Sauteed Bean Sprouts Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you tell if bean sprouts are fully cooked? ›

Sauté the bean sprouts over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes.

Stir them often with a wooden spatula as they fry, otherwise they won't cook often. They are ready when they start to turn translucent and golden. This will take about 3 to 5 minutes. Be careful not to overcook them, however, or they will start to turn mushy.

Sprouted kidney beans are best consumed cooked. You can boil, sauté, or stir-fry them, then add them to dishes like stews and noodles. Kidney bean sprouts are particularly high in antioxidants, such as vitamin C and melatonin. Melatonin is believed to lower your risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Yes, bean sprouts are generally good for most people. They are an excellent option if you are looking for a low-calorie, low-fat, high-protein, low-carb, nutritional food. Bean sprouts contain fats in traces and the fats present are mostly healthy fats (mono and polyunsaturated).

When buying sprouts, you should ensure that they have been stored at refrigerated temperatures. Choose crisp-looking sprouts and avoid any that look wilted or smell musty. Keep the sprouts separate from any raw meats or seafood to prevent any harmful bacteria from the meat or seafood from transferring onto the sprouts.

Your body might not be able to absorb all the nutrients of the seeds in raw form. So, its advised to cook sprouts as it makes the nutrients more accessible to the body.

Raw or undercooked sprouts pose a risk of foodborne infection because, unlike other fresh produce, seeds and beans need warm and humid conditions to sprout and grow. Bacteria that can make you sick, including Salmonella, Listeria and E. coli thrive in such warm and humid conditions.

Contact your health care provider if you think you may have become ill from eating sprouts. Most persons infected with Salmonella develop the following signs and symptoms 12 hours to 72 hours after being exposed to the bacteria: Diarrhea, fever, and/or abdominal cramps. Always practice food safety for sprouts.

The NHS currently advises only eating raw beansprouts if they're labelled 'ready to eat'; all other sprouts should be cooked thoroughly until steaming hot throughout. People in vulnerable groups are advised to cook all sprouts until steaming hot throughout before eating.

If you are cooking them in a skillet, it can take from 8–10 minutes. Mung bean sprouts have so little flavor of their own that any spicy sauce or dressing would entirely overpower them.

After a day pickling in the fridge, your pickles will be ready to eat. Another easy and delicious option is pan-frying cooked bean sprouts in oil with garlic, soy sauce and chives, then eating them as a side dish (or alone!). Or you can try throwing a handful into coleslaw, to add a refreshing crunch.

What are the pros and cons of bean sprouts? ›

The Bottom Line. Sprouts are very nutritious. They may also offer a variety of health benefits, including easier digestion, improved blood sugar levels and a lower risk of heart disease. However, keep in mind that they are also associated with a risk of food poisoning.

Aside from boiling sprouts, you can also steam or blanch them, all of these can raise the temperature of the sprouts sufficient to kill off fatal bacteria without destroying the nutritional content of the sprouts, or ruining their texture or taste.

Two handfuls of beansprouts count as one of your 5-a-day (one portion of veg or fruit is 80g raw weight). They're also a good source of folate and manganese.

Mung bean sprouts are nutritious and low in calories. They can be eaten daily as part of a balanced diet. However, moderation is key, and individual dietary needs may vary. It's generally safe to include them in meals a few times a week for variety and nutritional benefits.

Eating beansprouts safely

According to the FDA, you can eat the sprouts raw if they are labelled 'ready to eat', but if they aren't, they should be thoroughly cooked, until they are steaming hot throughout.

Advice to those who want to eat sprouts

Children, the elderly, pregnant women, and persons with weakened immune systems should avoid eating raw sprouts of any kind (including alfalfa, clover, radish, and mung bean sprouts). Cook sprouts thoroughly to reduce the risk of illness. Cooking kills the harmful bacteria.

Beansprouts are most commonly the young shoots of either mung beans or soy beans. Their crisp, crunchy texture works really well in stir-fries or salads.

While it is possible to boil bean sprouts, it is not the most common cooking method. Boiling can make them more tender and less crunchy, which may not be desired in some dishes. However, if you prefer softer sprouts, you can blanch them in boiling water for about 1-2 minutes.