Grow Bean Sprouts at Home

Growing Bean Sprouts at home is super easy, fun, and rewarding. All you need are mung beans, a few kitchen tools, and just a little bit of patience. In just a few days, you’ll have fresh, crunchy sprouts ready for stir-fries, noodles, or salads!

Grow Bean Sprouts at Home

Serving: Makes about 4 cups of sprouts
Prep time: 12 hours soaking
Grow time: 4–5 days

Ingredients

For sprouting:
8 oz mung beans
Water

Tools

What you’ll need:
1 colander
1 large washing bowl
1 cheesecloth (or use wet paper towels)
1 plate (to press down the sprouts)
2 kitchen towels (preferably dark-colored)

Instructions

1. Soak the mung beans:

• Rinse the mung beans thoroughly under cold water.
• Soak them in about 3 cups of water overnight (8–12 hours).
• Discard any beans that float to the surface — these are no longer good.

2. Prep the sprouting setup:

• The next day, the beans will double in size and may begin to sprout.
• Rinse and drain them again.
• Place a colander over a large bowl. Line the bottom with a damp cheesecloth or wet paper towels.
• Spread the soaked mung beans evenly over the cloth, then cover them with the rest of the cheesecloth.

3. Water and grow:

• Water the sprouts twice a day — morning and evening. Just pour a little water over the top, then drain the excess from the bottom bowl.
• Cover the beans with a clean plate to gently press them down. (This helps grow thicker, crunchier sprouts!)
• Wrap everything with 2 kitchen towels. If you have black or dark-colored towels, even better — they help block out light.
• Place the setup in a cool, dark place. Avoid any direct sunlight to keep your sprouts pale and tender.

4. Harvest:

• In about 4–5 days, your bean sprouts will be long, juicy, and ready to harvest!
• Give them one last rinse before using or storing in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Tips & notes

• Use fresh mung beans for the best sprouting results.
• Keep everything clean to avoid unwanted odors or mold.
• If your kitchen is warm, you may need to water a little more frequently to keep the beans moist.
• Don’t skip the plate! It really helps produce thicker sprouts, just like the ones at the market.