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fourstringbass
Canadian Chemist



Registered: 12/19/06
Posts: 140
Last seen: 17 years, 2 months
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Microwave Sterilization
#6475792 - 01/19/07 08:50 AM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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Is it alright if I sterilize my PF jars in the microwave? I can not get a pressure cooker and my last try (boiling the jars for an hour and a half) resulted in cobwebs. If I use saran wrap in place of the lids (to prevent a big fiery mess) would a microwave be able to sterilize the jars of al contaminations? Also how long and on what power should I nuke the jars?
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creamcorn
mad scientist


Registered: 03/13/06
Posts: 2,962
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"microwave sterilization" is a bit of an oxymoron
you can get lucky using a microwave, but it is not a reliable method. you're best bet is boiling them again. molds are killed pretty easily by even boiling temperatures, so if you had mold after 1.5 hours of boiling, you probably introduced it through your inoculation procedure.
besides which, cobweb doesn't usually happen in jars, are you sure that's what you had? a lot of people accidentally mistake what's actually healthy mycelium growth for cobweb mold when they're starting out!
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fourstringbass
Canadian Chemist



Registered: 12/19/06
Posts: 140
Last seen: 17 years, 2 months
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Re: Microwave Sterilization [Re: creamcorn]
#6475917 - 01/19/07 09:45 AM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
creamcorn said: "microwave sterilization" is a bit of an oxymoron
you can get lucky using a microwave, but it is not a reliable method. you're best bet is boiling them again. molds are killed pretty easily by even boiling temperatures, so if you had mold after 1.5 hours of boiling, you probably introduced it through your inoculation procedure.
besides which, cobweb doesn't usually happen in jars, are you sure that's what you had? a lot of people accidentally mistake what's actually healthy mycelium growth for cobweb mold when they're starting out!
The jar that was contaminated was never inoculated. i was useing the jar to pracice steriliation. i just preped the mix, boiled and left it at room temperature for about a month, thats when i noticed the light white spots starting to form. since no spores where put in the jar i think it is safe to say it was not mycelium.
This time I WILL be inoculating the jars so i want to be sure they are sterilized.
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doinitagain
Stranger
Registered: 12/20/06
Posts: 48
Last seen: 17 years, 2 months
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i boiled and i microwaved 11 pf jars for testing to see which works, i nuked 4 of em and boiled 7 and so far i have 7 healthy colonized jars and none of the microwaved ones worked at all.
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RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure


Registered: 03/26/03
Posts: 42,214
Loc: Seattle
Last seen: 1 year, 4 months
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Quote:
fourstringbass said: The jar that was contaminated was never inoculated. i was useing the jar to pracice steriliation. i just preped the mix, boiled and left it at room temperature for about a month, thats when i noticed the light white spots starting to form. since no spores where put in the jar i think it is safe to say it was not mycelium.
Boiling brf jars is a sound and time proven tek that needs no alteration or modification. Since your jars contaminated without being inoculated, your filter was bad. Make sure you use plenty of dry vermiculite on top of the brf. Remove foil after sterilization so the verm doesn't get damp from the moisture in the brf. Another cause of the verm barrier getting wet is having the jars sitting in the water as you boil. Get the jars up on a rack or a layer or two of unused jar lids. The jars don't need to be touching the water at all. Begin timing when steam starts escaping from the lid on your kettle, not just when the water begins to boil. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
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tonyperez420
Shaman Rasta

Registered: 11/03/04
Posts: 1,234
Last seen: 11 years, 4 months
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Re: Microwave Sterilization [Re: RogerRabbit]
#6475971 - 01/19/07 10:03 AM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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finance a PC
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Blutjager
Inhuman


Registered: 06/11/06
Posts: 9,220
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Re: Microwave Sterilization [Re: tonyperez420]
#6476145 - 01/19/07 11:11 AM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
tonyperez420 said: finance a PC
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fourstringbass
Canadian Chemist



Registered: 12/19/06
Posts: 140
Last seen: 17 years, 2 months
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Re: Microwave Sterilization [Re: tonyperez420]
#6476201 - 01/19/07 11:26 AM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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A little straped for cash at the moment. College books are not cheap so im trying not to spend much money and use what I have. Thanks for the advice though, I will be getting a pressure cooker as soon as i can afford it.
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tonyperez420
Shaman Rasta

Registered: 11/03/04
Posts: 1,234
Last seen: 11 years, 4 months
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Quote:
fourstringbass said: College books are not cheap so im trying not to spend much money and use what I have.
college student trying to grow psycadelic mushrooms LOLz
I LOVE IT!!!
been there, done that GL bro
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woaihuan
Hobbiest
Registered: 11/28/06
Posts: 25
Last seen: 17 years, 18 days
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Go to a second hand store, or ask the elderly.
Most elderly are too scared to use them anymore for cooking and have them in the basement. Second hand stores have them under the rest of the cooking wear for a couple bucks.
I got one yesterday for $3 at a second hand store in town.
-------------------- Disclaimer: I do not endorse illegal activity, nor do I participate in illegal activity. Any usage of spores is simply for microspore examinations. Any statements that pose a reason to believe otherwise should be disregarded as humorous.
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