Soybean Sprouting: The Complete How To Guide

Soybean is a legume species that is widely grown in East Asia for its edible bean that has numerous uses. In traditional unfermented foods, soybean is used to produce soy milk, which is, in turn, used to make tofu and tofu skin. Some of the fermented soybeans include tempeh, natto, soy sauce, and fermented bean paste. This guide provides a lot of information that you need to know about soybean sprouts.

Not Much Time? Skip To What You'd Like To Learn...

• What Are Soybean Sprouts?

• What Do Soybean Sprouts Smell Like?

• What Do Soybean Sprouts Taste Like?

• How Long Does It Take Soybeans to Sprout?

• Why Sprout Soybeans?

• Health Benefits Of Sprouted Soybeans

• Do All Soybeans Sprout?

• Considerations When Buying Soybeans For Sprouting

• How To Sprout Soybeans

• Buying Sprouted Soybean

• Recipes For Soybean Sprouts

• How to Make Raw Soybean Sprouts Edible For Low Immunity Groups

• Can Parrots And Birds Eat Soybean Sprouts?

• Other Recommended Sprouted Beans

• Common Questions

What Are Soybean Sprouts?

Soybean sprouts are a cooking vegetable that can either be boiled or eaten raw. Sprouted soybeans can be grown by putting soybeans in the shade and watering them until they develop long roots. For starters, their calorie content is low, sprouted soybeans are rich in beneficial plant compounds and nutrients. For instance, soy milk and tofu made from soybean sprouts usually contain between 7 and 13 percent more protein, among other nutrients.

Grow Your Pantry have designed and made sprouting trays and kits, that include seeds and guides for easy sprouting. Check out the latest prices of them at Our Store. 

What Do Soybean Sprouts Smell Like?

Soybean sprouts have a beany and green grassy smell that develops after soaking the beans in water.

What Do Soybean Sprouts Taste Like?

Soybean sprouts are famous for their nutty, sweet flavor, and crispy texture. These thick-stemmed sprouts of soybeans are known to endure minutes of cooking to kill bacteria and enhance their nutty and stronger sweet taste with a crunchy texture and an undesirable odor. 

How Long Does It Take Soybeans to Sprout?

Soybeans take between 4-7 days to sprout generally. However, when placed under ideal conditions, sprouting soybeans can occur in about 2 days. 

Why Sprout Soybeans?

The sprouting of soybeans is known to be valuable to facilitate the reduction of anti-nutrients such as phytic acid, trypsin inhibitor, and flatulent, among others. Other benefits of sprouting soybeans include;

Sprouting Soybeans Is Healthy - Sprouted soybeans are packed with numerous nutrients such as vitamins, proteins, and minerals that help to improve human health. Since soybean sprouts consume most of the calorie content in soybean seeds, this results in a low intake of calories when eating the nourishing sprouts.

Sprouting Soybeans Is Fun - Experimenting with various recipes and the process of sprouting soybeans provides a lot of fun in terms of applying new sprouting techniques and using different equipment to achieve different results. Additionally, browsing the internet for more information about sprouting soybeans enables individuals to find essential information concerning the preferences of other people for sprouting soybeans.

Saving Money - Notably, buying sprouted soybeans is much more expensive as compared to sprouting soybeans at home. This is because dealers in soybean sprouts are profit-oriented while on the other hand, home-made soybean sprouts are primarily meant for domestic consumption and their nutritional value. For instance, the equipment used for sprouting soybeans is often readily available at home; hence no money is required to purchase the equipment needed for sprouting.

Sprouting Soybeans Is Easy - The different methods for sprouting soybeans do not require sophisticated information. Most of the information necessary for sprouting soybeans using different ways are readily available and easy to obtain from the internet. Also, the instructions for sprouting soybeans are often straightforward and easy to understand. 

Health Benefits Of Sprouted Soybeans

The delicately sweet and crunchy taste of soybean sprouts is known to be a good source of folic acid, vitamin C, and protein. Similarly, soybean sprouts have high fiber contents that make them a great way to add more crunch to spring salads. Below are the top benefits of using soybean sprouts:

1.  Reducing Stress And Anxiety

Soybean sprouts have a high content of magnesium, zinc, and vitamin C. All these nutrients, according to the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Adelaide, are important for relieving anxiety, balancing mood, and promoting sleep. Reference Link.

2.  Improving Heart Health

Vitamin K produced by soybean sprouts is essential for blood clotting and also inhibits the buildup of calcium within the human blood vessels. Since soybean sprouts are one of the rich sources of this vital vitamin, they, therefore, help in keeping the heart-healthy.  Reference Link.

3.  Preventing Birth Defects

The Spanish Institute of Food Science states that soybean sprouts have a sufficient amount of folic acid. This acid plays a crucial role in helping expectant mothers to avert the effects of the neural tube. The connection between this tragic condition and this vitamin has been well researched, and results have shown that folate supplements are usually given to expectant mothers to prevent congenital disabilities. Reference Link.

4.  Regulating Bone Density

Although vitamin K is usually overlooked, it plays an important role in regulating the density of bone minerals in the body. While so doing, the vitamin K in soybean sprouts ensures that minerals maintain their proper levels within the human blood, hence protecting heart health and other essential metabolic functions. The additional minerals, including zinc and manganese, also play a crucial role in building strong bones and preventing osteoporosis. Reference Link.

5.  Speed Up Healing

Vitamins C and K present in soybean sprouts are essential in the process of healing. Vitamin C is required to produce a basic compound known as collagen that makes up the human cells, tissues, blood vessels, and muscles. On the other hand, vitamin K is a crucial component in the process of blood clotting that lowers the risk of infection or exposure and helps in the healing of wounds. Reference Link.

Do All Soybeans Sprout?

Soybeans do not undergo reliable sprouting as compared to other beans. Due to their lower rate of germination, soybean sprouts can be assumed to be done sprouting even if just half of them have successfully sprouted. Just like other types of beans, ¼ inch of sprout is all that is required to acquire all the benefits of sprouted soybeans.

When choosing soybeans that are suitable for sprouting, it is important to ensure that the seeds chosen for sprouting are well suitable to culinary uses, the seeds should be resistant to diseases, and they should also be adapted to growing and surviving in southern regions.

Considerations When Buying Soybeans For Sprouting

1.  Produced For Sprouting

Soybeans that are specifically sealed when raw (sproutable) always provide a higher rate for sprouting. Soybeans produced for sprouting should contain unpasteurized raw seeds that can naturally absorb water much faster during the activation step. 

2.  Brand

When choosing the brand of soybeans for sprouting, it is important to choose soybean seeds that have positive reviews and feedback from customers who may have used it before.

3.  Source

It is also important to ensure that the source of soybeans produced for sprouting is genuine and offers non-GMO seeds that are organically grown both for local and international use. This will ensure that the soybean seeds adhere to the standards provided by the FDA and are not too old for sprouting.

Our Recommended - Soy Beans

You cant make soybean sprouts without soybeans! We recommend buying only Non-GMO soy. Here is our favourite containing 20lbs of beans!

Click To Check The Latest Price On Amazon!

How To Sprout Soybeans

Equipment Needed

• Planter

• Black cloth

Ingredient Required

• Water

• One cup of soybeans for sprouting

Method For Sprouting

1.  Use cold water to rinse the soybeans then allow them to soak overnight or for at least 8 hours

2.  Pick out the broken or dead soybeans

3.  Place the cleaned soybeans in a planter with minor holes in the bottom

4.  Pour more water on the soybeans in the planter every 4-8 hours to keep them wet. The water will drain through the little holes at the bottom of the planter

5.  Use a black cloth to cover the planter hence keeping the light out

6.  Keep adding water to the soybeans 3-4 hours a day for 6 days

7.  Rinse the sprouts several times and drain before storing them in a refrigerator

YouTube Sprouting Methods

The YouTube tutorial in the link above provides an easy way of using simple items to sprout soybeans. The items needed for these sprouting methods include plastic sprouting kits and soybean seeds for sprouting. 

This sprouting method, although a bit long, provides finer details that can be helpful to people who want to sprout soybeans for at home or domestic consumption. This method of sprouting requires specific items such as soybeans for sprouting, strainer, glass bowl, and opaque towels. 

This video on how to sprout soybeans at home provides viewers with a simple yet straightforward step on how to make healthy sprouts of soybeans for home use. The items used for this sprouting method include soybeans for sprouting, pebbles, bowl, strainer, and plastic tins. 

Buying Sprouted Soybean

Soybean sprouts are a versatile, tasty legume that can be consumed in numerous ways such as soybean oil, soymilk, soy yogurt, and tofu. Soybean sprouts are known to adapt easily to every cuisine.

Where To Buy Soybean Sprouts From?

Amazon has so far proved to be the best place to buy soybean products for consumption and for sprouting, among other uses.

What To Look For When Buying Soybean Sprouts?

When buying soybean sprouts, it is important to look out for sprouts that have crispy, white roots with light green or yellow shoots. Additionally, noticeable darkening roots, sliminess, and musty odor are also a good sign that the soybean sprouts are safe for human consumption.

How To Eat Sprouted Soybeans

Stir-Fry Soybean Sprouts - Making stir-fry soybean sprouts is quite an easy activity with simple requirements such as 1-2 spoonfuls of soy sauce and vegetable oil, clove garlic, and a reasonable amount of soybean sprouts depending on the number of people to serve.

Sprouted Soybean Salad - Making sprouted soybean salad is also quite simple depending on the number of people to serve and the preferred method of preparation. The cooking tips for preparing soybean sprout salad involve removing stringy and brown roots, blanching the soybean sprouts for 1 ½ minutes, and draining the water well. 

Can You Eat Sprouted Soybeans Raw?

Snacking on raw soybean sprouts is among the best ways of absorbing all the good nutrients that are provided by soybeans. These nutrients include several minerals and vitamins such as folate, phosphorus, vitamin K1, manganese, copper, and thiamine. 

Are They A High-Risk Food?

Despite their nutritious value, soybean sprouts are considered to be a high-risk food. This is because they are raw sprouts and can, therefore, be contaminated with bacteria, thus making it dangerous to eat raw, especially for high-risk individuals. Cooking soybeans before eating helps to destroy harmful bacteria hence making it safe for human consumption. 

Recipes For Soybean Sprouts

1.  Seasoned Soybean Sprouts

Recipe By Epicurious.com

Ingredients:

• Water

• 2 thinly chopped green onions

• 1 pound of soybean sprouts

• 3 minced garlic cloves

• 1 tablespoon of sesame oil

• 2 tablespoons of salt

• 2 tablespoons of chili powder

• 1 tablespoon of crushed toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

1.  Wash the sprouted soybeans using cold water and remove the bean husks

2.  Put the soybean sprouts in a pot then add 1 cup of freshwater

3.  Boil and cook the sprouted soybeans for 5 minutes

4.  Remove the pot from the heat, rinse the soybean sprouts in cold water, and drain

5.  Add a reasonable amount of chili powder and salt then serve chilled or warm

Soybean Sprout Side Dish

Recipe Inspired By Maagchi.com.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of rinsed and drained soybean sprouts

• 2 minced garlic cloves

• 1 teaspoon of kosher salt

• 1 chopped green onion

• 1 teaspoon of sesame seeds, roasted

• ½ a teaspoon of hot pepper flakes

• 1 teaspoon of soup soy sauce, salt, or fish sauce

• 2 teaspoons of sesame oil, roasted

Instructions

1.  Put the sprouted soybeans in a pot

2.  Add ½ cup of water and salt then cover

3.  Boil the soybean sprouts for 10 minutes over medium heat

4.  Place the cooked sprouted soybeans in a mixing bowl

5.  Add green onion, hot pepper flakes, toasted sesame oil, fish sauce, sesame seeds, and garlic then mix by hand

6.  Put the mixture to a serving plate

7.  Serve the soybean sprout as a side dish with rice

Kongnamul Japchae (Soybean Sprout Japchae)

Recipe KoreanBapsang.com.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces sprouted soybeans

• 1 teaspoon of cooking oil

• 4 ounces of starch noodles made from Korean sweet potatoes

• ¼ red bell pepper

• 2-inch pieces of 3 scallions

Sauce

• 1 tablespoon of sugar

• 2 tablespoons of soy sauce

• Pinch pepper

• 1 tablespoon of sesame oil

• ½ tablespoon of sesame seeds

• 1 teaspoon garlic, minced

Instructions

1.  Heat 2 cups of water in a pot

2.  Add the sprouted soybeans then cook for 2 minutes

3.  Place the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and mix well for the sugar to fully dissolve

4.  Place the sprouted soybeans sprouts in a bowl and reserve the cooking liquid in the pot

5.  Add 1 ½ tablespoon prepared sauce, 1 teaspoon of cooking oil, and the noodles in the pot

6.  Cook the noodles for 7 minutes to vaporize the liquid

7.  Use kitchen shears to cut the noodles to shorter lengths when they turn soft

8.  Add red pepper slices and scallions then briefly stir fry until the vegetables become somewhat wilted

9.  Add the remaining sauce and sprouted soybeans

10.  Toss until everything is well combined then switches off the heat

Soybean Sprouts and Shrimp Stir-Fry

Recipe Rotinrice.com 

Ingredients

• 2 oz of sweet potato noodles

• 1 lb. trimmed sprouted soybeans

• 4 oz shrimp

• 2 tablespoon soy sauce

• Salt to taste

• 1 red chilli

• 3 sliced green onions

• 2 cloves minced garlic

• 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil

• 1 tablespoon of sesame oil

Instructions

1.  Boil a medium-sized water pot

2.  Add sweet potato noodles and boil for 6 minutes

3.  Drain then toss with 1 teaspoon of sesame oil and 1 teaspoon of soy sauce then set aside

4.  Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large pan, add garlic and fry for 2 minutes until fragrant

5.  Add shrimp, red chili, and sprouted soybeans

6.  Stir in salt, and 1 tablespoon of soy sauce then cook for 3 minutes

7.  Place sweet potato noodles in a pan and stir to mix

8.  Add green onions, stir to mix everything well, and remove to serve immediately

Soybean Sprout Rice

Recipe Zenkimchi.com

Ingredients

• 1 pound of sprouted soybeans

• 2 cups of rice, uncooked

• 8 oz lean ground beef

• For the sauce:

• 4 tablespoons of soy sauce

• 2 chopped green onion stalks

• 1 tablespoon garlic, minced

• 1 tablespoon flakes of red chili pepper

• ½ tablespoon sesame oil

• 1 tablespoon sugar

• 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds, roasted

• For Beef Marinade:

• ½ tablespoon of cooking wine

• 1 tablespoon soy sauce

• ½ tablespoon garlic, minced

• 1 tablespoon of Maesil juice

• A crack of pepper

• 1 tablespoon sesame oil

• 1 stalk of chopped green onion

Instructions

1.  Add all the beef marinade ingredients to the ground beef, mix well, then set aside to marinate for 15 minutes

2.  Wash the sprouted soybeans thoroughly and discard the bad bits from the sprouts

3.  Cover the sprouted soybeans in boiling water and salt and cook for 10 minutes

4.  Cook the rice in the same water used to cook the sprouted soybeans to acquire an added flavor for the rice

5.  Wash and drain the rice before transferring to a rice cooker

6.  Spoon the sprouted soybeans and the marinated ground beef and slightly add 4 cups of water

7.  Cook the marinated beef with some oil separately on medium-high heat then set aside to be served later on top of individual bowls

8.  In a small side serving bowl, mix all the ingredients for the sauce and give it time to deepen the flavors

9.  Temporarily set aside the sprouted soybeans and spoon out the beef and rice into serving bowls for a good meal

How to Make Raw Soybean Sprouts Edible For Low Immunity Groups

Consuming raw sprouted soybeans can lead to some mild intestinal and mild stomach side effects such as bloating, constipation, and nausea. It can also lead to allergic reactions that involve itching, rash, and anaphylaxis in some individuals. These effects of soybeans necessitate appropriate methods of preparation, such as thorough rinsing and cooking of the sprouts before eating.

Who Is At Risk?

1.  HIV/AIDS patients

2.  Children

3.  Pregnant women

4.  Cancer patients

5.  People with a weak immune system

Boiling And Steaming Method For Killing Bacteria

Boiling water inactivates or kills bacteria through the use of heat to damage the structural components of the bacteria and disrupt the crucial life processes such as denaturing proteins.

Equipment

• Wire basket

• Pan

• Bowl

Method

1.  Place the sprouted soybeans into a wire basket

2.  Put them inside a pan then cover the soybean sprouts with water

3.  Place the pan on a burner that has been set to medium heat

4.  Boil the soybean sprouts for six minutes

5.  Remove the wire basket from the water then immediately place in a bowl of ice water

6.  After cooling, drain the soybean sprouts.

Can Parrots And Birds Eat Soybean Sprouts?

Soybean sprouts provide parrots with an efficient source of nutrition and enrichment in the form of dietary fiber and protein.

Do You Need To Grow Soybeans Differently For Parrots?

Just like for human beings, soybeans should be grown organically to feed parrots. Organically produced soybeans have a less likelihood of infecting parrots and other birds with harmful bacterial diseases.

Other Recommended Sprouted Beans

Sprouting beans is particularly known to improve nutritional value by improving the quality and the digestibility of various nutrients, for example, proteins. Some of these beans include;

1.  Kidney Bean Sprouts - Kidney bean sprouts are mainly known for their high antioxidants such as melatonin, and vitamin C. melatonin helps in lowering risks of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

2.  Chickpea Sprouts - Chickpea sprouts usually have a mushy or slimy touch with a musty odor. In other instances, these sprouts may develop visible mold either on the bean or on the root, particularly for sprouts that are going bad.

3.  Mung Bean Sprouts - Mung beans usually take between 24 and 36 hours to sprout after soaking for about 8 hours. Once mung beans sprouts have reached the desired length, it is advisable to cover them with enough water and agitate them.

4.  Adzuki Bean Sprouts - Sprouted adzuki beans have a seed hull that is reddish-brown in color. During sprouting, adzuki bean sprouts grow to 2 or 3 centimeters in length. After around 4 days of sprouting, the seed hulls fall off, and the sprouts become white with a yellow or slightly reddish tint.

5.  Pea Sprouts - Sprouted peas are crunchy with a reminiscence of a fresh yet sweet taste. Since they are mild, sprouted peas go well with other flavors.

Common Questions

How Long Do Soybeans Take To Sprout?

Soybeans usually take about 4-7 days to sprout generally, and about 2 days to sprout when placed under ideal weather conditions.

Are Sprouted Soybeans Good For You?

Although sprouted soybeans are low in calories, they are a rich source of beneficial plant compounds and nutrients.

How Do You Grow Sprouts In One Day?

You can grow your sprouts in one day by storing your seeds safely, using clean water, a good container, rinsing daily, and placing them near the window covered with a ventilated material such as thin cloth or paper towel.

Do Soybeans Need A Lot Of Water?

Soybeans need approximately 15-25 inches of water every year depending on factors such as maturity group, date of planting, weather conditions, and location.

Do You Plant Corn Or Soybeans First?

Soybeans should be planted first before corn because planting soybean plants and allowing it to grow sooner ultimately provides you with a higher likelihood of getting more yields.

Are Raw Soybeans Poisonous?

The consumption of raw soybeans, for example, the immature green form of soybeans, is toxic to monogastric animals including human beings.

Are Soybeans Easy To Grow?

Growing soybeans is fairly easy because it can occur when the temperatures of the soil are 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Are Soybean Sprouts The Same As Bean Sprouts?

The flavor of soybean sprouts is more pronounced as bean-like are in most cases, they are preferred cooked just like other types of beans.

How Much Water Do Soybeans Need In A Day?

Soybeans need between 0.20 and 0.30 inches of water every day.

How Do You Make Soybeans Grow Faster?

It is important to choose the right type of seeds, pick the right soil, plant at the right time, prepare the seedbed, inoculate the seeds, and plant the seeds to make them grow much faster.

What Season Does Soybeans Grow?

Soybeans usually grow well during spring.

Why Is Soybeans Bad For Males?

Soy contains phytoestrogens that may affect male fertility. For more info check out Health.Harvard.edu.

Can You Eat Raw Tofu?

Silken and soft tofu can be eaten raw right out of the package after draining excess water.

Can You Eat Soybean Sprouts Raw?

Soybean sprouts can be eaten raw by anybody except the elderly, pregnant women, children and individuals with weak immune systems.

Other Articles You'll Enjoy Too

Your Guide To Sprouting Equipment

Are Bean Sprouts Keto?

Mung Bean Sprouts Smell

How To Tell If Mung Beans Have Gone Bad

What Do Bean Sprouts Taste Like?