Easy Sprout Sprouter

Easy Sprout Sprouting Instructions

Specific Sprouting Instructions are found on the page devoted to the Seed or Mix you are interested in. Below are the specifics of the Easy Sprout

Seed Prep

Since the Easy Sprout drains from the bottom it is the perfect device for cleaning your seeds prior to soaking. If you are sprouting small seeds, snap the Small Seed Insert into the bottom of the Growing Vessel. Put your seeds in the Growing Vessel and run water through them until the water runs clear.

Soaking

Place the Growing Vessel - now with clean seeds - into the Solid Base. Fill with cool (60 - 70°) water unless instructed otherwise by your seed supplier (us we hope =;-) and leave to soak for 8 - 12 hours - or for the time noted for the seed or mix you are sprouting.

Rinsing

It is optimal to remove the Growing Vessel and hold it under your tap or sprayer. This allows you to use water pressure (we like our water pressure high). Make sure all of the sprouts get thoroughly wet by moving the Easy Sprout, or by moving your tap or sprayer. As an average we will run water through for about 15-20 seconds at every Rinse, but there is no hard rule. Always use cool (60 - 70°) water.

If you need or prefer to use less water: Leave the Growing Vessel inside of the Solid Base. Fill it with at least twice as much water as you have seeds/sprouts. Twirl the Easy Sprout so that the seeds/sprouts swim round 'n round. As your crop grows you will likely need to use a fork or spoon to make them swim.

Sprouting

In between Rinsing and Draining, your Easy Sprout does best while set up with the Growing Vessel sitting higher than the Solid Base and with the Dome Lid resting on the Growing Vessel's lip (the Dome Lid may be dome up or dome down - it makes no difference). But, since all Easy Sprouts sold since fall of 2000 include the modern design, you have the option of 1. Not elevating the Growing Vessel and 2. Using the Flat Vented Lid instead of the Dome Lid (The Flat Vented Lid was designed specifically for Travel Sprouting), but do as you will.

Draining

Bounce the Growing Vessel against the side of your sink, Shake it, Spin it. You can't break this wonderful device so go for it! Get all the water out after each rinse because as we know - seeds will not germinate in standing water and sprouts that sit in water will rot - which smells really bad.

Greening

We always suggest a low-light, 70° location for your sprouter, until it is time for Greening (if you are growing sprouts that green - like Leafy or Brassica sprouts). At that point we say to move your sprouter to a well lit location. Easy Sprout, though partially opaque, will allow in plenty of light to get your sprouts to go green - well - those around the outside anyway. Even though it has remarkable air-circulation, you don't want to put it in direct sunlight as your sprouts could cook. So concentrate on that other thing we say: You'll be amazed at how little light it takes to turn your sprouts green!

Harvest and Crop Storage

Before Harvesting any crop, it is essential that you Drain it Very Thoroughly after your final Rinse. Storing crops that are dry to the touch, maximizes their shelf life. So pay especially close attention to this: Drain thoroughly! If you are growing Leafy or Brassica sprouts, you can use our De-Huller to remove any remaining hulls, and dry your crop at Harvest time.

If you want to Store Your Crop using Easy Sprout, all you need do is snap the solid lid atop the Solid Base before putting it in your refrigerator. Do leave your sprouts in the Growing Vessel if you're storing in Easy Sprout.

Seed Specific Sprouting Instructions

If you have a particular seed type in mind, read on to discover further details of Easy Sprouting that seed type. Refer to the seed's main information page for detailed instructions.

Leafy Sprouts

Alfalfa, Clover and our gourmet Mixes. One issue folks have with these sprouts is that they expect them to be green. There are almost always - regardless of the sprouting method - some sprouts which will not turn green, because some sprouts grow under or behind those on the top or outside of the crop. Our advice is: Live with it! Most will green if you don't over-crowd the sprouter (use 2 Tbs. - or less, of seed) - and those that don't are still plenty delicious, nutritious and they add beauty - yellow goes well with green and white (roots)! These also will do better if they are allowed to move freely, so break up the mass on day 4 and 5. It is not a critical issue with the Leafy Sprouts, but it does have the added benefit of allowing hulls to float away if you break them apart while submerged in water. To get some hulls out along the way, leave the Growing Vessel in the Solid Base, fill with water, stir around and break up the mass of sprouts, gently with a fork. Skim the hulls off and compost them.

Here's a guided tour of the dehulling technique:

Maximum dry seed to Soak is 3 Tablespoons, but that will seriously crowd them. We generally use 2 heaping Tbs. for a big crop.

Brassicas

Broccoli, Radish, Cabbage, Mustard, etc. Need to move while sprouting or they will form a root mass which is at least unpleasant and often lessens the sprouts' quality. Solution: Rinse with high water pressure. The intent is to make the sprouts "dance". Often by day 3 or 4 your sprouts will be in too tight a mass for the water pressure to dislodge them, so take a fork or use your hands to loosen them up. Alternately, you can transfer the sprouts to the Solid Base, fill it with water, use the fork or a clean hand - it is often easier to break up the mass while they are in water. Keep breaking up the mass at every Rinse or two.

Maximum dry seed to Soak is 4 Tablespoons, but 3 Tbs. is best.

Beans

Follow instructions on this page and on the seed's page (follow the links when you get there) for all beans. If you wish to grow big thick rooted Mung Bean sprouts - see below....

Maximum dry seed to Soak is 1.5 cups (except mung beans) - that will totally fill the Easy Sprout (and possibly then some).

Mung Bean

Mungs will grow bigger thicker roots if weight is applied to them. We use 2 Easy Sprouts. We fill the Solid Base (of the Easy Sprout that we aren't growing in) 2/3 full of water and snap the Flat Solid Lid onto it. We then put that Solid Base right on top of the beans between Rinses.

The other key to Mung sprouting is to keep the seeds/sprouts in place. Rinse with a sprayer (if your sink has one) and keep the water pressure low enough to keep the beans from moving. This will make the roots grow down (it's a nature thing) and because space is tight, the roots will grow thicker (it's a mung thing). Mungs are the only bean sprout we do this with, though we have seen Soy Beans done this way also. Here: After the initial Rinse - following the Soak period - apply weight to the beans by resting the 2/3 filled Solid Base of a second Easy Sprout directly atop your soaked mungs. When you Rinse 8 -12 hours later use a gentle spray - Drain well but keep the seeds movement to a minimum. Re-apply the weight. 8 - 12 hours later Rinse and Drain again; keeping the seed/sprout movement to a minimum. Keep repeating this Rinse/ Drain/weight thing until either your sprouts are done or they grow too high to allow the weight to stay put. If they grow that high; discard the weight and just Rinse and Drain until your sprouts are done - which is usually 4 - 5 days.

One other thing we do - which is of course mentioned on the Mung Bean page, is to submerge the sprouts in water, for about 20 minutes - on the 3rd and/or 4th day. Having grown as many tons of Mung Beans as we have, we have developed our own methods, beliefs, and maybe superstitions. Whether this step does anything I can not say for certain. It seems as if it does, which is why I keep doing it, but I don't know why it does anything. Easy Sprout makes this very easy, of course. Just leave the Growing Vessel inside the Solid Base at Rinse time, and fill it with water. Do this only when your beans are firmly in place, we don't want them to float apart (a few on top will likely float, but that's OK). We Rinse lightly after this submersion. Why? Dunno.

Maximum dry seed to Soak: We STRONGLY suggest you use no more than 1/2 cup of seeds in your Easy Sprout, until you have gained some experience and feel comfortable experimenting. Read more here. If you are growing these like other beans - with tiny roots, you can max out at 1 1/2 Cups.

Exotics

Follow Seed and Sprouter instructions, there's nothing else you need to know.

Maximum dry seed to Soak varies, depending on the seed/mix you are sprouting. See the detailed instruction pages for details.

Grains

Follow Seed and Sprouter instructions.

Maximum dry seed to Soak is 2 cups.

Nuts, Seeds and Pseudograins

Follow Seed and Sprouter instructions.

Maximum dry seed to Soak is 2 cups.

Grass and Greens

If you insist on trying this, start with 1/4 - 1/2 cup of seed and allow it to form into a mass by rinsing with low pressure water. Drain gently. Roots will form and plants will grow. Remember - we did not suggest this was a good idea so don't complain to us about how it comes out - speaking of which - be careful to remove the roots by cutting or you might break this un-breakable sprouter.

Easy Sprout is of course perfect if you want to Pre-Sprout

Maximum dry seed to Soak is 2 Cups

Micro-Greens

You really should not even try this - it won't be pretty!

Critter Sprouts

Whether you're growing A Bird Mix or 4 Legs of Love - they require no additional information. Everything you need to know is on the mix' detailed instruction page.

Maximum dry seed to Soak is 1 1/2 Cups