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Mushrooms, Mycology and Psychedelics > Mushroom Cultivation
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Microwave sterilization?
    #512712 -

Has anyone been able to do sterilization in a microwave successfully, or rather, semi-dependably (using BRF)? I just got one for xmas, and it would save me a lot of trouble if I could use it for this. Here is what I have/know:

I have 1/2 pint canning jars with metal lids. Metal lids are a no-no for the microwave, so getting some plastic lids is in order.

I have an 800 watt microwave.

I have a little pot called a 'microwave cooker'. Basicly just a plastic pot with a snap on lid. The lid has small holes for steam to escape. I tried boiling some water with it, and it worked pretty good. 5 mins on high produced steam.

Here is what I don't know:

Will any of this work? I've heard of people just nuking substrate without any pot with some success. It seems like my little pot with water is the same as a pot of boiling water on a stove, but I'm not sure if it's really getting as hot as neccessary. Also, I can only do one jar at a time using this, so if I have to nuke for an hour for each jar, that's gonna suck a bit.

I know I need a PC. I know it would make everything easier. 2 problems though, no stove, no money. Actually, if it came down to it, I could do this with a PC, but that would require moving everything around (would have to go to a friend's house, and that could end up being just as inconvienent as nuking jars for an hour a piece.). I don't have the money for an electric PC. Anyway, I know what my other options are. I just want to know if anyone knows a way to try with the microwave?

Thanks

Delekhan

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Re: Microwave sterilization? [Re: delekhan23]
    #512958 -

I've never done it but I really doubt you would have to nuke them for an hour. Microwaves get really hot really quick; much quicker and hotter than PC/boiling. You could probably get away with about 5-8 minutes per jar

Edited by PuNK420 (01/07/02 07:28 AM)

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Re: Microwave sterilization? [Re: PuNK420]
    #512979 -

yes, i see what you mean here, but isnt part of the p/c do force your substrate to take on the water? i mean, its not going to have any pressure more than what the atmospheric pressure is in a microwave. this method sounds all around shoddy to me.

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Re: Microwave sterilization? [Re: PuNK420]
    #512986 -

microwaves don't get hotter than pcing. pcing is quick too. it takes like a minute for that thing to start rocking then u just lower the temp and wait 20 min and ur done. I know my pc can either go to 400 or 450 degrees. no way a microwave can do that.


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Think for yourself; Question Authority

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Re: Microwave sterilization? [Re: TeRzMaStA]
    #512996 -

400?F?
No way!

At 15 psi over ambient pressure (the pressure in the standard pressure cooker) water boils at 250?F(120?C) as opposed to 212?F(100?C) without a pressure cooker.


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Grow Mushrooms from Spores - PF-Tek for Simple Minds

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Re: Microwave sterilization? [Re: Anno]
    #513007 -

I put five half pint jars in the microwave and for less than 5 minutes...they were hot as hell. I even had trouble removing them with oven mits on they got so hot...gauranteed everything in there died...cheers. I think the microwave is a good alternative if you don't have a pressure cooker.


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And that is all the news that's fit to print

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Re: Microwave sterilization? [Re: SThomas]
    #513146 -

How did you put the jars in the microwave? Did you use plastic lids, etc. etc. Do you know what wattage your microwave is?

Delekhan

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Re: Microwave sterilization? [Re: delekhan23]
    #513245 -

I have no idea how many watts it uses...it is an older heavy duty thing though...cooks em up hot....hot. I put the jars in without lids, covered them with paper towel, had the lids next to the microwave...sterilized them with rubbing alcohol and opened the microwave, removed paper towel, placed lids on jars in the microwave...pulled them out with oven mits, and then tightened them...seemed to work well, so far no contams.
Cheers


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And that is all the news that's fit to print

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Re: Microwave sterilization? [Re: SThomas]
    #513259 -

A friend of mine sterilized four gladware disposable/microwaveable plastic things filled with a verm/brf mix. he placed each, one at a time in about a centimeter of water (in like a microwave safe plate) and nuked em for about a total of 6 minutes in ~1 minute intervals (he was scared of the plastic melting). He innoculated via holes made in the top. So far 75% colonization in all four with zero contams.


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"Hell, if you understand everything I said, you'd be me!" --Miles Davis

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Re: Microwave sterilization? [Re: delekhan23]
    #513265 -

Also, please note, microwave sterilization is NOT recommended for any whole grain substrates (i.e. rye berries, etc.) Contamination is very likely with such substrates if you dont use a pressure cooker.


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"Hell, if you understand everything I said, you'd be me!" --Miles Davis

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Re: Microwave sterilization? [Re: Anno]
    #513274 -

I have an electric pc and it has a dial to set the temperature and it goes up to 400 degrees F. When I made my substrate I steralized in the pc and set it to 250 and it worked great. I didn't put it any hotter because I wasn't sure if the jars would crack.


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Think for yourself; Question Authority

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Re: Microwave sterilization? [Re: TeRzMaStA]
    #513342 -

Why would whole grain substrates not work in the micro? Just curious because I just did that with five jars, ten days and no contams yet.


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And that is all the news that's fit to print

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Re: Microwave sterilization? [Re: parah]
    #513485 -

whats goin on with these gladware things? a friend of mine was thinking the same thing how long have they been colonizing and has anyone else out there tried it? fuck jars and pressure cookers thats all i have to say ..

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Mushrooms, Mycology and Psychedelics > Mushroom Cultivation
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