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To grow your bean sprouts, first select a plastic container, one that is
not clear. You can also use a china bowl that is large enough to hold
the growing sprouts. Don't use stoneware or earthenware as they will
stain. It should have a flat bottom and a large diameter. Your best
choices would be an opaque plastic storage container or a souffle dish.
You will need a lid for the container, otherwise a china or plastic
plate should suffice. Additionally, you require paper towels, a plastic
or wire strainer to rinse the beans, a mixing bowl, and the beans
themselves. Select about 1/2 cup of lentils, alfalfa, mustard, or even
mung beans.
Time is involved with the process, so be prepared to wait. On the
first evening, rinse the beans in water, then put them into your
mixing bowl and let them soak overnight. The proportion of water to
beans is four to one, so 2 cups of water for 1/2 cup of beans. The
next morning, you will find that many beans are not germinating (the
duds). They will not swell, they could give off a rotting odor,
their hulls may be cracked, or they will be floating on top. The
successfully germinating candidates can then be drained and placed
in the plastic storage (growing) container. Make sure you
spread them evenly. This is why the container must be wide and
flat-bottomed. Select four paper towels, soak them and lay the
soaking towels as four layers over the beans, then cover the bowl
and let it stand.