouting tool, sprouting jar, sprouting this and that.
Until the miracle happened — I discovered that sprouting is as easy as “Hello” when I met, here in Cyprus, an amazingly generous and knowledgeable woman, Korina - the founder of SKB Activated Vegan Food® Seminars - who demystified the whole process for me!
How to do it?
How long does it take?
How to store your sprouts?
Keep reading and wonder no more!
It is way easier than you think; all you need is filtered water, a bowl, a sieve, a cloth to cover them, a glass container, and clean hands.
Start your sprouting journey with these 7 easy steps:
1- Wash the seeds you want to sprout and soak them overnight or up to 24hrs, changing the water now and then.
2- Drain them using a sieve — you will leave the seeds to sprout in that sieve.
3- The seeds sprout best in the dark. To keep the light away from them, cover with a cloth and leave to grow in peace.
4- The seeds need to stay wet for them to sprout. Rinse them twice every 24hrs, more often if you live in a hot-weather area.
5- Within 8 to 10 hours, you can already see the tip of the tail starting to squeeze its way out; the warmer the room, the faster they grow. Within two days, your seeds become sprouts. In cold weather, they might need one or two more days to be ready to eat.
6- Wash your sprouts thoroughly with filtered water, move them to a glass container, cover with a wet cloth, and store in the fridge.
7- Keep rinsing them daily — consume within 3 to 4 days.
Notice that every time you rinse your seeds, you hear them fizzle. It’s like they’re giggling, excited by the fresh water… They are coming back to life, and smell so delicious and fresh!
Check out my latest article on sprouting to learn more about why sprouting your seeds will be one of the best things to ever happen to you and your diet!
I, myself, have successfully sprouted beans, buckwheat, chickpeas, lentils, wheat, nuts, seeds, and more. It’s so easy and rewarding that it has become a part of my day.
Final note:
Phytic acid, a natural substance found in plant seeds, is one of the causes of bloating and gas in some people. When you sprout your nuts, grains, and legumes, you neutralize their phytic acid, and they become easier to digest; in addition, you increase their protein quality, fiber, and nutritional content.
Have you faced any challenges while sprouting? I will be happy to hear about it in the comments below and help you if you need me to!
By Ritta Wakim, founder of The True Vegan Body, who helps people over 40 build a knockout body and get addicted to healthy plant-powered eating.
