Welcome to our comprehensive guide on the must-have items for a well-stocked sprouted kitchen! As advocates of healthy, plant-based eating, we want to provide you with our top picks for the essential tools, appliances, pantry items, and more to support your sprouted lifestyle. From high-powered blenders for making smoothies and nut milks to sprouting jars for growing your own crispy sprouts, this guide will equip your kitchen for sprouted success. Let’s dive in!

High-Powered Blender

A heavy-duty blender is hands-down one of the most important appliances to have if you plan on making a lot of sprouted recipes. Blending sprouted nuts and seeds into smooth, creamy textures for milk, sauces, dressings, dips, desserts, and more requires some serious horsepower.

We recommend splurging on a Vitamix if it’s in your budget. With a 2+ peak horsepower motor, these blenders can pulverize just about anything into silky smoothness. While the upfront cost is an investment, a Vitamix will likely last you decades and allow you to make nut milks, soups, smoothies, nut butters, frozen desserts, and other sprouted staples with ease.

If a Vitamix isn’t feasible, opt for another high-speed blender with at least 1,000 watts of power. Good blender brands to look for include Blendtec, Cleanblend, and Ninja. Aim for one with a range of speed settings and a tamper to help process thick mixtures. This will give you flexibility as you get creative with sprouted ingredients.

Food Processor

While a blender is great for smooth liquids and sauces, a food processor shines when it comes to chopping, shredding, slicing, and kneading. We rely heavily on our food processor for prep work – it makes quick work of slicing sprouted veggies, grating sprouted cheese alternatives, kneading sprouted bread and pizza dough, and chopping nuts, seeds, and herbs.

Look for a 10 to 14 cup capacity processor with an S-blade for chopping and kneading and interchangeable discs for slicing and shredding. Cuisinart and Breville make excellent mid-range options. Mini choppers are handy too for small batches. Having both a blender and food processor will give you versatility across all kinds of sprouted recipes.

High-Speed Juicer

Fresh juices made from sprouts and sprouted greens are an amazing way to flood your body with easily absorbable vitamins and minerals. By extracting the liquid from sprouts, you can drink their full nutritional benefits in seconds.

We recommend a centrifugal ejection juicer that runs at high speeds to separate the juice from the pulp. Breville and Omega make great models – look for one with a large feed chute to reduce prep time. Alternately, a twin gear masticating juicer like those from Tribest can also work well. Plan to juice sprouted veggies and greens like wheatgrass, sunflower greens, pea sprouts, broccoli sprouts, and alfalfa sprouts.

Dehydrator

A dehydrator opens up a world of possibilities for turning sprouts into crispy, crunchy snacks and garnishes. By removing moisture slowly and evenly, you can create tasty sprouted treats like kale chips, crackers, granola, fruit leathers, and more.

Look for a dehydrator with adjustable temperature settings and a timer function. Square models like Excalibur allow you to dehydrate large batches while round Nesco models take up less space. We recommend one with at least 5 stackable trays. Using non-stick sheets makes removing the dried food easier. Get creative with dehydrating sprouts – it condenses nutrition and amplifies flavors!

Mason Jars & Sprouting Lids

The best vessels for sprouting seeds and legumes at home are wide-mouth mason jars paired with sprouting lids. We recommend a set of 1 quart jars, lids, and mesh screens. Look for BPA-free plastic lids with built-in drainage and ventilation – this allows you to simply rinse and drain the sprouts right in the jar during the growing process.

In addition to mason jars, some people use stacking tray-style sprouters, but we find the jars yield more sprouts per batch. Having 4-6 sprouting jars will ensure a constant harvest of fresh sprouts for salads, wraps, bowls, and more!

Microgreens Growing Supplies

In addition to sprouts, growing your own microgreens at home is hugely rewarding and adds fresh living foods to your sprouted kitchen. Microgreens are the shoots of edible greens harvested just after the first true leaves emerge but well before maturity.

To grow microgreens, you’ll need some basic supplies – shallow growing trays, organic potting mix, and seeds. Look for 10×20 inch black seedling trays and an organic, soilless mix made from coconut coir or peat moss. Good microgreen seeds include broccoli, kale, arugula, radish, sunflower, pea shoots, and more. With the right supplies, you can have trays of nutrient-packed greens ready for harvest in under 2 weeks!

Nut Milk Bag

When making homemade nut and seed milks, you’ll need a way to separate the fiber-rich pulp from the liquid to yield silky smooth milk. Nut milk bags are specially designed for this purpose – it’s a fine mesh bag that strains out any solids or sediment as you pour the blended milk through.

A great nut milk bag is made of tightly woven fabric like nylon or muslin, with sturdy seams that won’t split. The medium size (about 19 inches wide) is ideal. Having 2 bags allows you to strain in batches. Look for ones with a drawstring top for easy pouring. Nut milk bags are a must for sprouted nuts!

Glass Storage Containers

One of the joys of eating sprouted is having an abundance of fresh veggies, baked goods, granolas, nut milks, cut fruits and greens ready to enjoy at a moment’s notice. Glass food storage containers are a sprouted kitchen essential for keeping prepped foods fresher for longer compared to plastic.

Look for clear glass containers in a variety of sizes with airtight lids – we like Pyrex and OXO brands. Square and rectangular shapes for efficient storage. Having 8-10 containers of varying sizes will allow you to harvest your sprouts and prepare for the week ahead.

Spiralizer (Veggetti)

A spiralizer is a fun and affordable gadget that transforms vegetables into noodle-like spirals, ribbons, or slices. They make it easy to add sprouted veggies like zucchini, beets, carrots, cucumbers, and squash to your favorite dishes for added nutrition and creativity.

We recommend getting a hand-crank spiralizer with multiple built-in blade options. Stand-alone models take up minimal space. Look for one that can make thick noodles, thin spaghetti cuts, and wide ribbons. Top your sprouted salads and grain bowls with veggie noodle goodness!

Herbs, Spices & Seasonings

One of the secrets to delicious sprouted food is flavorful herbs, spices and seasonings. We recommend having a range of dried, fresh, and salt-free blends on hand to amplify tastes. Some sprouted essentials include:

  • Sea salt, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper
  • Dried oregano, basil, cilantro, parsley, thyme, rosemary
  • Ground cumin, cinnamon, coriander, turmeric, ginger
  • Cayenne, paprika, red pepper flakes
  • Vanilla extract, nutmeg, cloves
  • Lemon, lime, apple cider vinegar
  • Low-sodium tamari, coconut aminos
  • Dijon mustard, tahini, nutritional yeast
  • Fresh ginger, garlic, hot peppers
  • Salad herb blends, Italian seasoning, curry powder

Having an array of spices and seasonings helps add big flavor to simple sprouted ingredients so you enjoy eating the rainbow!

Sprouted Grains, Legumes, Nuts & Seeds

Of course, the star ingredients in a sprouted kitchen are the sprouted foods themselves! Be sure to stock up on:

  • Grains like rice, quinoa, buckwheat, millet, amaranth
  • Legumes like lentils, chickpeas, beans, and peas
  • Nuts like almonds, cashews, walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts
  • Seeds like pumpkin, sunflower, chia, flax, hemp

Rotate sprouting different varieties to add nutritional diversity. Soak 8-12 hours, drain, and rinse 2-3 times per day until tails emerge. Refrigerate once sprouted to slow growth until eating. Sprouting boosts vitamins, minerals, enzymes and protein – your body and taste buds will thank you!

Takeaways

Equipping your kitchen properly will make preparing delicious sprouted foods easy and enjoyable. Invest in a few key appliances like a blender, food processor, and dehydrator. Have sprouting supplies like mason jars on hand along with storage containers. Stock up on superfood sprouted ingredients and flavor boosting seasonings. Before you know it, you’ll be eating fresh, nutritious sprouts at every meal while saving money and enjoying the process! Sprout on!

Tips for Stocking a Sprouted Kitchen

Transitioning to a sprouted kitchen can seem daunting at first. By keeping some helpful tips in mind, you’ll be setup for success on your journey to better health:

Start Small

  • Begin by sprouting just 1 or 2 ingredients like alfalfa seeds or lentils
  • Add 1 new appliance at a time based on your needs
  • Meal prep basics like broths, grains, nut milks on weekends
  • Master a few simple sprouted snacks and meals
  • Grow into more variety and complex recipes over time

Seek Out Support

  • Enlist friends or family to sprout with you
  • Join online groups and forums to connect with sprouters
  • Read sprouting books and blogs for guidance
  • Follow social media accounts about sprouted living
  • Don’t be afraid to ask questions!

Make Substitutions

  • Swap regular flour for sprouted grain flour
  • Use sprouted nuts and seeds for butters, milks, baking
  • Add sprouts to salads, wraps, grain bowls and more
  • Replace pasta with spiralized sprouted veggies
  • Try using sprouted legumes in dips, soups, chili

Meal Prep & Batch Cook

  • Soak grains, nuts, seeds and legumes in batches
  • Designate days for sprouting, dehydrating, juicing
  • Cook double batches of soups, grains to use all week
  • Prep salad greens, dressings, toppings in advance
  • Wash and slice fruits and veggies for grab-and-go

Stay Organized

  • Keep a log of what is sprouting and when it will be ready
  • Note recipes to try with each sprouted ingredient
  • Store prepped ingredients in clearly marked containers
  • Designate cabinet space for sprouting supplies
  • Post a weekly meal plan for what to use up

Benefits of a Sprouted Kitchen

Embracing sprouted foods and a sprout-focused kitchen offers tremendous benefits for your health, taste buds, and the planet. Here are some of the top reasons to join the sprouted kitchen movement:

Increased Nutrition

  • Sprouting dramatically increases vitamins, minerals, enzymes
  • Boosts protein quality and quantity in grains and legumes
  • Unlocks more bioavailable nutrition from nuts, seeds, beans
  • Provides chlorophyll, antioxidants and phytonutrients

Improved Digestion

  • Neutralizes anti-nutrients like phytic acid in unsprouted foods
  • Reduces lectins and other digestion inhibitors
  • Generates beneficial enzymes that ease assimilation
  • Aids absorption by releasing nutrients in foods

Disease Protection

  • High antioxidant and nutrient density fights inflammation
  • Supports immune function and gut health
  • Lowers cholesterol and heart disease risk factors
  • Shows potential to prevent cancers and diabetes

Weight Loss Aid

  • Provides steady energy and protein to curb cravings
  • High water and fiber content for satiety
  • Nutrient density satisfies without excess calories
  • Enhances fat burning and balances blood sugar

Eco-Friendly Choice

  • Requires less energy, waste and packaging
  • Minimizes your food’s environmental impact
  • Allows self-sufficiency and food independence
  • Supports local and sustainable food systems
  • Less processing preserves more nutrition in your food

Clearly, transitioning to a sprouted kitchen provides tremendous benefits for health. But it also brings joy to the whole process of eating and cooking!

Essential Appliances for a Sprouted Kitchen

As you begin sprouting more foods at home, some key appliances can make the process easier while unlocking new culinary possibilities. Here are the top sprouted kitchen appliances we recommend:

High-Speed Blender

A blender opens up sprouted smoothies, nut milks, sauces, soups, and more. Look for at least 1200 watts of power.

Best For: smoothies, nut milks, dressings, dips, soups, batters, purées

Brands: Vitamix, Blendtec, Cleanblend, Ninja

Food Processor

Great for slicing, shredding, chopping, and kneading sprouted veggies, doughs, and prep work.

Best For: chopping, slicing, shredding, kneading

Brands: Cuisinart, Breville, KitchenAid, Hamilton Beach

Dehydrator

Removes moisture slowly to create crispy sprouted snacks like crackers, chips, and leathers.

Best For: crackers, breads, fruit leathers, granola, jerky

Brands: Excalibur, Nesco, Cosori, Chefman

Juicer

Extracts fresh juice from sprouts and sprouted greens for easily absorbed nutrition.

Best For: wheatgrass, sprout, leafy green, and veggie juices

Brands: Omega, Tribest, Hurom, SKG, Breville

Herb Chopper

A small chopper makes fast work of mincing sprouted herbs, garlic, onions, peppers, etc.

Best For: herbs, aromatics, small batches

Brands: Ninja, Cuisinart, KitchenAid, Oxo

Spiralizer

Transforms vegetables into noodle shapes for fun sprouted veggie dishes.

Best For: zucchini noodles, carrot ribbons, beet spirals

Brands: Brieftons, Paderno, Mueller, Spiralizer

Stocking a Sprouted Pantry, Fridge and Freezer

Having the right ingredients on hand makes whipping up delicious sprouted meals and snacks a breeze. Here are the top foods to stock your fridge, freezer and pantry with:

Pantry Essentials

  • Grains: quinoa, rice, oats, millet, buckwheat
  • Legumes: lentils, chickpeas, beans, split peas
  • Nuts: almonds, cashews, walnuts, pecans
  • Seeds: hemp, chia, flax, sunflower, pumpkin
  • Nut & seed butters
  • Canned full-fat coconut milk
  • Broths: vegetable, mushroom, miso
  • Sea salt, garlic, spices, herbs
  • Olive oil, sesame oil, coconut oil
  • Apple cider vinegar, coconut vinegar
  • Dijon mustard, tamari, coconut aminos
  • Unsweetened coconut flakes

Fridge Staples

  • Variety of sprouts
  • Leafy greens: kale, spinach, lettuces, arugula
  • Fresh herbs: cilantro, parsley, basil, mint
  • Lemons, limes
  • Carrots, beets
  • Bell peppers, cabbage, broccoli
  • Avocados, tomatoes
  • Green onions, garlic, ginger
  • Nut milks, plant-based yogurts
  • Tahini, hummus
  • Condiments: salsa, relish, mustard

Freezer Essentials

  • Mixed berries
  • Chopped bananas
  • Edamame, green peas
  • Cauliflower rice
  • Flash frozen greens
  • Homemade nut milks
  • Soups, stews, chilis
  • Healthy muffins, cookies
  • Herb cubes, spice blends
  • Banana soft serve, nice cream

Sprouting Guide for Beginners

If you’re new to sprouting, this guide will walk you through the simple process step-by-step:

1. Choose Your Seeds

Good beginner sprouts include:

  • Alfalfa
  • Mung Beans
  • Lentils
  • Radishes
  • Broccoli
  • Clover

Look for organic, non-GMO seeds sold specifically for sprouting.

2. Pick Your Sprouting Vessel

You can sprout in:

  • Wide-mouth mason jars
  • Plastic sprouting lids
  • Mesh screens for drainage
  • Multi-tier sprouting trays

1 quart jars are ideal for starting out.

3. Activate and Soak

  • Add 1-2 Tbsp seeds to your sprouting vessel
  • Cover with 2-3x as much cool, filtered water
  • Let soak 8-12 hours (lentils, grains longer)

4. Drain and Rinse

  • Drain soak water and rinse seeds thoroughly
  • Let water drain out; don’t leave standing
  • Repeat 2-3x per day

5. Watch Them Sprout!

  • Rinse and drain consistently
  • In 2-5 days, sprout tails will emerge
  • For microgreens, wait until first leaves develop

6. Harvest and Enjoy!

  • Once sprouted, rinse and drain well
  • Transfer to glass container, keep refrig