by Debbie Proctor
Sprouts vs. Microgreens. You’re probably wondering what the difference is if you are trying to eat healthier, lose weight, lower your cholesterol level, improve your mental health, get all of your essential vitamins and nutrients in your daily meals – all without resorting to pills and supplements. In that case, you might be familiar with both sprouts and microgreens.
There is no denying that both sprouts and microgreens are packed with nutrients, but that said, they are not the same thing.
Both are super healthy, but there are some significant differences in terms of how they are grown, how they are eaten, and their nutritional content.
Let’s take a closer look at what sprouts and microgreens are all about.
Sprouts vs. Microgreens
What are Sprouts?
It’s easy to get confused when it comes to sprouts vs microgreens. I understand. I had questions about the differences when I first started eating healthier with microgreens. So, no worries!
Sprouts are the earliest stage of plant growth that we can eat. Sprouts are seeds that have just germinated and have just started growing.
When you eat sprouts, you are eating the first little stem that pops out of the seed, and when you eat sprouts, you eat the whole thing, which includes the seeds, the offshoots, and the roots.
Quite simply, sprouts are the first stage of plant life. Sprouts are generally grown hydroponically and are harvested when they are only a few days old.
There are quite a few types of sprouts, and each of them has its own specific benefits.
Let’s quickly take a look at some of the most common sprouts that can be found in grocery stores.
- Alfalfa – High in Vitamins A, E, D, and K.
- Broccoli – High in antioxidants.
- Clover – High in proteins, iron, calcium, and potassium.
- Mung bean – High in fiber.
- Radish – High in Vitamins C and A.
- Soybean – High in fiber and protein.
- Sunflower – High in Vitamin D
What are Microgreens?
Now that we know what sprouts are let’s take a look at microgreens. Whereas sprouts are the youngest form of a plant that can be eaten, microgreens are the second stage.
What you see on microgreens are generally known as cotyledons, the first couple of small leaves that a plant develops.
After these cotyledons develop, the first true leaves of the plant’s development are known as microgreens. It’s a plant in its infantile stages of growth.
Unlike sprouts, where you eat the whole thing, you only eat the leaves when it comes to microgreens. That said, sprouts have a lower all-around nutritional content than microgreens.
Let’s take a quick look at some of the most popular microgreens out there.
- Alfalfa
- Beet
- Buckwheat
- Clover
- Collards
- Kale
- Kohlrabi
- Pea
- Radish
- Sunflower
Main Differences Between Sprouts and Microgreens
Now that we know what both sprouts and microgreens are let’s find out what the differences are.
Growth Requirements
One of the main differences between sprouts and microgreens has to do with their growing conditions and requirements.
Sprouts are germinated in water (hydroponically grown) and are harvested from there. Due to sprouts being the first stage of plant growth, they do not require any lighting or ventilation, making them very easy to grow.
Moreover, sprouts are usually harvested within 3 to 5 days of seed germination.
On the other hand, when it comes to microgreens, the second stage of plant growth, they are harvested within 1 to 2 weeks of seed germination.
Moreover, while they may be germinated hydroponically, they are grown in a soil medium. On that same note, microgreens also require proper lighting and ventilation to grow. Because microgreens are grown in soil, it’s important to choose the best soil. Be sure and check out my article on “Best Garden Soil” so you know you’re using the best, possible soil.
Edible Parts
Some people will say that sprouts are more efficient and eco-friendly. With sprouts, you eat the whole thing, including the seeds, the offshoots, and the roots.
However, this is not the case with microgreens, as the roots and stems are generally not eaten.
For the most part (with a couple of exceptions), the only part of microgreens that are eaten are the leaves. While this may be a bit wasteful in some cases, microgreens have a clear advantage – nutritional content.
Nutritional Content
There is no denying the fact that sprouts are very healthy and relatively high in nutritional content. They contain a good deal of fiber, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. However, they really cannot compare when it comes to the nutritional content offered by microgreens.
Microgreens are becoming popular in the healthy eating community because they are loaded with fiber, proteins, vitamins, and minerals.
Simply put, microgreens, pound for pound, have much more nutrition in them.
Storage
The other difference has to do with storage. To keep sprouts in top condition and ready to eat, they need to be stored in minimal light, and they should be dry.
On the other hand, microgreens should be placed in a glass of water for storage, so those little leaves can drink lots of water until you are ready to consume them.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that both sprouts and microgreens are super healthy. However, microgreens have more minerals, vitamins, and health benefits all around, not to mention that there are more varieties.