A piece of cheesecloth and rubber band or a sprouting lid
A bowl.
Strainer or sieve.
Prevent your screen from going dark
Ingredients
1tablespoonorganic broccoli sprouting seeds(specifically produced for sprouting/microgreens)
fresh cool water as needed
Instructions
Soak the seeds. Pour the broccoli seeds into a jar and fill halfway with fresh cool water. Place to one side out of direct sunlight to soak for 6-12 hours (according to the packet instructions). This is the only time the broccoli seeds should sit in water. Sitting in water is a common cause of spoiling. If they spoil, discard them and begin again.
Rinse and drain regularly. Securing the lid with your fingers, empty the soak water from the jar, then fill halfway again with fresh cool water. Swirl the seeds around for a few moments before pouring the water away. Be sure to drain the soak water away thoroughly. Place the jar at an angle in a bowl to allow any excess water to escape. Rinse and drain twice daily until ready. I like to do this in the morning and the evening.
When ready. The sprouts are ready to harvest in about five days. They'll have grown 2-5 centimetres long and developed their first tiny green leaves. Place them somewhere bright for a few hours so the leaves can photosynthesise and turn green. Rinse and drain one last time. Remove them from the jar and set them out to dry on some paper towel before storing.
Notes
Tips
It's a good idea to watch over your sprouts, to learn how they look and smell during this process, so that it becomes more familiar to you each time you do it.I find 1 tablespoon will procuce 1-2 cups of sprouting broccoli, depending on how well they sprout and how long you like them to grow before harvesting them.
Storing
Store in a lidded container in the fridge for up to 5 days. I like to sit mine on a piece of paper towel to soak up any excess moisture. Give them a quick rinse and drain before using.
How to tell if sprouts have gone bad
If your sprouts spoil, toss them out and start again.Give your sprouts a sniff. Healthy sprouts will smell fresh. It's a good idea to watch over your sprouts as you go and learn how they look and smell during this process, so it becomes familiar to you. If your sprouts smell funky, not fresh or they if appear slimy, or if you notice a white or off coloured fluffy bits amongst them please throw them out. They're probably spoiled.See the Food Safety information at the bottom of the blog post for full details.