Grow Bean Sprouts at Home

By CiCi Li
April 17, 2020

 

 

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: 3–5 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 3–5 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.

Join the Conversation

  1. Where can I buy the Monk Beans ??

    1. CiCi Author says:

      Hi Lois,

      Thank you for the question! Mung beans are available in most Asian grocery stores. I hope you’ll find them. 🙂

  2. Thank you for sharing.. it looks easy and interesting to grow mung beans sprouts!

    1. CiCi Author says:

      Hi Anita, I’m glad that you enjoyed the video! Happy New Year!

  3. Hi! In your instructions, you say to water the mung beans twice daily. Do you mean during the 3 days while they are growing? Thank you!

    1. CiCi Li Author says:

      Hi Mimi,

      Thanks for the question! Yes, water the mung beans 2 times a day, for 3 days. I hope it works out for you! 🙂

  4. Brinda Crishna says:

    Thanks for this amazing information. My moong beans grew exactly like you said they would. I am so so delighted. Not sure how to send you a picture!

    1. CiCi Li Author says:

      Hi Brinda,

      I’m so happy that you enjoyed growing bean sprouts!

      Best wishes,

      CiCi

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