How to Sprout Chia Seeds: Top Methods You Can Try

Chia
seeds
have
been
one
of
the
ultimate
survival
foods
for
centuries.
The
ancient
Mesoamerican
Indian
and
the
Aztec
groups
considered
these
seeds
a
diet
staple
food.
Today,
they
are
often
added
to
nutritional
smoothies
and
drinks,
salads,
and
snacks.

But,
if
you
want
much
more
nutritional
benefits
from
these
seeds,
you
can
consume
the
Chia
sprouts
instead
of
the
seeds.
Interested
in
how
to
sprout
Chia
seeds?
I’ll
let
you
in
on
the
top
methods
you
can
try,
so
keep
reading…

The
Health
Benefits
of
Chia

Introducing
chia
into
your
diet
is
one
of
the
best
ways
you
can
take
in
a
lot
more
nutrients.
Most
people
think
of
fish
when
asked
about
a
protein-rich
meal
with
omega-3s.
But
did
you
know
that
chia
seeds
are
the
best
option
for
vegans?
Chia
seeds
are
the
most
affordable
source
of
omega-3
fatty
acids. 

Here
are
just
some
of
the
health
benefits
of
chia
seeds:

• Chia
  seeds
  can
  prevent
  blood
  clots.
• It
  will
  raise
  the
  good
  cholesterol
  level
  in
  your
  body
  while
  lowering
  your
  blood
  pressure.
• It
  can
  reduce
  inflammation.
• For
  pregnant
  women,
  chia
  seeds
  can
  help
  develop
  the
  infant’s
  brain
  while
  improving
  their
  nutritional
  level.
• Decreases
  the
  likelihood
  of
  getting
  adult-onset
  diabetes.

Why
Should
I
Sprout
Chia
Seeds?

Despite
being
a
staple
food
for
some
cultures,
chia
seeds
have
a
callous
outer
layer
that
makes
it
hard
for
the
body
to
digest
them.
The
hard
outer
shell
also
inhibits
the
body’s
ability
to
absorb
nutrients
and
vitamins.

The
best
solution
for
this
problem
is
sprouting
the
chia
seeds.
Sprouting
the
seeds
can
help
break
down
their
tough
outer
layer.
This
will
make
it
possible
for
the
body
to
easily
absorb
the
nutrients
and
vitamins. 

Sprouting
chia
seeds
help
our
bodies
access
the
fiber,
protein,
and
omega
3s
in
these
seeds.
Chia
sprouts
are
easier
to
digest,
and
they
have
more
nutrients
than
chia
seeds.

How
to
Sprout
Chia
Seeds

1.
The
Terra-Cotta
Tray
Method

Terra-cotta
is
a
unique
tray
made
using
either
brownish
or
brownish-orange
clay
and
then
hardened
into
any
shape.
Some
of
the
most
common
shapes
include
figures
of
animals
or
humans,
trays,
plates,
and
pots.
The
terra-cotta
has
a
porous
surface
that
wicks
water;
therefore,
making
sure
that
the
seeds
remain
moist
until
they
sprout.

The
main
difference
between
terra-cotta
and
clay
is
that
the
terra-cotta
is
already
modeled
and
fired.
On
the
other
hand,
clay
is
the
raw
material.
Terra-cotta
trays
can
be
made
using
a
wide
range
of
organic
clay. 

The
terra-cotta
creates
an
excellent
airflow
that
protects
the
seeds
from
becoming
too
moist.
This
is
important
because
too
much
moisture
will
result
in
a
low-quality
sprout. 

Here
are
the
steps
to
follow
to
sprout
the
chia
seeds
using
terra-cotta
trays:

• Spread
  the
  right
  amount
  of
  seeds
  on
  the
  surface
  of
  the
  terra
  cotta
  tray
  or
  dish.
• Pour
  some
  water
  on
  a
  different
  container
  and
  not
  on
  your
  terra
  cotta.
• Place
  the
  terra
  cotta
  on
  the
  surface
  of
  the
  massive
  container
  with
  water.
  Make
  sure
  the
  water
  doesn’t
  get
  on
  the
  dish
  containing
  the
  chia
  seeds.
• Cover
  the
  two
  dishes
  to
  prevent
  the
  water
  from
  evaporating.
• The
  terra
  cotta
  tray
  will
  absorb
  just
  enough
  water
  to
  keep
  the
  seeds
  moist
  until
  they
  sprout.

2.
The
Covered
Moisture
Method

The
covered
moisture
method
is
one
of
the
simplest
methods
for
sprouting
chia
seeds.
You
just
need
a
cover,
trays
or
aluminum
paper
plates,
and
some
water. 

To
sprout
the
chia
seeds:

• Start
  by
  cleaning
  the
  shallow
  containers,
  which
  can
  be
  either
  plastic
  trays
  or
  aluminum
  paper
  plates.
• After
  cleaning
  it,
  add
  equal
  portions
  of
  water
  and
  seeds
  to
  the
  tray.
  This
  means
  that
  you
  can
  add
  two
  spoons
  of
  water
  and
  two
  spoons
  of
  seeds.
• Let
  the
  seeds
  sit
  in
  the
  tray
  for
  about
  an
  hour
  before
  tilting
  it
  to
  the
  side
  and
  draining
  the
  tray.
• Once
  the
  seeds
  have
  become
  moist,
  you
  can
  cover
  the
  tray
  and
  let
  the
  seeds
  sprout.
• Generally,
  the
  seeds
  should
  start
  sprouting
  after
  four
  days.
• After
  the
  sprouts
  have
  attained
  a
  height
  of
  about
  0.25
  inches,
  you
  can
  expose
  them
  to
  the
  sun
  and
  let
  the
  leaves
  turn
  green.

3.
The
Chia
Pet
Technique

Chia
seeds
can
easily
germinate
when
placed
on
any
surface
that
allows
their
roots
to
grow
and
absorb
water.
Therefore,
you
can
sprout
the
seeds
on
any
porous
material,
including
clay,
paper,
cloth,
and
sponge.
For
this
method,
you
can
do
the
following:

• Start
  by
  filling
  a
  tray,
  plate,
  or
  small
  dish
  with
  about
  a
  quarter
  cup
  of
  water.
• Soak
  your
  planter
  for
  about
  60
  minutes
  in
  the
  container
  of
  water.
• Moisten
  the
  seeds
  for
  about
  60
  minutes
  and
  then
  pour
  them
  on
  the
  planter.
• Next,
  spread
  the
  seeds
  using
  a
  small
  knife
  or
  spatula
  of
  the
  terra-cotta
  planter’s
  grooves.
• Add
  some
  water
  to
  the
  planter
  to
  prevent
  it
  from
  drying
  out.
  The
  seeds
  will
  start
  sprouting
  after
  about
  five
  days.
• If
  the
  air
  in
  your
  home
  is
  too
  dry,
  you
  can
  cover
  the
  planter
  with
  a
  plastic
  bag.
  The
  plastic
  bag
  will
  help
  keep
  the
  air
  around
  the
  planter
  moist,
  so
  the
  seeds
  will
  sprout
  faster.
• You
  can
  remove
  the
  plastic
  bag
  after
  some
  of
  the
  seeds
  have
  started
  sprouting.
  But
  make
  sure
  to
  protect
  the
  chia
  sprouts
  from
  direct
  sunlight.

4.
The
Wide-Mouth
Jar
Technique

The
simplest
and
most
effective
method
for
sprouting
seeds
is
a
wide-mouth
jar.
You
can
easily
cover
it
with
a
cheesecloth
cover
and
secure
it
using
a
rubber
band
with
a
suitable
jar.
The
cover
will
ensure
that
the
seeds
remain
moist
while
sprouting.
Here
are
the
steps
for
this
technique:

• Add
  about
  four
  spoons
  of
  seeds
  in
  your
  wide-mouthed
  jar
• Add
  about
  three
  times
  more
  water
  than
  the
  seeds
  and
  soak
  them
  for
  about
  12
  hours
• Next,
  drain
  the
  jar
• After
  draining
  the
  water,
  you
  can
  add
  more
  fresh
  water
  and
  rinse
  the
  seeds.
• Drain
  it
  again
  and
  place
  the
  jar
  away
  from
  direct
  sunlight
• Make
  sure
  you
  rinse
  the
  seeds
  twice
  a
  day
  for
  a
  week
  or
  until
  they
  sprout.
• After
  the
  sprouts
  have
  become
  long
  enough,
  you
  can
  rinse
  them
  to
  remove
  the
  seed
  coats
  and
  seeds.

The
height
of
the
sprout
varies
with
preference,
so
it’s
up
to
you
to
decide
the
right
size.
Finally,
you
can
consume
them
raw
or
cook
them.
Before
storing
them,
make
sure
to
drain
them
well.
It
would
be
best
if
you
only
preserved
them
for
a
maximum
of
10
days.

5.
The
Spray
and
Tray
Method

Instead
of
wicking
water
through
the
terra-cotta
tray’s
surface,
this
method
will
require
you
to
spray
some
water
on
the
seeds.
The
first
thing
you
should
do
is
pour
some
chia
seeds
on
your
tray
or
dish.
After
placing
a
thin
layer
of
seeds,
you
can
spray
some
water
on
them
every
day.
You
can
spray
it
once
in
the
evening
and
once
when
you
wake
up.

You
can
expose
the
seeds
to
sunlight
indirectly
throughout
the
day.
If
you
do
everything
correctly,
the
seeds
will
sprout
within
seven
to
10
days.
To
ensure
that
you
don’t
have
to
spray
it
too
often,
you
can
cover
it
using
a
glass
or
plastic
cover.
Covering
the

chia
seeds
will
help
you
maintain
their
moisture
level
while
increasing
their
germination
rate.

6.
Paper
Towel
Method

Another
reliable
and
straightforward
sprouting
method
is
the
paper
towel
technique.
This
sprouting
method
will
require
you
to
use
some
simple
materials
like
a
dish,
some
water,
and
two
paper
towels.
All
you
have
to
do
is:

• Fold
  two
  paper
  towels
  and
  place
  them
  on
  the
  base
  of
  a
  shallow
  tray
  or
  dish.
• Pour
  some
  water
  into
  the
  tray
  until
  the
  towels
  are
  moist
  enough.
• Pour
  some
  seeds
  on
  the
  moistened
  towels
  and
  keep
  them
  moist
  by
  adding
  water.
• After
  the
  seeds
  start
  sprouting,
  you
  can
  indirectly
  expose
  them
  to
  the
  sun.

7.
The
Jiffy
Pot
Method

This
sprouting
method
will
require
you
to
use
a
3-inch
jiffy
pot
or
a
huge
one.
The
organic
pot’s
wood
or
peat
fibers
can
function
as
a
wick.
Therefore,
you
will
be
sure
that
the
seeds
will
remain
moist
during
the
entire
sprouting
stage.
To
sprout
the
seeds
using
a
jiffy
pot,
you
should
do
the
following:

• Start
  by
  soaking
  your
  jiffy
  pot
  in
  some
  water.
• Pour
  some
  water
  into
  the
  tray,
  plate,
  or
  dish.
• Roll
  the
  jiffy
  pots
  on
  the
  seeds
  until
  they
  are
  fully
  covered
  with
  the
  seeds.
• Place
  the
  pot
  on
  the
  dish
  or
  tray
  containing
  water
  upside
  down.
• Make
  sure
  you
  keep
  the
  water
  level
  at
  1
  cm
  by
  replacing
  the
  evaporated
  water
  every
  day.
  The
  seeds
  should
  start
  sprouting
  after
  a
  few
  days.

Takeaway

Chia
seeds
are
highly
nutritious
superfoods,
but
digesting
these
seeds
can
be
pretty
challenging
because
of
their
tough
outer
layer.
It’s
beneficial
if
you
know
how
to
sprout
chia
seeds
to
remove
the
tough
outer
layer
of
the
seeds.
By
doing
so,
you
get
to
enjoy
all
the
nutritious
benefits
of
the
seeds.
Plus,
it’s
a
known
fact
that
sprouts
are
more
nutritious
than
fully
grown
plants.

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