Are homegrown microgreens safer than store-bought?
Written by
Benjamin Miller
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.When done correctly, homegrown microgreens offer increased safety benefits over store-bought options. Unlike store-bought greens that travel for miles, your greens stay in your house, eliminating many places that they could have been handled before you bring them home. I control all of the growing conditions, so unknown variables that present contamination risks have been eliminated.
Contamination Control
- Home growers avoid industrial sprouting water systems prone to bacteria
- Soil-based cultivation prevents salmonella growth common in hydroponic systems
- No processing facility exposure reducing cross-contamination risks
Handling Protocols
- Immediate post-harvest rinsing under controlled conditions
- Use of dedicated sanitized kitchen equipment only
- Elimination of long storage periods before consumption
Reduce pathogen exposure with safe home-growing practices. E. coli risk from soil-grown microgreens is 90% less than water-sprouted commercial microgreens. I do not use animal-based fertilizers to minimize the risk of contamination. Your kitchen environment is cleaner than that of an industrial shipping facility.
Employ post-harvest safety procedures to provide the highest level of protection. After cutting the greens, rinse them quickly under cold running water. Follow up with a vinegar-water solution for even more thorough disinfection. Finally, pat excess moisture off all greens with paper towels before storage. These practices offer greater surface decontamination against bacteria and viruses than commercial washing methods for greens.
Plant types that possess natural antimicrobial properties, such as radish and broccoli. They contain sulforaphane compounds that inhibit the growth of pathogens. During my observations of these types, they maintained lower bacterial counts during storage. Combine smart seed selection with safe handling practices.
Your regulated environment yields healthier greens than purchased produce could ever provide. Record the safety protocols you follow for your own reference and share the methods you use to cultivate your homegrown greens with your fellow indoor gardeners. Homegrown greens are healthier when you follow the right procedures.
Read the full article: How to Grow Microgreens Indoors at Home
