Why do sprouted lentils take longer to cook than soaked lentils?
I like sprouts, and I thought it would be a nice experiment to sprout my lentils before turning them into a tender soup, as I often do. I usually soak lentils for half a day, and then boil them with various spices for 30 minutes to an hour, until tender and soupy. So I expected that, since germination kind of pre-digests the organic compounds in the seed, the cooking times would be even shorter.
I had to cook them for 90 minutes to get them to be al dente, and I guess it would have taken them at least two hours to get soft. Has anyone had a similar experience with sprout, or does anyone know why this happens? My sprouting time was two days and a half, after the initial soak.
Best Answer
The biochemistry of the sprouting process is a little beyond me, but essentially the lentil converts stored energy (carbs) and protein into different proteins and fibre.
The new proteins are quite useful to our own biochemistry, which is why sprouted lentils are considered "better" for you.
It is the fibre, however, which causes the cooking time to be longer. Generally, whenever something takes a long time to cook, it's because it has a lot of fibre in it. Conversely, fast food chains take as much fibre as possible out of the food, to shorten cook times.
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Quick Answer about "Why do sprouted lentils take longer to cook than soaked lentils?"
The new proteins are quite useful to our own biochemistry, which is why sprouted lentils are considered "better" for you. It is the fibre, however, which causes the cooking time to be longer. Generally, whenever something takes a long time to cook, it's because it has a lot of fibre in it.Do sprouted lentils take less time to cook?
Sprouted lentils do not need to be cooked. They can be eaten raw, but you can cook them for a different texture and flavor. They take less time to cook than regular lentils.Should you soak sprouted lentils?
All you need to do is soak some dried lentils, drain them, rinse them, and let them sit. Over time, this repeated rinsing and draining jump-starts the germination process, and sprouts begin to form. Typically, lentils need to be cooked first to be easily digested.How long does sprouting lentils take?
The lentils should sprout in 24 to 36 hours, but it can take up to four days. Dry and store the sprouted lentils. When the lentil shoots are about a quarter of an inch long, give them a final rinse, dry them on a paper towel, then store them in an airtight container in the fridge.Do organic lentils take longer to cook?
Out of the bag, they take only 10 minutes to prepare, whereas raw, unsprouted green lentils can take up to an hour. The lentils are boiled for five minutes, then left to hydrate for a few more minutes off the heat. Alternately, if you follow a raw food diet, the package recommends rehydrating the lentils in cold water.HOW TO SPROUT LENTILS (And Why)
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