Looking for a simple, nutritious way to add fresh greens to your meals year-round? Learn how to grow alfalfa sprouts in a jar right on your kitchen counter! With just a few basic supplies and a little water, you can have crisp, homegrown sprouts in under a week. Whether you’re topping sandwiches, adding crunch to salads, or boosting your smoothies, these tiny greens are packed with flavor and nutrients. Follow this easy step-by-step guide to grow alfalfa sprouts at home—no garden required!
Recommended Equipment To Grow Alfalfa Sprouts In A Jar
- Glass Jar with a mesh lid
- Measuring spoon
Ingredients Needed To Grow Alfalfa Sprouts In A Jar
- Alfalfa seeds
- Water
Instructions For How To Sprout Alfalfa Seeds
1. In a glass Jar, combine 2 tablespoons of Alfalfa seeds and 6 tablespoons of water. Let the seeds soak in the water overnight.
2. The next morning, drain and rinse the seeds and place the jar in any area that’s not in direct sunlight. This is where the mesh lids for wide mouth mason jars come in handy!
3. Do another rinse of the seeds that night. Repeat this process of rinsing the seeds twice a day for 3 days.
4. On the third day, you should start to see little green leaves starting to appear at the end of each sprout. At this point, you can start using them in your recipes or let the sprouts grow for another day or two.
5. Once the sprouts are at your desired length, rinse and pat them dry before storing in a refrigerator for up to one week. I recommend that you place them on a paper towel in an airtight container for storing in your fridge.
That’s it! As you can see, it’s super easy to grow your own Alfalfa sprouts and way more cost effective than buying them from your local grocery store. And if you’re anything like me, it’s just really enjoyable watching them grow!
Alfalfa Sprouts Benefits
Alfalfa sprouts have been found to help:
- lower cholesterol levels
- aid digestion
- reduce inflammation
- boost the immune system
- and detoxify the body
Consumption of alfalfa sprouts poses risks for certain individuals, including those with a compromised immune system or autoimmune disease. If you’d like to read more about the risks, there’s a good article on Healthline that explains what they are and why. If you’d like to read more about the benefits, I found a good article on Organicfacts discussing them in more detail.
Ways To Use Alfalfa Sprouts
I mostly love putting Alfalfa sprouts on sandwiches. But you can use them in other ways too! Add them to burgers, tacos, salads, smoothies, soups, and more. Alfalfa sprouts are a tasty and beneficial addition to many dishes.
Storage recommendations
As I mentioned above, once the sprouts are mostly dry, I recommend placing them on a paper towel in an airtight container in the fridge. They should stay fresh and crisp for up to one week.
Common Questions
How long does it take for Alfalfa seeds to germinate?
It can take anywhere from 2-5 days to see little sprouts growing from the seeds. On average, little white stems will start appearing on day 2 or 3.
How do you know when the sprouts are ready?
The Alfalfa sprouts are ready when they’re approximately 3 inches long and have their first set of leaves at their ends. At that point, you can place them in a non-humid area with indirect sunlight so their leaves turn green. Then they just need to be rinsed and patted dry before using them in a recipe.
Is it cheaper to grow sprouts at home versus buying them at the store?
Absolutely. My local grocery stores sell them for around $4 per 4oz of sprouts. Whereas I can buy a 12oz bag of seeds for around $10, which yields much more sprouts per dollar. Using just 2 tablespoons of alfalfa seeds will produce approximately 3.5-4oz of sprouts. And each 12oz bag of Alfalfa seeds contains about 30 tablespoons. Meaning each 12oz bag could produce approximately 52oz of sprouts. That’s a much better value!
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How To Grow Alfalfa Sprouts In A Jar
Equipment
- 1 glass jar with a mesh lid
- 1 measuring spoon
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp alfalfa seeds
- 6 tbsp water
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Instructions
- In a glass Jar, combine 2 tablespoons of Alfalfa seeds and 6 tablespoons of water. Let the seeds soak in the water overnight.2 tbsp alfalfa seeds, 6 tbsp water
- The next morning, drain and rinse the seeds and place the jar in any area that's not in direct sunlight. This is where the mesh lids for wide mouth mason jars come in handy.
- Do another rinse of the seeds that night. Repeat this process of rinsing the seeds twice a day for 3 days.
- On the third day, you should start to see little green leaves starting to appear at the end of each sprout. At this point, you can start using them in your recipes or let the sprouts grow for another day or two.
- Once the sprouts are at your desired length, rinse and pat them dry before storing in a refrigerator for up to one week. I recommend that you place them on a paper towel in an airtight container for storing in your fridge.
I have been wanting to do this!
Go for it! They are so easy to make. You won’t be disappointed!
I love this! A great way to add greens to meals all year round!
Absolutely! Thanks for commenting!
I put these delicious little power houses on everything!! They’re so good and I can’t believe they are so easy to grow!