How to easily grow savory, nutrition-packed sprouts in a jar right on the counter!
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It seems that recently a lot of people have jumped on board the home garden train, and it’s very easy to see why. While gardening does take a lot of time, it is still completely worth it to have fresh, home grown veggies that are ready whenever you are. But for those of us who are always on a crazy schedule or always on the go, we just don’t have the time to maintain a garden. Lucky for us, however, there are a few veggies that can be easily grown right in the kitchen! Did you know that you can grow nutritious and delectable sprouts in a jar, right on the counter? Well now you do and let me tell you it is incredibly easy and it doesn’t take very much time out of a busy schedule.
Why sprouts, you may ask? Besides the added flavor and delightful crunch you get when you add these to a sandwich, wrap, or salad, sprouts also happen to be packed full of vitamins, minerals, and more nutrients than most other vegetables! From a busy parent’s point of view, this is also a fantastic way to introduce children to learning how fun it can be to grow their own food. So whether you want to grow some sprouts to spruce up some homemade meals or you want an exciting and educational summer activity to do with the kids, learning how to grow sprouts in a jar is both simple and fun!
Special Sprouting Equipment
This little plant-growing project can easily be done with items you probably already have around the kitchen. However, to make this simple activity even easier I used equipment specifically made for sprouting.
- Sprouting jar lids
- When growing sprouts, they have to be drained and rinsed daily. These special jar lids are perfect for allowing you to do that without ever having to remove the lid.
- Sprouting jar stand
- Ball Mason Jars- 32 oz
Seeding Materials
I have listed the sprouting seed mixes that I used for this project but you can actually use whatever kind of sprouting seeds you prefer. Just be certain that you pick seeds that are specifically labeled for sprouting because those have been cleaned well for this particular type of growing.
- 2 tbsp Broccoli and Friends Sprouting Seed Mix
- 2 cups water
- 2 tbsp Rainbow Radish Sprouting Seeds Mix
- 2 cups water
- 2 tbsp Daikon Radish
- 2 cups water
How to Grow Sprouts in a Jar
Alright, let’s get to breaking down the steps on how to grow these goodies in a jar, right on the counter! It’s a really simple process and only requires a few minutes of attention each day during the growing process. So round up the kiddos, grab the seeds, and get ready for some quality kitchen fun!
Safety Tip:
If you are doing this activity with young children then it’s probably best to do all of the jar-handling by yourself so there are no little accidents. But don’t worry! Even young kiddos can experience the joy of watching the sprouts grow more and more each day!
Day 1
- First, gather up the equipment and measure out all of the sprouting materials.
- Then, pour the sprouting seeds into your mason jars and cover them with 2 cups of water each. Secure a sprouting jar lid to each jar and let them sit on the counter overnight.
- Label the jars if growing different varieties.
Day 2
- The next day, drain out the overnight water through the strainer sprouting jar lids.
- Do not remove the lids at all during the entire rinsing and draining process. You don’t want to accidentally lose any seeds.
- Then, add clean, cold water to the jars and swish it around to rinse the seeds.
- Next, drain out the water through the lids and place the jars propped upside down on the sprouting jar stand.
- If you do not have a stand, you can prop your jars up carefully against a wall and on a kitchen towel. Just make sure they can get some air flow.
- Try to place the jars somewhere away from direct sunlight.
- Rinse and drain the sprouts like this 1-2 more times throughout the day.
Day 3
- Repeat the rinsing and draining process using cold water 1- 2 times throughout the day.
- Remember, do not open the lids!
- You should start seeing little sprouts starting to pop out on this day! But don’t freak out if you don’t see any yet, different types of sprouts can have different sprouting times.
Day 4
- Repeat the rinsing and draining process using cold water 1- 2 times throughout the day.
- Remember, do not open the lids!
- There should be a bit more visible sprouting and more little sproutlings popping out today.
Day 5
- Repeat the rinsing and draining process using cold water 1- 2 times throughout the day.
- Remember, do not open the lids!
- Almost there! There should be quite a bit more sprouting visible now!
Day 6
Harvesting:
- Once the sprouts reach about an inch, they are ready for harvesting and devouring!
- If you want your sprouts to be a bit greener in color you can put them in direct sunlight for a day before harvesting. Spin the jar so the sun can reach all the sprouts.
- When ready to harvest, first remove the sprouts from the jars.
- Then, thoroughly rinse and drain the sprouts. I personally prefer to use a salad spinner for rinsing and spinning out all the excess water.
- Next, line a baking sheet with paper towels.
- Transfer the sprouts to the paper towel- lined baking sheet, keeping the varieties separate. Then, let the sprouts dry for about 30 minutes.
- Finally, transfer the sprouts to an airtight container lined with a paper towel.
- These home- grown sprouts should be eaten as soon as possible but can be stored for up to 3 days in the fridge.
- These can also be stored in a plastic bag or glass container, but always with a paper towel to help absorb any moisture.
Savory Sprout Serving Ideas
There are all kinds of recipes that you can use these delectable sprouts with. The delightful crunch and unique flavor add a special something to just about any lunch or a homemade meal. Need a pep up to the everyday sandwich routine? These are a perfect addition! Want a nutritious and healthy breakfast? Try some of these sprouts on avocado toast for a power start to your morning!
Serve homegrown sprouts on:
- Burgers
- Sandwiches
- Soups
- Wraps
- With cream cheese or avocado on toast
- In smoothies
- In spreads, or dips
- Salads
- on a Bagel Brunch Board
How to Grow Sprouts in a Jar
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Broccoli and Friends Sprouting Seed Mix
- 2 cups water
- 2 tbsp Rainbow Radish Sprouting Seeds Mix
- 2 cups water
- 2 tbsp Daikon Radish
- 2 cups water
Instructions
Day 1
- First, gather up the equipment and measure out all of the sprouting materials.
- Then, pour the sprouting seeds into your mason jars and cover them with 2 cups of water each. Secure a sprouting jar lid to each jar and let them sit on the counter overnight. Label the jars if growing different varieties.
Day 2
- The next day, drain out the overnight water through the strainer sprouting jar lids. Do not remove the lids at all during the entire rinsing and draining process. You don’t want to accidentally lose any seeds.
- Then, add clean, cold water to the jars and swish it around to rinse the seeds.
- Next, drain out the water through the lids and place the jars propped upside down on the sprouting jar stand. If you do not have a stand, you can prop your jars up carefully against a wall and on a kitchen towel. Just make sure they can get some air flow.Try to place the jars somewhere away from direct sunlight.
- Rinse and drain the sprouts like this 1-2 more times throughout the day.
Day 3
- Repeat the rinsing and draining process using cold water 1- 2 times throughout the day. Remember, do not open the lids! You should start seeing little sprouts starting to pop out on this day! But don’t freak out if you don’t see any yet, different types of sprouts can have different sprouting times.
Day 4
- Repeat the rinsing and draining process using cold water 1- 2 times throughout the day. Remember, do not open the lids! There should be a bit more visible sprouting and more little sproutlings popping out today.
Day 5
- Repeat the rinsing and draining process using cold water 1- 2 times throughout the day. Remember, do not open the lids! Almost there! There should be quite a bit more sprouting visible now!
Day 6 Harvesting
- Once the sprouts reach about an inch, they are ready for harvesting and devouring! If you want your sprouts to be a bit greener in color you can put them in direct sunlight for a day before harvesting. Spin the jar so the sun can reach all the sprouts.
- When ready to harvest, first remove the sprouts from the jars.
- Then, thoroughly rinse and drain the sprouts. I personally prefer to use a salad spinner for rinsing and spinning out all the excess water.
- Next, line a baking sheet with paper towels.
- Transfer the sprouts to the paper towel- lined baking sheet, keeping the varieties separate. Then, let the sprouts dry for about 30 minutes.
- Finally, transfer the sprouts to an airtight container lined with a paper towel.
- These home- grown sprouts should be eaten as soon as possible but can be stored for up to 3 days in the fridge. These can also be stored in a plastic bag or glass container, but always with a paper towel to help absorb any moisture.
Food Photography & Video Tips from My Studio
Here’s a peek at the tools, gear, and camera setups I use to film my recipe videos and photograph food at home. Over the years, I’ve tested dozens of different setups, and now I’m sharing what actually works for me—whether I’m filming overhead shots for YouTube or styling still photos for my blog. If you’re curious about how I create the content you see here, these posts are a great place to start.
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