How to Store Sprouts | Keep Sprouts Fresh Longer

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If you’ve ever wondered how to store sprouts to keep them fresh longer, you’re in the right place. In this article I’ll provide tips for storing sprouts without compromising the quality of the sprouts. I’ll also give you tips for choosing the best sprouting seeds. You’ll also learn how to grow sprouts in a healthy way.

I have found that the best way to have a supply of fresh sprouts every day is to start a new tray or jar of sprouts each day. But there are times when that’s not possible due to busyness, travel, or other life circumstances. There are also times when I grow more sprouts than I can eat at a time. When that happens, I need to store them to eat at a later time.

Here’s how to store sprouts to keep them fresh longer. First, rinse the sprouts to remove the hulls. The next step is draining the water off the sprouts. Finally, store the sprouts in the refrigerator at a temperature between 34- and 38-degrees Fahrenheit in a breathable container.

Read on for more details on how to store sprouts to maintain maximum freshness.

Pro Tip: I buy all of my sprouting seeds from True Leaf Market. Use this link to get $5 off your first order.

How to Store Sprouts to Keep them Fresh

Agitate the sprouts to separate the hulls from the sprouts.

Remove the sprouts from the water, and discard the water.

After growing sprouts to maturity, rinse them to remove the hulls. First, put them into a bowl and fill the bowl with water. Then swish the sprouts so that the hulls separate from the sprouts.

Next, dump off the water and the hulls that have come off the sprouts. Repeat the process two or three times, until most of the hulls have come off. Note that it’s fine for some hulls to remain on the sprouts.

This is what the rinsed sprouts look like. You can see that there are a few hulls remaining, which is fine.

According to SproutPeople.org:

The hulls which are left behind vary from sprout to sprout in regards to texture and density. some seeds – like the Brassicas (Broccoli, Radish, Cabbage, etc.) shed very thick hulls which, if not removed can shorten the storage of your sprouts due to their moisture content.

After removing the hulls, it’s important to remove as much water as possible. There are a couple of methods of removing water. The first method is to put the rinsed and dehulled sprouts in a colander and put them aside for an hour or two at the most.

If you’re in a hurry, after leaving them in a colander for a few minutes, remove them from the colander and pat them dry with a paper towel.

You can also use a salad spinner to remove any excess water. In fact, some people use a salad spinner as a way to remove the hulls and remove water at the same time!

Once you’ve dehulled your sprouts and removed most of the water, it’s time to store them in the refrigerator.

There are two primary considerations when it comes to storing your sprouts in the refrigerator. The first is temperature. When storing sprouts, the refrigerator temperature should be set at between 34 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit.

It’s also best to avoid pushing the sprouts to the back of the refrigerator. Temperatures in the back of the fridge are at times cold enough to freeze the sprouts at least partially.

The second consideration when it comes to storing your sprouts in the refrigerator is to store them in a proper bag or container.

If you were in a hurry and are not 100% sure that you got all the moisture off the sprouts, store them in a zippered bag, with a paper towel. The paper towel helps to wick away any moisture. If you later notice the paper towel is wet, remove the wet paper towel.

You can also store your sprouts in plastic bags that are made specifically for storing produce.

I personally like these Peak fresh Re-Usable produce storage bags which you can get here on Amazon.

These bags remove ethylene gas. Ethylene gas causes fruit and vegetables to rot faster, so the removal of the gas more than doubles how long your sprouts will stay fresh.

While the storage bags are reusable, you do need to replace them occasionally.

If you want a longer-lasting solution for storing sprouts, storage containers made specifically for storing produce are a good option. These containers are constructed in such a way that they allow any moisture to drain out. They also allow good airflow, which is also important when it comes to keeping sprouts fresh longer. Here is the brand that I recommend.

The Best Sprouts Start with Quality Sprouting Seeds

Of course, one of the best ways to ensure quality sprouts is to start with quality sprouting seeds.

It’s possible to have some success with growing sprouts from seeds such as lentils that you purchase at a grocery store. However, many of those seeds are treated to prevent sprouting. They may also have been sprayed with pesticides.

Check out our Microgreens at True Leaf Market

For those two reasons, it’s best to buy seeds from a reputable company that are specifically for sprouting. After doing a lot of research, I made the choice to buy all of my sprouting seeds from True Leaf Market.

I’ve been a customer of True Leaf Market for four years and have been pleased with both the quality of sprouting seeds, the cost, and their excellent service. Use this link to get $5 off your first order from True Leaf Market.

Avoiding Dangers Associated with Sprouting

Perhaps you’ve heard that it’s unsafe to eat fresh sprouts. It is true that there have been a small number of incidences of both salmonella and E Coli associated with eating raw sprouts.

However, each of these incidents is easy to avoid if you follow these guidelines:

Grow your own sprouts. When you grow your own sprouts, you maintain control when it comes to the quality of seeds as well as the growing and storing process.
Buy all of your sprouting seeds from a reputable source. For this reason, while I often support home-based business owners, when it comes to sprouting seeds, I recommend companies that have stood the test of time. As I mentioned previously, my company of choice is True Leaf Market.
Rinse sprouts at least twice a day. Shoot for rinsing about once every 12 hours. If you’re home and time permits, it doesn’t hurt to rinse your sprouts an additional time during the day, but it’s not essential.
Wash your hands before handling the sprouts you’re growing.
Toss any sprouts at the first signs of mold. When in doubt, throw them out!

The bottom line is that when you grow sprouts yourself, you have control over the quality and handling of sprouts. If you purchase quality sprouting seeds, practice good hygiene, and rinse and store your sprouts properly, sprouts make a healthy addition to your diet.

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