Bean Sprouts

Bean sprouts are the tender shootes of germinated beans, with the slightly crunchy texture and sweet flavor, bean sprouts have become more and more popular in Western countries, you can easily purchase them in grocery stores. Bean sprouts are commonly used in Chinese cooking, like Egg Rolls and other stir-fries or salads.

Bean sprouts

Bean germ, sprout vegetable, or silver sprouts.

Bean sprouts are easily obtainable at supermarkets year-round.

When purchasing bean sprouts, select plump and crisp ones, avoid slimy, limp, stringy or discolored ones. Since it is easy to get from the markets, you would better buy just before using.

Store bean sprouts in plastic bags and refrigerate in the vegetable crisper for about 1-2 days. For longer storage, just cover bean sprouts with cold running water and store in a well-sealed container, refrigerate, which will last for up to a week if you change the water daily or every two days.

Remove the ends of bean sprouts before you wash them thoroughly. If you use them raw to add in salad, please blanch in boiling water briefly, about 1 minute, then drain well and remove to cold water to stop the cooking before using. However, if you stir fry bean sprouts with other vegetables, do not cook longer than thirty seconds, in order to maintain their crisp texture.

Bean sprouts are rich in protein, Folacin, and vitamin C, meanwhile low in salicylate. It is said that one cup of bean sprouts contains nearly twenty-six calories.