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Alfalfa Sprouts Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to alfalfa sprouts
About alfalfa sprouts
Alfalfa sprouts are the young seedlings of the plant of the same name. The reason we use sprouts and not mature alfalfa plants is that the plant's leaves grow very bitter as they mature. But when the sprouts are harvested early, they can provide a healthy boost to your recipes.
These sprouts are described as having a mild, nutty taste. They also add a satisfying crunchy texture to dishes. Alfalfa sprouts can be identified by their white stems and small green leaves.
People have been using alfalfa sprouts for their health benefits for hundreds of years. Alfalfa is offered in several forms, including raw sprouts and supplements. This legume is sought-after for its rich content of minerals and vitamins.
How to pick out alfalfa sprouts
If you're shopping for raw alfalfa sprouts, make sure that they are dry and still have good color. Once alfalfa sprouts start to get slimy and wilted, they are not good anymore. Raw alfalfa sprouts are often sold in bunches and plastic containers. Lift the plastic container and inspect the sprouts from all sides to ensure you're getting the freshest product.
How to cook with alfalfa sprouts
Do not eat raw alfalfa sprouts without washing them. Fresh alfalfa sprouts can carry foodborne illnesses and must be thoroughly cleaned or cooked before they are eaten. If you have problems with your immune system, avoid eating alfalfa sprouts.
If you purchase pre-packaged and prepared alfalfa sprouts, you generally don't have to worry about these foodborne illnesses. But if you buy whole sprouts, you should still wash them before you eat them. As you wash your sprouts, look for any that look soggy and throw them away. Smell your sprouts — if they smell bad, throw them away. You should also look out for dark sprouts and remove them as well.
Once you've washed and prepared your alfalfa sprouts, you can add them to your recipes. If you plan on putting them on top of something that doesn't require cooking, such as a sandwich or salad, toast the sprouts in the oven for a couple of minutes. If you're going to add the sprouts to something such as a soup or stir-fry, you should wait to add them until you're just about done with the recipe. Cooking alfalfa sprouts for longer than a minute or two will cause them to lose their crunchy texture.
Alfalfa Sprouts Near Me
Buy your favorite Alfalfa Sprouts online with Instacart. Order Alfalfa Sprouts from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours.
FAQs about alfalfa sprouts
Alfalfa sprouts offer high levels of nutrients and minerals without adding very many calories to your recipes. They are excellent sources of vitamin K, which aids your body in absorbing calcium. It's said that alfalfa helps lower cholesterol, improves your metabolism, relieves menopause symptoms, and more. The efficacy of alfalfa sprouts has not been proven, but it has been linked to many health benefits.
Here are the basic nutrition facts for 100 grams of alfalfa sprouts:
- Calories: 23
- Total fat: 0.7 grams, 1% of your daily recommended value
- Sodium: 6 milligrams
- Dietary fiber: 1.9 grams, 7% of your daily value
- Sugar: 0.2 grams
- Protein: 4 grams, 8% of your daily value
- Calcium: 2% of your daily value
- Iron: 5% of your daily value
- Potassium 2% of your daily value
- Vitamin K: 25% of your daily value
- Copper: 17% of your daily value
Raw alfalfa sprouts generally only last for a few days, so it's better to buy them when you're going to eat them soon. Keep your alfalfa sprouts in the refrigerator, preferably in the crisper drawer. If your alfalfa sprouts start to get slimy or wilted, it's time to toss them out. If you want to avoid waste, you can use old alfalfa sprouts as fertilizer or throw them into a compost heap.
If you're storing alfalfa sprouts in your refrigerator, be sure to keep them separated from other food. Wash only the amount of sprouts you're planning on eating now. Washing your alfalfa sprouts before you store them can cause their shelf life to shorten. However, you can thoroughly dry your sprouts on paper towels after washing them if you don't want to keep them in your refrigerator unwashed.
If you're on the hunt for alfalfa sprouts, take a look at what the stores in your area have to offer through Instacart. With the Instacart app or website, you can shop at some of your favorite local stores right from your device. Order the items you need for pick-up or delivery, and let Instacart shoppers head out and gather your items for you! Though shopping for these items yourself can be enjoyable, sometimes you just need to save that extra time to focus on the rest of your day's to-do list. Instacart is here to give you that time.