Sprouts are a nutritious and delicious addition to any meal. They are packed with essential vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals which are healthy for our body. Sprouts make for a perfect ingredient for snacks, sandwiches, salads, etc. Even though they can be easily produced at home, they can spoil quickly. If you often find it challenging to keep your sprouts fresh and crispy, worry not! We have got a solution for you. Try these simple tips to increase the shelf life of sprouts and keep them fresh for a longer duration.
Also Read: 6 Lesser-Known Summer Drinks From Across India You Have To Try
Here Are 6 Tips To Keep Sprouts Fresh And Crispy:
1. Check The Sprouts
The first and most important step is to check if there are any spoilt sprouts. Take a good look and remove the sprouts that have gone bad, as there are chances that the spoilt sprouts can make the whole batch of sprouts slimy and smelly. Once done, keep the sprouts that are in good condition separately.
Sprouts can be eaten as a salad.
2. Separate Hull
Although hulls are full of fibre, they can reduce the shelf life of sprouts. These are the outer covering of the sprouts that have to be removed. To de-hull the sprout, add water to a bowl and put the sprouts in it. Now shake the sprouts with your hand and slowly the hull will start to separate. Now drain the water with hulls.
3. Rinse The Sprouts
Under running water, wash the sprouts nicely so that there are no dirt particles remaining on them. By rinsing it under running water, the hull stuck with the sprouts will also easily come off, making the sprouts clean to store.
Also Read: 8 Tips To Store And Scoop Ice Cream Like A Pro
4. Dry The Sprouts
Remove as much excess water as you can from the sprouts. Dab them gently with a fresh kitchen towel and dry them up a little. Now place the sprouts in 3-4 batches on a tray, giving them enough space to dry. Let them naturally dry at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes.
Let it naturally dry in the room temperature.
5. Store Them Right
One thing that helps in increasing the shelf life of the sprouts is storing them correctly. You can either use an air-tight container or a ziplock bag. Place the sprouts in a ziplock bag along with a paper towel. This paper towel will keep the moisture away, increasing the shelf life of sprouts. Now place them in the refrigerator.
6. Place Them In The Right Place In The Fridge
Avoid placing the container or zip-lock bag with sprouts behind in the refrigerator. The temperature of the fridge is at times cooler at the backside, which can result in the freezing of the sprouts. Once the sprouts are frozen, their texture and taste will be ruined, so it's best suggested to keep them in the front side of the fridge.
You can easily keep sprouts fresh with the help of these tips. However, we suggest that it's best to consume fresh sprouts as they are more nutritious.