When I have a batch of mature sprouts, I fill the kitchen sink with cool water and plunge as many as I can into it. The seeds tend to float to the top, although a gentle churning of the clumps of sprouts is necessary to free up many more seeds. I pull out all the clean sprouts, while pushing the seeds to the corner of the basin. The clean sprouts then go into a pasta drainer which is set up in the sink’s other basin, so the water can drain out down the free drain. Most of the water will drain out pretty quickly. Then I stack the pasta drainer in a big stainless steel bowl to allow the water to continue to drip, which it will do for a few hours.
More water than you think will drip out in those few hours. Better to let it drip out than let the sprouts sit in this water when stored in the refrigerator.
After a few hours’ dripping, I transfer the sprouts to a large refrigerator storage dish. They will keep several days in the refrigerator this way, clean and dry. The refrigerator slows the growth.
I still always smell and feel the sprouts when I’m about to use them in a salad. If they concern me the least little bit, out they go to the compost, or I will give them a quick rinse for freshening.
The sprouts shown are a mix of red clover, alfalfa and fenugreek.
YUM! I need to sprout more often!
I really appreciate this article and the previous ones on your website regarding sprouting and microgreens. Being new to sprouting, you’ve given me some useful information. Thanks!
How do you sprout your sprouts?? I have a sprouter, and did real good, now I can’t get them to sprout–I even got new seeds thinking I had a bad batch.