Can you freeze beansprouts?
Yes, you can freeze bean sprouts. In fact, they’ll extend the shelf life and help the bean sprouts stay fresh longer if you do so.
If done properly, the sprouts should last from 6 to 10 months in the freezer.
Bean sprouts are tiny green seeds that look like little peas with tails.
These tiny sprouts are often eaten raw, steamed or mixed in stir fry dishes or a variety of soups.
They are widely used in East and South-East Asian cuisine and are known for their crunchy texture.
They are primarily sold in bags or packs, but what if you can’t use the whole pack of beansprouts?
Fear not, for you will learn how to properly store them if you keep reading.
How do you properly freeze bean sprouts?
It’s easy to freeze bean sprouts. Here are two different ways you can freeze mung bean sprouts:
First Method – simply wash, dry, and freeze them.
- Wash the fresh bean sprouts thoroughly under running water.
- Dry them completely by placing them in a single layer on paper towels.
- Once they are dried, place them into freezer bags or any freezer-safe containers.
Second Method – blanching them first and freezing them twice.
- Wash your raw beans sprouts.
- Put the beans in a large pot of boiling pot of water and boil for 3 minutes.
- Drain the boiling water and cool the beans in cold water.
- Remove the excess water
- Freeze the beans in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Once frozen, remove from the baking sheet and put the beansprouts into a freezer bag.
- Put the freezer bag with beans sprouts back in the freezer.
Note: Make sure to label it clearly so that you know which type of bean sprout you are freezing and when you froze them.
Aside from freezer bags, you can also use any other freezer-safe airtight container available.
There, you know how to properly freeze bean sprouts, but how do you thaw them when you want to use them?
Don’t worry; we got that covered too.
How do you thaw bean sprouts?
We also have two different ways to teach you about how you can thaw bean sprouts.
First method – soaking them first.
- Place the frozen bean sprouts in a bowl of water.
- Soak them for 5 minutes or until they’re almost completely thawed
- Drain the water
- Lastly, rinse under running water.
Second method – just place them under running water.
- Place the frozen bean sprouts in a colander or strainer
- Let them thaw under running water
- If the bean sprouts are stuck together, gently break them apart to increase the surface area, so they thaw faster
Following these simple steps should leave you with perfectly thawed bean sprouts that are now soft enough to cook or eat.
How long do frozen bean sprouts last?
You can freeze beansprouts for up to 10 months if you blanch them before freezing them.
The blanching process is great because this excellent method helps reduce the amount of water content in the beansprouts, so the bean sprouts freeze better.
Did you know that you can make your own bean sprouts?
Yes, you can make your own sprouted beans at home!
Sprouting is the process of germinating seeds such as lentils, alfalfa, mung beans, peas, etc., which makes them easier to digest.
In addition, sprouting has been shown to increase the nutritional value of some foods.
Here’s the step by step process of making your own bean sprouts:
- Soak the dried beans overnight in water.
- Then rinse them well
- Put them into a jar with some fresh water for 24 hours.
- After that, drain the water from the jar and replace it with fresh water.
Note: The last part should be repeated twice daily until the beans start to grow.
You know the mung beans are ready to eat when the white sprout is at least 1.5 cm long. This process can take 4 days to a week.
Sprouts should be grown in the dark if you want them to stay white because if they’re exposed to light, the leaf tip will turn green.
Bonus
Facts about bean sprouts
Bean sprouts are one of the oldest cultivated vegetables. Beans sprouts have been cultivated for more than five thousand years.
Bean sprouts are an excellent source of antioxidants
Bean sprouts are one of the healthiest foods you can eat. They contain high levels of protein, fibre, vitamins A and C, iron, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper, manganese, magnesium, selenium, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, biotin, choline, and omega-3 fatty acids.
You can sprout different beans like kidney beans, lentils, green pea, chickpea, mung bean, soybean, and adzuki bean.
Easy Stir-Fried Mung Bean Sprouts Recipe
Stir-frying mung beans is super easy. Having some bean sprouts and any seasoning you like ready at hand is all you need. With just a bit of preparation, the cooking process can take as short as 5 minutes!
Ingredients:
- Mung Bean Sprout
- Carrot
- Tomato
- Onion
- Garlic
- Bell Pepper
- Oyster Sauce
- Ground Black Pepper
- Cooking Oil
- Ground or small cuts of any preferred meat, shrimp, or tofu
Procedure:
- Fry your preferred protein until golden brown and set aside (meat, shrimp, or tofu)
- Saute’ aromatics (onion, garlic, and tomato
- Add the cooked meat back once the tomato softens
- Add carrot, mung bean sprouts and saute
- Add bell peppers
- Season with oyster sauce and ground pepper
- Enjoy!
Final Words
Bean sprouts are such a healthy food, and they are so easy to cook – and make!
Now that you know how to properly extend the shelf life of bean sprouts by freezing and properly thawing them, you can buy or even sprout all the beans you can, so you’ll always have a healthy and delicious ingredient available that can up your dishes with its crisp texture anytime.
