• What are microgreens?

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Microgreens are young vegetable greens that are approximately 1–3 inches (2.5–7.5 cm) tall.

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They have an aromatic flavor, concentrated nutrient content and come in a variety of colors and textures.

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Microgreens are considered baby plants, falling somewhere between a sprout and baby green.

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Microgreens are more similar to baby greens in that only their stems and leaves are considered edible. However, unlike baby greens, they are much smaller in size and can be sold before being harvested.

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This means that the plants can be bought whole and cut at home, keeping them alive until they are consumed.

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• How do I use microgreens?

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Microgreens are used in a variety of meals; they are not just for adding fancy garnish; they can be excellent contributing members to your plate! 

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Garnishes: The small plants are both flavorful and beautiful additions to your plate. Put them on top of almost anything, including meats, pasta, fish, and pizza! You can also add a salad element to your pizza to get a lot of greens and nutrients on top. 

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Salads: Adding microgreens to your salad gives you varying textures as well as additional flavors to the greens you incorporate into your dish.

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Burgers: Instead of going with the same old lettuce, try microgreens. They are easier to bite into and have more complex flavor profiles. Plus, they look nicer! These are also popular and healthy additions to a wide variety of sandwiches. 

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Shakes: Being lightweight, you can easily add them to smoothies and shakes without a lot of bulk. We do recommend adding in fruits and other strong flavors to combat the intensity of some of the microgreen flavors. We recommend vegetable or leafy green microgreens because they most closely mimic their full-grown plant. Carrots in microgreen form taste fairly similar! 

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Pesto and salad dressings: Adding some additional nutrients to these sauces is easy and brings up the overall health and value of your meal. 

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Salsas: Spicing up your salsas with microgreens adds additional flavor but also makes it much more nutritious. You can eat more chips knowing you’re getting more vitamins in! 

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Get creative with your microgreens. They can go on and with just about everything and can help to enhance flavor profiles in a lot of ways. Some people will even eat them on their own if they like the taste enough! 

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• How long do microgreens last, after harvested?

After you have harvested your microgreens, they can last for around 2 weeks if you store them properly. The best way to store them is by refrigerating them in a plastic bag or container or dehydrating them (if you want to eat them as a healthy crunchy snack).

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What is important and as mentioned earlier is that when you store your microgreens in the fridge, they must be dry when you place them in a container. If they are wet or damp, they will not last as long. You’ll find that they get mushy and will start to smell.

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How do I keep my microgreens fresh?

This method should keep your microgreens fresh for up to 10 days!

Store in Refrigerator - Make sure the microgreens are dry, then you can place them in an airtight plastic or glass container lined with a paper towel. Having dry microgreens is a crucial factor in how long they will stay fresh. Too much moisture can cause premature decay. From there, all you need to do is put the container in your fridge and use them when needed. It’s that simple!

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• What is that white fuzzy stuff at the base of the stems?

This is, by far, one of the most frequently asked questions we receive. The short answer is, it’s not mold. The white fuzzy stuff is called micro root hairs, a normal horticultural phenomenon with hydroponic microgreens. Plants use these microscopic hairs to wick up moisture to feed. With proper care, your microgreens should not develop mold or rot. If mold does appear, it will show up as a small ball of slimy fuzz higher and closer to the leaves of the microgreens. Stem rot is typically brown and slimy and occurs at the base of the pad. You can easily identify when your microgreens are beginning to spoil.

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• What Are the Health Benefits of Microgreens?

Microgreens have become increasingly popular in the past handful of years, and a great deal of ongoing research seeks to understand all the health benefits these tiny plants offer. 

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Early research has indicated that microgreens contain up to 40% more phytochemicals (beneficial nutrients and components) than their full-grown counterparts.

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Microgreens can lower blood pressure. Foods that are high in fiber and vitamin K can be helpful in maintaining a healthy blood pressure, and microgreens are high in both of these important elements as well as other vitamins and minerals.

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Microgreens might help fight cancer. Research is ongoing into this subject, but some early evidence suggests that sulforaphane — a compound found at especially high levels in broccoli sprouts — may help fight cancer.

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Some microgreens can help lower cholesterol. A study found that red cabbage microgreens lower levels of LDL cholesterol, liver cholesterol, and inflammatory cytokines — all factors that can increase your risk for heart disease.

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Microgreens can support gut health. Foods that are high in dietary fiber, like microgreens, can ease constipation or other gastro-intestinal distress when eaten as part of a healthy, balanced diet. Research also indicates that dietary fiber serves as a " prebiotic," or material that provides an ideal environment for the "good" bacteria in the human microbiome to flourish.

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