Produce Storage Bags
These re-usable refrigerator bags come 10 to a box, are gusseted, and measure 12" x 16".
These bags are amazing! We have tested sprouts, fruits and veggies. We had Cilantro in one of these bags for a month! Plastic bags will still do for storing your sprouts, but if you want the best - for every sprout, fruit and vegetable - try these. You know us, we don't sell stuff just to sell it - these really are awesome. The bags is widely reviewed (positively), and like we said above - our personal experience is great, so we think it is a good bet you'll be happy with them.
Yields approximately 4 Cups (1/2 lb.) of Sprouts
Seed Prep
Measure out 2 Tablespoons of seed* (slightly heaping) into your Sprouter or a strainer.
Rinse your seeds to remove dust and debris.
Soak
Transfer your seeds into your Sprouter (if necessary), or to a bowl.
Mix seeds up as you slowly add water to assure even water contact for all.
Add 2-3 times as much cool (70-80°F) water.
Allow seeds to Soak for 4-12 hours.
Do Not Ever Soak Again. Soaking is done only this one time.
We start counting days at this point - when the Soak is done (post-Soak is the phrase we use).
A crop of Leafy Sprouts usually takes 6 days - from This point in time to harvest.
Sprouting
Empty the seeds into your Sprouter (if necessary).
Drain off the soak water.
You can use it - it has nutrients in it. We use it on house plants.
Rinse thoroughly with cool (70-80°F) water.
Drain thoroughly.
Draining Thoroughly (Maniacally even) is the key to great crops. The smaller the seed (all Leafy Sprouts are small seeds) the more thorough you must be. Do Not skimp on Rinsing - but focus seriously on Draining.
If you need to see what we mean by Thorough Draining - check out our videos.
Set your Sprouter anywhere out of direct sunlight and at room temperature (70° is optimal) between Rinses.
This is where your sprouts do their growing. We use a counter top - in the corner of our kitchen, where the sprouter won't get knocked over by cats, dogs, kids or us. Indirect sunlight is fine, as is your regular room light - because light just does not matter much in the first couple days.
A plant can only perform photosynthesis when it has leaves. Until a plant has leaves, light has little if any effect. Sprouts also happen to like air-circulation, so don't hide your sprouts. When leaves do appear, this will be plenty of light for them to green up. You can also use Grow Lights if you like.
Rinse and Drain again every 8-12 hours for 3 days.
Always be sure to Drain very thoroughly. The most common cause of inferior sprouts is inadequate drainage. Even the best designed Sprouting Device holds water, so pay special attention to this step.
Greening
On the 4th day (post soak) relocate your sprouts, if necessary.
If you've been keeping them away from light - move them. Avoid direct sun as it can cook your sprouts, unless you are growing in a Tray Sprouter - in which case direct sunlight is great. Indirect sunlight is best for non-tray Sprouters but grow lights work well too. Experiment - you will be amazed at how little light sprouts require to green up. Photosynthesis is a marvel!
Continue to Rinse and Drain thoroughly every 8-12 hours.
Your last Rinse and Drain will be either at the end of day 5 or the start of day 6.
Always Drain Thoroughly.
Finishing
Your sprouts will be done about the end of day 6.
The majority of sprouts will have open leaves which will be green. You'll recognize them.
De-Hulling
Hulls are the thin coat on a seed. In most cases they separate themselves from the sprout. They are only a problem when it comes to the shelf life of your finished crop. We've eaten them for years and consider them extra roughage, but the crop looks better and lasts longer without them - so removing them is good.
You may De-Hull your sprouts at any time during day 5 or 6.
If you have a Salad Spinner - De-Hulling can be your last step. You can harvest and refrigerate them immediately after you finish.
You can also remove hulls prior to harvest...
If you are growing in a Jar - using the Coarse Mesh Screen will allow some hulls to float out through the screen while Rinsing. Repeating and agitating your sprouts will allow more hulls to escape.
If you're growing in an Easy Sprout Sprouter - transfer your sprouts to the Solid Base, fill with water, and agitate with a fork. This will help hulls get to the surface - where you can skim them off. When you've gotten all you can - move your sprouts back to the Growing Vessel, Rinse again, and Drain Thoroughly.
If you're growing in our Stainless Steel Sprouter you can get rid of most of the hulls by Rinsing Upside Down. Instead of writing words - let us direct you to our short video on the subject: Rinsing Leafy Sprouts Upside Down
Here is our video on De-Hulling.
Harvest
If you De-hulled with a salad spinner - you can go right to refrigeration. If not... Your sprouts are done 8-12 hours after your final Rinse and Very Thorough Draining. If we minimize the surface moisture of our sprouts they store much better in refrigeration, so we let them sit for 8-12 hours after that final Maniacal Draining.
Storing Your Crop
Transfer your sprout crop to a plastic bag or the sealed container of your choice. We have Produce Storage Bags that can extend shelf life substantially.
Leafy Sprouts are best within a week of harvest, but we've had some crops last for over a month in the fridge.
Great work sprout farmer!
*Amount of Seed to Use
* If using Sproutpeople's Single Harvest Pack - use the whole bag (for a one-quart Sprouter). It will produce a crop of approximately 8 ounces.
These seeds yield approximately 7:1 - which means the sprouts will weigh 7 times as much as the seed you start with, but, they will increase even more in volume - so don't start with more than 2 (heaping) Tablespoons per quart/litre of sprouter capacity.
The manufacturer says: Most fruit and vegetables release ethylene gas after harvest. Exposure of the produce to the gas accelerates aging and ultimate deterioration. PEAKfresh® Produce Bags remove ethylene gas to prolong the life and freshness of the produce. Unlike ordinary plastic bags, PEAKfresh® Produce Bags 'breathe' so that damaging gases produced by the fresh produce are removed. PEAKfresh® bags are USA FDA approved, comply with current EU Directives and approved by Swiss, Austrian, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand Authorities. All PEAKfresh® mineral impregnated bags are certified for packaging organically grown produce (International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements )
FOR USE WITH THESE SEEDS/CROPS
Leafy Sprouts Brassica Sprouts Bean Sprouts Nut, Seed and Pseudograin Sprouts Micro-Greens Grain Sprouts Exotic Sprouts Critter Sprouts Greens Grass and any other sprout, fruit or vegetable you are storing.
We sometimes use Ethylene Gas when growing Mung Bean Sprouts with big thick roots. Though we have not yet (as of this writing) done tests with the PEAKfresh® Bag as part of this process; it seems like it will work really well!
Very useful bags which can be used for many different food items besides just sprouted seeds!
These are THE BEST Green Bags ever! I've tried about 4 different brands (including the original Debbie Meyers Green Bags)and Peak Fresh Green Bags are MUCH more effective. These bags keep my just-cut Sunflower Sprouts living, crunchy and fresh for at least 3 weeks whereas the Debbie Meyers bags only did that for half that time. These Peak Fresh Green Bags really work to preserve life force. I label the bags with the date when I start to use them and throw them out after 2 months of use. Usually I use them about 10 times each. They keep sprouts, lettuce, peppers--any veggie--fresh and crisp, but I use the bags mainly to keep my juice sprouts fresh and alive for juicing-- sunflower, pea shoots and cut wheatgrass.
I am truly amazed by how long these bags keep the veggies fresh and usable. But to my surprise, they also keep home made bread mold free and moist for many days. Usually, our home made bread will only stay fresh, moist and mold free for 2-3 days. As an experiment, I put a fresh loaf in one of the bags that had been used 7 times and it is still perfect after 4 days. Amazing
I am truly amazed by how long these bags keep the veggies fresh and usable. But to my surprise, they also keep home made bread mold free and moist for many days. Usually, our home made bread will only stay fresh, moist and mold free for 2-3 days. As an experiment, I put a fresh loaf in one of the bags that had been used 7 times and it is still perfect after 4 days. Amazing
I highly recommend purchasing and using these bags. We use them to store sprouts as well as our farmer's market greens. These bags have allowed us to decrease our market run to every two weeks because 1) our produce freshness lasts until all bags of greens have been consumed versus thrown in compost due to spoilage, and; 2) we re-use each bag at least three times but up to five times before the wear is evident and bag becomes cloudy and less effective. Finally, these bags are biodegradable. Purchase one box of 10 bags and you will become a lifetime fan. No more waste!!! Woot!
