Bean Sprouts – All You Need to Know | Instacart Guide to Fresh Produce

What are bean sprouts?

Bean sprouts are tender edible shoots that have sprouted from the germination of beans. The bean sprouts originate from mung beans. Bean sprouts are a popular ingredient that is mildly sweet, having a nutty flavor, and are crunchy. See our bean sprouts produce.

Where did bean sprouts originate from?

Bean sprouts come from the mung bean, which is believed to be native to Northeastern India. They also have origins in Asia and Japan. Bean sprouts have been grown for more than 5,000 years.

Bean sprouts were first grown in the United States in 1830, where they were known initially as a Chickasaw pea. They are cultivated in Oklahoma, Texas, and California. Bean sprouts are also grown in Australia, Thailand, India, as well as Asia.

What is the nutritional value of bean sprouts?

Bean sprouts are known to be a superfood and have a lot of nutritional value, and offer many health benefits. They provide a low-calorie count, are a great source of protein, and provide a high level of vitamins and minerals. They feature living enzymes that help with digestion and promote the metabolic process.

Bean sprouts offer a lot of dietary fiber. They aid in helping assist the digestive tract by allowing stools to pass easier. Bean sprouts have a significant amount of iron, which helps maintain a healthy red blood cell count.

Heart health will also benefit if you incorporate bean sprouts into your diet. The chance of heart disease and stroke is lessened because bean sprouts help maintain cholesterol levels in the bloodstream and prevent plaque from developing.

Pregnant women will also benefit from incorporating bean sprouts in their diet because of how much folate they contain. Folate helps promote the fetus’s growth and assists with brain development by helping reduce the risk of neural tube defects.

How do you prepare bean sprouts?

Preparing bean sprouts is very easy. It’s important to rinse the bean sprouts thoroughly before eating. They can be consumed raw or semi-cooked; however, cooking the bean sprouts will kill any bacteria.

Bean Sprouts are prepared by sauteing them in a wok or frying pan in less than five minutes. If you want to maintain their texture and crunch, don’t stir fry them longer than 30 seconds. This will also prevent them from wilting.

Asian cuisine is the most popular meal that uses bean sprouts. To prepare a delicious meal, you can use bean sprouts with any meat, vegetable, or tofu to create a stir fry.

Bean sprouts can be served with noodle or rice soups. They can be used in spring rolls or sushi. They make a delicious addition to salads, sandwiches, or wraps.

Steaming bean sprouts is another avenue to prepare them that helps maintain their Vitamin C richness.

How are bean sprouts grown?

Growers will pick whole and bright green seeds because these seeds will offer the best results for growth.

The traditional growth method for bean sprouts requires germinating green or black mung beans or soybeans in containers and placing a large stone on top in a temperature-controlled space. They typically require a warm and moist environment to encourage the bean or seed sprout to grow. The bean sprouts are watered several times a day.

The quality and growth cycle of bean sprouts can be impacted by the movement of water, its quality, and the nutrients and humidity of their growing climate. Bean sprouts grow from 4 to 6 days and are stored in containers, and are assorted by their growing stages.

When are bean sprouts in season?

Bean sprouts are available year-round because of how they are grown in containers that require a temperature-controlled space.

How to store bean sprouts

It’s crucial to store bean sprouts away from any light. If they are exposed to light, then they will start to turn green. The best place to store bean sprouts is in the refrigerator. Place the bean sprouts in a vegetable drawer right away for up to 2 days.

How to tell if bean sprouts are bad

Bean sprouts should be white and shiny. They will also have a bright yellow tip. One way to tell that the bean sprout is fresh is by listening for a sharp sound when the sprout breaks. Bean sprouts will start to look wilted and smell musty when they go bad.

If you are looking to have your groceries delivered, you can easily shop for bean sprouts via Instacart. After adding a product to your cart, use the “Instructions” option to notify your Instacart shopper about any preferences or specific directions on how to choose the best products. Shop for bean sprouts.

What can I substitute for bean sprouts?

There are a variety of vegetables and sprout options that you can use to substitute for bean sprouts.

Soybean sprouts have a more robust bean flavor than bean sprouts, and like bean sprouts, they can be prepared in stir-fries and other cooked dishes. You can choose young soybean sprouts that have tails emerging from the bean, like bean sprouts. It’s important to know that long-tailed soybean sprouts have a bitter taste that can overpower a dish.

Snow peas are fully edible pea pods with tiny flat seeds within the pod. They can be added to any recipe that asks for bean sprouts. The shape and texture are very close to bean sprouts. Snow peas have a more herbal flavor. To prepare them, you need to slice them thinly lengthwise into strips.

Shredded carrots can also replace bean sprouts in a recipe. While carrots and bean sprouts are the same shape, they will not share the same taste. Whether they’re cooked or served raw, shredded carrots will have a sweet flavor.

The size and color of enoki mushrooms are comparable to bean sprouts. They have a mild taste with a peppery finish. The tops of the thin mushrooms mirror bean sprouts, and the mushroom stems look like the bean sprout tails. They have a crispy texture and will substitute for bean sprouts well in a raw salad and sandwiches but don’t cook well.

Where to find and buy fresh bean sprout produce

Instacart offers fresh; high-quality bean sprout produce, as well as convenient same-day pick-up or delivery options near you. Use the app to start shopping to add an item. If you select the delivery option, your shopper will leave your order at the door and tell you when it has arrived. See bean sprouts produce available near you. View bean sprouts produce.

Instacart

Instacart is the leading grocery technology company in North America, partnering with more than 1,400 national, regional, and local retail banners to deliver from more than 80,000 stores across more than 14,000 cities in North America. To read more Instacart posts, you can browse the company blog or search by keyword using the search bar at the top of the page.