The Sprouting Company was just featured in Shark Tank, bringing awareness to more people about sprouting and all its benefits.
As far as we're concerned, this is a great thing.
So you might be wondering; are there other options out there? Are they worse, or better? Expensive, or less expensive?
For a TLDR, skip to the comparison chart at the bottom of this article. But here are the details (Spoiler: The Forages jar is made of higher quality materials, is more sustainable, and costs less).
The Better-Built Sprouting Kit That Costs Less
Forages delivers premium build quality and smarter design at a more affordable price than The Sprouting Company.
Forages uses borosilicate glass—the same durable, lightweight material used in laboratory equipment. It’s built to withstand temperature changes and daily rinsing without clouding or cracking. The Sprouting Company, by contrast, relies on standard glass that’s heavier and more fragile.
The Sprouting Company’s base and bowl are made of plastic, which can gradually change shape with repeated rinsing, heat, and dishwasher cycles.
Plastic also tends to dull, retain light residue, and absorb faint odors over time.
Forages uses stainless steel for those same components, which keeps its form, resists staining, and maintains consistent drainage and airflow.
It’s a simple material difference that affects durability and long-term cleanliness.
Because Forages relies on stainless steel and borosilicate glass instead of plastic, it holds its shape and function over years of regular rinsing and cleaning. And again - at a lower price.
Built with Sustainability in Mind
The longer a jar stays functional, the fewer end up discarded—durable glass like the kind Forages uses translates directly into less manufacturing and less landfill. And unlike coated or mixed materials, the stainless steel maintains integrity through endless washes, supporting both hygiene and long-term reuse.
A plastic-free build means fewer synthetic materials entering the waste stream and no gradual breakdown into microplastics.
Our longer warranty (3 years instead of 1) is grounded in the certainty of the quality and sustainability of the Forages sprouter.
Small Details Add Up
Each brand replaces traditional mason jars with rimless glass, a change that makes rinsing simpler and prevents water from collecting at the edges.
But Forages takes things a step further. A long-time sprouter shared, "I’ve been growing my own sprouts for a few years and used four different systems. Forages incorporates all the best features from my past ones—and improves on them."
Simple things like:
- An etched day tracker on the jar itself to guide the sprouting cycle from soak to harvest.
- The stand lifts the jar off the counter, allowing airflow to circulate while ensuring better drainage.
- The vertical standing position takes up minimal counter space—freeing up room for other things including a second sprouting jar.
Comparison
The Sprouting Company’s Shark Tank feature helped introduce many people to home sprouting, and that visibility benefits the entire category. However, discerning consumers can look at alternatives and determine whether a product like Forages makes sense for them at a lower cost.
