I sprouted lentils last week
 

Never sprouted anything before.
I tried using regular old brownish lentils from the grocery store and they were pretty darn good. I soaked them for a few hours in water, then spread them out over paper towels in a colander, put em in the cupboard and two days later they were sprouted.
The best part is I can now 'cook' my lentil hoard using zero energy, that may come in handy someday.

Re: I sprouted lentils last week
 

This is something I'm very interested in. Want to find a good, reasonably priced, source for sprouting seeds. They should store well and for a long time. This would be a good way to get fresh, living foods during tough times.

Re: I sprouted lentils last week
 

I love sprouting.

The best way to sprout that I've found yet, reusable hemp sprout bags:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sproutman-s-Hemp...3286.m20.l1116

Great sprouting resource: http://sprouting.com/

And they have both a Canadian and US store for buying organic sprouting seeds: http://www.sprouting.com/sprouting%20seeds.htm

Re: I sprouted lentils last week
 

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/F-1V4vtV8Yo&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/F-1V4vtV8Yo&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Re: I sprouted lentils last week
 

I have been looking into long term storage and building up my pantry.... Until last year I only ever had a dozen cans and jars in it, I would tend to buy fresh as needed..

I wrote to Mumms inquiring about their seeds, storage and longevity and received this response, which I thought I would share with you as it may be of use to some...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

All our seeds are certified organic. I should make it clearer on the price list.

Opening the seed doesn't make much difference, as long as it's in an insect proof container.

Seed storage life varies with seed type and with storage conditions. Usually they are good for at least a year at cool dry room temperature.

If refrigerated, they should be good for several years, and if frozen they'll last almost indefinitely.

Regards, Jim Mumm
--
MUMM'S SPROUTING SEEDS LTD. ~ Certified Organic seeds for sprouting ~
Mumm's, PO Box 80, Parkside, SK, Canada S0J 2A0
mumms@sprouting.com phone 306 747 2935 fax 306 747 3618
www.sprouting.com

Re: I sprouted lentils last week
 

Sprouts are really tasty, and really good for you, because the young sprout has the "life force" of the plant still alive in it. A favorite sprout meal of mine is a sprout sandwich. I use real bread, butter, honey, & sprouts. Purple basil adds a nice touch if you can find it. Delicious, nutritious, satisfying.

Re: I sprouted lentils last week
 

i like the sprout bag idea - btw - its cheaper here:

Re: I sprouted lentils last week
 

Is there somewhere that analyzes the vitamin content of sprouts v. the unsprouted seed?

I understand that usable fiber and chlorophyll would be greater in the sprouts, but am unclear on changes in vitamin content.

Ah, the miracle of life.

Re: I sprouted lentils last week
 

I did this on Saturday....here we are on Wednesday.....I think today is the day I eat them??? Perhaps give it one more day...... I've tasted a few....very good!

Just how long do you let the sprout grow? The sprout is now about 3X - 5X as long as the original lentil bean i started with. The sprout tail is perhaps 0.5 to 0.75 in long.

This is cool....my little kids think they are magic beans....that is what i told them....want to encourage them to eat them.

Re: I sprouted lentils last week
 

If so, I am not aware of it. You're right though, it's a total miracle, as to how adding water can cause a chain reaction that propogates chemicals that weren't in the original seed...or at least only in trace amounts....You encouraged me to go read the wiki on the subject, and apparently some of the more complex fibers starches and proteins break down into basic amino acids, essential oils, and vitamins...Some claim that the sprouts have 500% vitamin increases as opposed to the raw seed....and that these are all more bioavailable than any other form of food...Since the plant requires these simple nutrients in order to grow...

They also cautioned that certain sprouts are toxic in any form. (Though I'd ridicule anybody who got sick. Hey Lame-o! That wasn't even a full formed plant!) Most are great for you...Also be aware of obtaining seeds which have been treated with certain pesticides....These will mingle in the "soak" period.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprouting

I am doing more research now to find a sweet spot between protein, vitamins, amino acids, etc. Presumably the more protein goes up, the more the basic building blocks are being cannibalized to do so....

Re: I sprouted lentils last week
 

Since Christmas getting into sprouts and wheat grass (with a wheat grass juicer). I feel much better about my preps knowing I can turn a handful of stored wheat carbohydrate into a green super-food veggie indoors in a matter of a few weeks.

Re: I sprouted lentils last week
 

How does one go about doing that??? :)

Re: I sprouted lentils last week
 

That was an EXCELLENT video. For someone like me who knows as much about farming/agriculture/plants/growing plants as I do about Russian sewage systems, watching that video filled me with as much awe as watching Mr. Wizards World did when I was a kid.

Thanks for posting!

Re: I sprouted lentils last week
 

Sprouting for wheatgrass uses some soil, unlike other sprouting. This place sells kits, but one does not need one, the supplies are organic red wheat and trays and soil from a garden store. The trays are only half the depth of a normal seed tray, about 1 inch of peaty seedling soil. Wheat berries are laid on top and don't need more than some indirect light by a window. Sprouting time is a couple weeks (indoors). This is the juicer I have and can recommend. 'Normal' juicers do not work well with grass.

Nutritional Information

WHEATGRASS: NATURE'S FINEST MEDICINE

Re: I sprouted lentils last week
 

Fantastic!

This is definitely something I will be tinkering with soon. It's weird, the older I get, the more I am learning to appreciate watching things grow.

Thanks a bunch, Keehah. :yippee: