Here’s how to get started sprouting:

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  1. Make a sprouting lid by taking out the metal insert of a two-piece canning jar lid and tracing around the inside of the metal band on a mesh screen. Cut out the mesh circle and fit it inside the metal band. Or buy a prefab sprouting lid.
  
  
  2. Rinse two tablespoons of your sprouting seeds in a strainer and remove any debris or weird-looking seeds.
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  3. Put the seeds in a quart wide-mouth canning jar and fill the jar with cold water. Close the jar with your sprouting lid and let the seeds soak for about eight hours (refer to the directions on your seeds for specific soaking times).
  
  
  4. Drain the seeds and rinse them in the jar with cold water, then drain them again through the mesh lid. Leave the jar inverted in a bowl so that any remaining water can drain out. Place the jar somewhere reasonably warm (we did our tests at around 70 degrees Fahrenheit) with good air circulation. But keep the jar out of direct sunlight.
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  5. Rinse and drain the seeds two to three times a day, inspecting them each time—if you see any signs of mold, toss them and start over. But don’t confuse the tiny hairs that grow off the roots with mold.
  
  
  6. Depending on the type of seeds, expect your sprouts to be ready in two to fourteen days. Taste the sprouts as they begin to grow—when you like their flavor and texture, they’re ready to eat.
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  7. Before eating the sprouts, rinse them to remove the seed hulls. Use a colander with large enough holes to wash away the hulls but not the sprouts (the inner part of a salad spinner works well for most sprouts).
  
  
  8. Using a salad spinner, spin the sprouts until they are thoroughly dry (it’s important not to store them wet or they will rot), then bag and refrigerate them. If you don’t have a salad spinner, blot the sprouts gently with paper towels or a clean dishtowel before storing. Eat them within a few days for the best flavor.