A bowl of fresh sprouts adds crunch, colour and protein to breakfast, salads and chaat. In summer, moong and chana sprout almost on their own. In winter, cold air slows the process, and you may end up with seeds that stay hard, turn sour or take four or five days to show even a small tail. The seeds are not the problem. They need warmth, moisture and a little patience. Here are simple tips to get good sprouts at home even when the weather turns chilly.
In winter, moong usually sprouts in 24 to 36 hours, and chana can take 48 to 72 hours. This is the key step in winter. Place the sprouts in the warmest part of your home, such as a shelf near (not on) the gas stove, the top of the refrigerator, an insulated casserole or a thermos box. Some people use a switched-off oven with the light on. Avoid sunny windowsills in very cold weather, since the temperature drops sharply at night. A steady, warm place matters more than a bright one, since sprouts do not need light to grow. Rinse the sprouts with lukewarm water in the morning and the evening, drain them thoroughly and wrap them up again. Rinsing keeps them moist and washes away bacteria. If nothing happens after that time, check that the seeds are fresh and the spot is warm enough. Do not let the sprouts sit in standing water, which causes a sour smell.
Soak moong for about 8 hours and chana for 10 to 12 hours, ideally overnight. Cold tap water in winter slows down soaking, so use lukewarm water, comfortably warm to the touch but never hot. The seeds should swell to roughly double their size. This article is intended for general informational and cooking purposes only. Sprouting time and results vary with the seeds, room temperature and humidity. Raw sprouts can carry bacteria in warm, moist conditions, so wash your hands and equipment, use clean water and discard any sprouts that smell bad or look slimy. Children, older adults, pregnant women and people with weak immunity should eat only cooked sprouts. People with food allergies or specific dietary needs should consult a doctor or dietitian.