Oats are he althy, but their seedlings are rich in vitamins and minerals. In order for the grains to sprout successfully, good preparation is important. With the germination jar and towel you have two options that work differently well.
How do you sprout oats?
To germinate oats, you need naked oats, a germination jar or a damp cloth. Soak the grains in the germination jar with water and rinse them regularly. With the cloth method, you moisten and mist the oats daily. In both cases, sprouts appear after about two to three days.
What is naked oats?
Oats are a husked grain in which the grain is firmly attached to a husk and palea. Before you can roast these grains as oat flakes, they are dehusked. It cannot be avoided that the germinable part of the grain is lost. There are special varieties without husks called naked oats. They do not need to be dehusked and retain their ability to germinate.
Users needed
Special germination jars for germinating grains are available in drugstores, he alth food stores and organic food stores for just a few euros. These consist of a glass container onto which a plastic lid equipped with a sieve is screwed. After filling with grains and water, the glass can be set up using a holder so that the upper part is at a 45 degree angle to the table surface. This means that the excess tap water drips off more easily and does not collect at the bottom of the vessel.
Germinating seeds
Oats prove to be a difficult candidate to germinate because they react sensitively to the smallest amounts of moisture. Sufficient ventilation is necessary in the germination jar, so you should start with a smaller amount of seeds. Germination works better on a damp cloth.
germ jar
Put a teaspoon of naked oats in a germination jar and make sure to sort out any damaged or broken grains. Fill the glass with water and swirl the container to loosen any dirt. Use the sieve to drain the rinse water. After this preparation, germinate the oats as follows:
- fill in three parts water to one part grains
- Soak for five hours in a place with an air temperature of 20 degrees
- Drain liquid and rinse seeds again
- Place the germination jar on the holder so that excess moisture drains away
- rinse twice a day with tap water
- Swirl the glass daily to aerate the oat seeds
In a bright and warm place, the first sprouts will appear after about two to three days. These can be stored in the germination jar in the refrigerator, where they will last for about three days.
Tip
If the glass breaks, you can continue to use the sieve lid. This fits standard pickle jars from the supermarket.
Cloth
Place a damp towel on a rack and sprinkle a thin layer of naked oats on one side. Cover the grains with the other half of the cloth. Spray the fabric with a little water every day and ventilate regularly to prevent mold from forming. After three days the first green sprouts appear.
