So, what are microgreens? Microgreen is a buzzword for small vegetables that are approximately 1–3 inches (2.5–7.5 cm) tall. Despite their size, they often contain higher nutrient levels and packed with flavor - a perfect addition to any diet.
Do Microgreens Need to Be Washed?
One of the many questions that people commonly ask is how to use microgreens and do they need to be washed or not. It is advisable to wash all vegetables before you eat them unless they are grown in an all controlled condition, and you’re confident in the farm source. Be careful that you don’t expose already clean greens to contaminants in your kitchen. A surface on which you’ve been preparing meat can expose your product to bacteria.
If you can find a room for a few seed trays inside your home, microgreens can be harvested at home with a pair of scissors. Some microgreens may regrow, particularly if you chop them just above the lowest leaf. However, if you decide to grow them at home, there are chances pesky insects will bug your plants, so make sure you wash your microgreens with and dry with a paper towel, or you can use a salad spinner to wash and dry your microgreens.
Do Microgreens Regrow After Cutting?
The good news is that, in specific scenarios, microgreens may regrow. In fact, from one set of seedlings, you can accomplish several crops. Once the growth is stopped, you can move the contents from your tray into the compost pile; it will surely act as an excellent constituent for the plants present in your garden.
A top tip for you is that the seedlings are not necessarily needed to go through the process of germination or to be removed. The shoots that you have curtailed will regrow and will be as tasty and nutritious as the one you have just consumed!
How to Use Microgreens?
To put it short, there are many microgreens recipes you can use. You can use it as a garnish, but there’s so much more with its flavor and texture. You can make your microgreen salads at home with our Dark Opal Microgreens. Mix Genovese Basil, Red Rubin, and Dark Opal Microgreens with fresh mozzarella cheese and tomatoes, and there’s a delicious Caprese salad.
Mustard microgreens add a mildly spicy taste to your dish. Try adding roasted mustard microgreens on the top of your salad bowl, or use it as a complement in sushi or roasted beef for fun and tangy alternative.
Can You Cook Microgreens?
Yes, you can cook your microgreens to make a nutritional meal. For example, you can make sautéed microgreens with the help of amaranth leaves quite quickly at your home. Mix Amaranth Microgreens with thinly sliced tomatoes, onions, some green chilies, and garlic and move them in a frying pan containing two teaspoons of oil. Sautee all these ingredients and add some salt and turmeric to taste. Finally, cook all the ingredients until the moisture dries up, then serve the meal in a dish and sprinkle some chili flakes on it.
What are the Health Benefits of Microgreens?
There are immense health benefits of microgreens. For instance, Mustard Microgreens are considered an essential source of antioxidants and carotene, which helps to achieve glowing skin and improved eyesight. Amaranth Microgreens, on the other hand, are a nutritional powerhouse containing zinc, riboflavin, potassium, iron, calcium, and a variety of vitamins. These specific microgreens help to reduce cholesterol levels and mitigates the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Similarly, Dark Opal Basil plays an essential part in improving our digestive system, acts as a muscle relaxant, and puts an antibacterial effect on significant infections.
If you’d like to find out more about our microgreens, discover more on Full Nature, where we sell a range of edible flowers and microgreens to bakers, chefs and everyone passionate about cooking.