How to Sprout Beans

5 from 3 votes

Learn how to sprout beans easily at home with this step-by-step guide. Sprouted beans are nutritious and can be used in salads, sandwiches, curries, and many more.

Course meal preparation

Cuisine Indian

Keyword how to sprouts moong beans, sprout beans

Diet Vegan

Method Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker

Prep Time 8

sprouting time 1

Total Time 1 8

Servings

Calories 180kcal

Author Bhavana Patil

Equipment

Ingredients

1 cup mung beans
2 cups water for soaking

Instructions

Step 1: Rinse And Soak

Rinse the moong beans thoroughly in cold water and remove any debris or damaged beans.
Transfer the rinsed moong beans to a large bowl and add 2-3 cups of filtered water to cover the beans by about two inches. Soak them for at least 8-12 hours. Just cover the beans with a thin kitchen towel. Do not cover the beans with a lid, as they may develop an odor.
After the soaking period, the beans would have doubled in size. Discard the water and rinse the moong beans again under running water and drain the water using a strainer or colander.

Step 2: Sprouting Moong Beans in a Cheesecloth

Placing the soaked beans on a cheesecloth or muslin cloth.
Gather all the edges of the cloth together and tie the ends securely to form a bundle. Then, place the bundle in a clean bowl or colander.
Store them in a warm, dark place away from direct sunlight. Normally, I keep them in my oven with lights on for warmth or in an Instant Pot with "Yogurt mode" on.
Beans will start to sprout in 12 hours, and this is how it looks, with small roots emerging from the bean. The exact timing of sprouting can vary depending on factors such as the type of bean, temperature, and moisture levels. Sprouting takes longer in Winter than in Summer.
Note: It's important to maintain moisture in the cloth while sprouting. If you notice that the kitchen napkin has become dry after a day or two, sprinkle some filtered water over it lightly.
You can allow the moong beans to continue sprouting for another day or two to achieve longer sprouts. This is how it looks within 24 hours with a ½-inch long tail.

Sprouting Beans using Instant Pot

Another option for sprouting is using an Instant Pot. Wrap the beans in cheesecloth and place them in a bowl on the trivet in the Instant Pot.
Set the Instant Pot to the "Yogurt" or "Keep Warm" setting and allow the beans to sit for 8-12 hours. You will see mung beans sprouting. Continue sprouting for another day to achieve longer sprouts.

Notes

Tips And Tricks For Perfect Sprouting

Here are some of my exclusive advice on how to consistently get perfect sprouts. Take a look below:

Choose high-quality beans: Use high-quality beans to sprout. Old beans may not sprout properly.
Rinse the beans: Rinse the beans thoroughly under running water to remove any dirt or debris.
Soak the beans in filter water: Put the beans in filtered warm water to soak. Hard water can possibly restrict beans from soaking properly, which will, inturn, hinder sprouting.
Keep the beans moist: Make sure to keep the beans moist during the sprouting process. If it's dry, sprinkle some amount of water on the cheesecloth to keep it moist.
Make sure the sprouting area is clean and dry: Ensure the sprouting area is clean and in a warm, dry location. Otherwise, sprouts can get contaminated and become sticky and smelly.
No Cheesecloth: If you don't have cheesecloth, you can use any thin cotton cloth, or muslin cloth to sprout the beans.
Store the sprouted beans correctly: Once the beans have sprouted, rinse them thoroughly, and store them in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Nutrition