Grow mung bean sprouts yourself: instructions

Mung beans, also known as mung beans, germinate easily and are ready to harvest as sprouts after just a few days. The fresh, crunchy sprouts can be used in a variety of ways in the kitchen.

The problems of bioburden of many commercially available sprouts have been known for some time. Glad that drawing sprouts easy to do at home too.

By the way: Mung bean sprouts are sometimes sold in stores as "bean sprouts," which can cause confusion when shopping.

Mung Bean Sprouts: What's the Difference to Bean Sprouts?

Unlike Alfalfa sprouts, where the names alfalfa and lucerne are used interchangeably, are mung beans (Vigna radiata) and soybeans (Glycine max) around two different plants. In addition, confusion is caused by the fact that mung bean sprouts are often sold as soybean sprouts or as green soybean sprouts.

However, you can easily tell the two types of sprout apart by taking a closer look at the seeds. Mung beans are green, while soybeans are yellowish-beige and slightly larger. During germination, however, mung beans lose some of the colored seed skin, which is why it is no longer so easy to tell the sprouts apart.

There are also differences in the cultivation and use of mung bean and soybean sprouts: In general, mung bean sprouts are easier to germinate because soybean sprouts are more susceptible to mold growth. Also, bean sprouts contain how many legume (Fabaceae) the poisonous substance phasin, which is only destroyed by heat. You should blanch them before eating. Although mung beans belong to the same family, they are an exception in that sprouted mung beans can be eaten raw.

Grow mung sprouts yourself

Mung bean sprouts are a good way to start germinating at home, because they germinate quickly, reliably and are productive. They are also relatively undemanding when it comes to the germination device. For example, are well suited sprout glasses or sprout trays, and you can even sprout mung beans in a colander that sits in a bowl. Since mung bean sprouts are grown indoors, they can be grown all year round. Especially in winter, when there are few regional vegetables, they can be a valuable addition to the menu.

Tip: When germinating mung bean sprouts, their volume can increase up to 7 times. It is therefore better to use a little fewer seeds at the beginning. After the first germination attempts, you can better estimate how many seeds should be used so that the glass or the germination tray does not get too cramped.

Instructions: Germinate mung beans

1. First, rinse the seeds thoroughly under running water.
2. Then soak the sprouts in fresh water for about 12 hours.
3. After this time, pour off the water. Sprout glasses can now simply be stored upside down. When using germination trays or other germinating equipment, the seeds are spread flat on the surface.
4. Set up your germinator at 18-20°C. If you value really white sprouts, mung beans can also germinate in complete darkness.
5. The seedlings should be rinsed with fresh, lukewarm water 2 to 3 times a day.
6. The finished mung bean sprouts can be harvested after 3 – 4 days, but you can also let them grow a little longer.

Tip: Have you ever wondered why self-germinated mung bean sprouts are usually longer and thinner than the commercially available "bean sprouts"? This is because these sprouts are weighed down as they germinate and need a weight to push up. You can also do this at home, most easily in sprouting trays. To do this, distribute the seeds close together in the germination bowl after soaking. Then put a plate on top. It should not touch the seed directly, but should also not be more than 1 cm above the seed. Load the plate with a maximum weight of 1 kg. This can be done, for example, with a stone, a mortar or weight plates. The plate is then of course removed for rinsing.

How Healthy Are Mung Bean Sprouts?

Mung bean sprouts are very healthy. Like many other sprouts, they are high in vitamins and minerals. Vitamins A, B1, B2, C, E and niacin as well as potassium, phosphorus and iron should be emphasized. The sprouts are also rich in dietary fiber and relatively high in protein for vegetables with around 3 g of protein per 100 g.

With their sweet taste, the crunchy, healthy mung bean sprouts are an integral part of many Asian dishes. You can find them in soups, spring rolls or wok dishes, for example. If possible, mung bean sprouts should be added to dishes just before serving. This keeps them crunchy and their ingredients are better preserved. But sprouted mung beans can also be used raw, for example in salads or as a topping for bread.

Can you eat mung bean sprouts raw? Healthy adults can safely eat mung bean sprouts raw because the amount of harmful phasin is so small that it has no effect. If you still want to be on the safe side, you can blanch the sprouts before eating them. The seed coat may generally be consumed without hesitation.

Also Broccoli Sprouts are very healthy and can be used in many ways. In a separate article we explain everything that needs to be considered when sprouting broccoli.