Are Sprouts Safe to Eat Raw?

It’s just too hard for big commercial growers to keep the process clean. Does that mean they aren’t safe to eat? Of course not. As long as you follow the same healthy rules you would for any other food, you will have no problem enjoying your homegrown sprouts.

Can You Get Food Poisoning from Eating Sprouts?

The truth is, you can get food poisoning from any produce that has been contaminated and sprouts are no different. Due to the way they are grown, there is a higher chance of bacteria growth, making it necessary for you to take extra steps to keep the process clean.

There are a few things you can do to keep the sprouting process clean and healthy, especially if you choose to grow sprouts at home. These include the following:

• Reputable Seeds

  Starting with the seeds themselves, be sure to buy sprout seeds from a reputable source that guarantees they are contaminant-free.

• Seed Immersion

  Some websites recommend heating a pot of 3% hydrogen peroxide (available in any drug store) to 140 degrees and then immersing the seeds (inside a strainer) into the solution for five minutes, stirring it around every so often. Be sure to use a clean thermometer to keep the temperature steady. Any longer than that and you might end up with cooked seeds.

• Soak the Seeds

  Another idea is to soak the seeds in undiluted vinegar for 15 minutes. In fact, the source of most cases of sprout pathogens lies in the seeds themselves, not necessarily in the preparation. Therefore, pay careful attention to where you purchase your sprouts seeds from.

• Keep Everything Clean

  When starting out, everything must be kept scrupulously clean: the sprouting jar, lid, your hands, and anything else that will be used in the process of sprouting. Clean with hot water and a small amount of bleach. then rinse well. That keeps all the bacteria at bay. If you live in a place with questionable water you might want to use bottled water for the sprouts.

• Rinse Sprouts Thoroughly

  Rinsing the sprouts thoroughly twice a day is the next very important step. Rinsing is necessary to make the seeds sprout, but any standing water can be a harbor for bacteria. Some people even rinse their sprouts several times a day. Either way, it’s vital to stand the sprouting vessel at a 45-degree angle upside down in a bowl to help the water drain even more completely.

Here are four different places you can find spouts online:

1. Amazon

   Amazon is an easy place to find almost anything, including the seeds and materials you need to grow sprouts. You can find individually packaged seeds or sampler packs so that you can ultimately find the taste you like best.

2. True Leaf Market

   True Leaf Market offers a large selection of organic and non-GMN sprouting seeds that you can use to grow your own delicious sprouts.

3. Johnny Seeds

   You can find at least 15 types of sprouting seeds on the Johnny Seeds website. They all come untreated and have tested negative for E. coli 0157 and Salmonella.

4. Sprout House

   Sprout House has a nice selection of non-GMO sprouting seeds. Each comes with a full description so you will exactly what you are going to get.