Mung Bean Sprouts

**Durgan** · 01-17-2012, 07:43 PM

17 January 2012 Mung Bean Sprouts 17 January 2012 Mung Bean Sprouts

Mung Bean Sprouts: Deciding to grow bean sprouts, and after pursuing some information on the internet, I decided to devise my own method. A steamer butterfly insert was selected for the container.This has the advantage that it is decidedly convenient to handle and the seeds do not cling when removing the finished plants, and the wings can be closed to inhibit movement of the beans when rinsing, which is necessary about every 7 hours.

The mung beans were soaked in water for 8 hours and placed on the steamer insert, and placed in a pot with some water in the bottom not touching the beans to keep the humidity high.The pot was covered with a damp cheese cloth for adequate air, and placed on a drug store heating pad to keep warm about 27 degrees C. The mung beans were rinsed about every seven hours or when I thought about doing it. The wings of the steamer insert folded, keep the beans from moving when rinsing. Movement would disturb root growth.The beans depicted in the photos have been growing four days, and they will be harvested on the fifth day.The beans were purchased from a Bulk Food store.

**Libby** · 01-17-2012, 07:55 PM

Nice work! Dad has no patience for this and would rather pay the $0.29/lb for them as needed. At least you know where your sprouts have been

**Durgan** · 01-17-2012, 08:14 PM

Originally Posted by Libby

Nice work! Dad has no patience for this and would rather pay the $0.29/lb for them as needed. At least you know where your sprouts have been

I use to have no patience for growing the beans, particularly the methods suggested everywhere. It was a pain in the butt. The streamer insert removes all the misery.

The store bought beans also have the possibility of bring contaminated. The freshness is often questionable.

Everybody should be growing sprouts., Apparently they have many desirable nutrients.

**leighcat** · 01-17-2012, 08:17 PM

Durgan, they came out beautifully! I never thought of using a steamer, that is a really good idea. I need to start sprouting again. Will you be using them in cooking, or raw? My daughter loves sprouts with ranch dressing.

**Libby** · 01-17-2012, 08:26 PM

Originally Posted by Durgan

The store bought beans also have the possibility of bring contaminated. The freshness is often questionable.

I totally agree!! Like I said, at last YOU know where your sprouts have been

(we don't do raw sprouts here though)

**Durgan** · 01-17-2012, 08:36 PM

Originally Posted by leighcat

Durgan, they came out beautifully! I never thought of using a steamer, that is a really good idea. I need to start sprouting again. Will you be using them in cooking, or raw? My daughter loves sprouts with ranch dressing.

I will probably be eating the beans raw for now. Actually I have some more experimentation to do. Fertilizer for example, which is on order. Potassium permanganate is the product. I will do some controlled testing.

**leighcat** · 01-17-2012, 08:47 PM

I never considered using fertilizer. What will that do for them, give them more nutrients?

**nodmicks** · 01-17-2012, 08:52 PM

I love these and growing them never crossed my mind. Thanks for a great post!

**Durgan** · 01-17-2012, 09:24 PM

Originally Posted by leighcat

I never considered using fertilizer. What will that do for them, give them more nutrients?

There is only a little information on the internet. I was told by a Chinese friend that the sprouts were often grown in China with a fertilizer, but he didn't know what type so I researched as much as possible and found potassium permanganate. It apparently encourages the seed to take up oxygen and enhances growth- meaning larger stems. I though it was worth a try so ordered some (100 mg) from the drug store. It is a purple stain and I was a bit familiar with it from a previous experience years ago.

Actually the story is amusing but sort of tragic. I was a young soldier and we were in barracks with a troop of about 30 men. Stealing is not heard of in such a situation. Apparently there was some thefts of money, since people never took any precautions and left their money, when showering etc. loosely around. One person was sort of suspected, but to accuse without proof was a no no.

I got a small bottle of potassium permanganate from a local drug store and had one of the men put some on a five dollar bill, recording the bill number, in his drawer. The suspected man was casually informed while walking to lunch by his walking companion that he left money in his drawer and maybe he should go back and get it. The suspect told him it would be all right. The suspect left lunch early and sure enough the five dollar bill was missing.

The Sargent then was informed and had the men line up outside their rooms and took a pail of water and had each man immerse both hands. Sure enough the suspects hands turned purple. After being questioned as to the cause, the Sargent told him he was as GD thief. He was arrested and discharge from the military after being sentenced to 90 days.

Sort of sad. I suspect the man was a kleptomaniac or has some mental problems. I always felt sort of sad about the episode. The person was a good man otherwise. But he broke the code of conduct.

**leighcat** · 01-18-2012, 06:09 AM

Wow, that is a great story! I should order that for my place of employment. Unfortunately we have had money go missing from residents.

**Durgan** · 01-18-2012, 06:50 AM

Originally Posted by leighcat

Wow, that is a great story! I should order that for my place of employment. Unfortunately we have had money go missing from residents.

It is probably more fun if the recipient of the blue hands is left for for a few days having him/her worry about the cause. The purple colour takes a few days to wear off. The product I had was a powder.

**Durgan** · 01-18-2012, 10:24 PM

18 January 2012 Mung Bean Sprouts. Improved set-up. 18 January 2012 Mung Bean Sprouts. Improved set-up.

Since the Mung beans mature in four days, it was decided to establish a set-up to have fresh beans daily. A suitable plastic container was obtained to hold the typical winged folding steamer, which is the incubating area for sprouting the beans. When rinsing about every 8 to 12 hours, the folding wing steamer is closed to inhibit movement of the bean roots. The steamer is placed in the plastic container with some water in the bottom to maintain a high humidity. The container is placed on a body heating pad and the steamer wings expanded. The container is then covered with a wet cheese cloth to have some diffused light, and some air available. The plastic container is monitored periodically for a temperature from 20C to 28 C.The photographs depict the method.