Always cook cranberry bean sprouts. Cranberry beans are the same species as kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris). Raw or undercooked beans of this kind contain a lectin that can cause severe stomach upset. Boil the sprouts for at least 10 minutes before eating.1
Short answer: soak ½ cup of cranberry beans for 6 to 12 hours. Drain them into a jar or bag, then rinse and drain twice a day. After 2 to 3 days, when short tails appear, boil them for at least 10 minutes before using them in soups, stews and salads.
What are cranberry beans?
Cranberry beans, also called borlotti beans, are speckled pink-and-cream beans with a creamy texture. They belong to the same species as kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris). Sprouting.com gives them 2 to 3 days and notes they must be cooked.2
How to grow cranberry bean sprouts
- Day0
Soak
Soak ½ cup of beans in plenty of water for 6 to 12 hours.
- Day0–2
Rinse and drain
Drain into a jar or sprouting bag. Rinse and drain twice a day.
- Day2–3
Cook
When short tails appear, boil the sprouts for at least 10 minutes.
Tips for sprouting cranberry beans
- Use plenty of water for the soak. Beans nearly double in size.
- Pick out hard beans that haven't swollen. They won't sprout.
- Rinse twice a day, three times in warm weather.
- Cook within a day or two of the tails appearing.
Problems and fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Hard beans | Old or hard seed | Remove after soaking |
| Sour smell | Warm room, poor drainage | Rinse more often, drain fully |
| Skins slipping off | Normal | Rinse them away or leave them on |
Cranberry bean sprouts vs other bean sprouts
| Bean | Eat raw? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mung | Cook for safety | The classic bean sprout |
| Adzuki | Cook for safety | Small and nutty |
| Cranberry | Never raw | Must be boiled 10+ minutes |
| Kidney | Never raw | Same rule as cranberry beans |
Cooking ideas
Boil the sprouts, then add them to minestrone, pasta e fagioli, chili or a warm bean salad with olive oil, garlic and herbs.
Storing and eating cranberry bean sprouts
Refrigerate raw sprouts and cook them within 2 days. Use the cooked sprouts in minestrone, bean stews, chili and warm salads. See sprouts curry for another cooked-sprout idea.
Safety
Never eat cranberry bean sprouts raw. For all sprouts, the FDA says higher-risk groups should not eat them raw or lightly cooked, and Health Canada advises everyone to cook them.34
Cranberry beans FAQ
Can you eat raw cranberry bean sprouts?
No. Cranberry beans contain a lectin that's destroyed only by thorough cooking. Boil the sprouts for at least 10 minutes.
How long do cranberry beans take to sprout?
About 2 to 3 days after a 6 to 12 hour soak.
Are cranberry beans the same as borlotti beans?
Yes. Borlotti is the Italian name for cranberry beans.
Written by Michael
A passionate sprouting professional sharing practical tips for growing sprouts and microgreens at home. More about Michael
Sources
- Rodhouse JC, et al. Red kidney bean poisoning in the UK: an analysis of 50 suspected incidents between 1976 and 1989. Epidemiology and Infection, 1990. Link
- Sprouting.com (Mumm's Sprouting Seeds). Product pages: days to sprout, soak time and yield for each seed. Link
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Selecting and Serving Produce Safely. Link
- Health Canada. Food safety tips for sprouts. Link
