How to prepare: Wheat, rye, and oats for mushroom grain spawn

Boiling produces the most reliable results when hydrating large cereal grains for spawn production. Boil until the starchy core has turned from white to translucent, then dry long enough for the surface to roll freely, and free of moisture.
this process is the same for common large cereal grains used for spawn production: Wheat, oats, and rye berries.
load jars with approximately 3 cups, then sterilize in your pressure cooker or autoclave for 2 hours @ 15-18 psi.
Allow to cool overnight, then unload and inoculate. Jars must be at room temperature before inoculation, it's always advisable to allow cool-down to take place within the sterile environment of the sterilizer.
A note on soaking: Soaking does not soften, "hatch", or reactivate bacterial endospores. Soaking, if anything, can potentially trigger endo sporulation (spore formation). Boiling alne is sufficient to hydrate, ensure that grains are cleaned prior to boiling.

[@myotheraccount5947]

I began learning about cultivating mushrooms about a year and a half ago and never found any grain video as solid as this one. Thanks for explaining why you don't put the weight on the pressure canner until 15 minutes after the valves have popped up. I've never heard anyone talk about this and it makes sense. As does adding the extra half hour. Definitely going to keep this one in my library and share list 👍🏼

[@benverlie1077]

Very nice set up super clean

[@davide2711]

Your work space is awesome

[@user-vs7hs9xy1f]

I like to use a bag of beer to rinse the grains.

[@myotheraccount5947]

5:50 Did I hear grains falling to the counter? 😂 Cool video man. Keeping the grains in a pile to drain and maintain thermal mass makes much more sense than laying them out to dry. I'm going to give this a try. Have you ever noted a difference in prepping regular wheat and hard wheat?

[@StipeCap]

I don't use hard wheat but iirc it is a bit more difficult to hydrate, but it works.

[@SilencedByYoutube]

What type of filters do you use on the jar lids? Thank you for the video!

[@StipeCap]

29mm Synthetic filter discs.

[@adrenachrone]

Awesome video. Where did you get those sink strainers? I've been using a window screen (literally) and it's just a pain to clean.

[@StipeCap]

Either the dollar store or the hardware store, I don't remember which, but they should be relatively easy to find.

[@Robebabu]

Do you leave the lids loosened during the PC cycle? And do you hot shake after sterilizing?

[@StipeCap]

These lids can be finger-tight, no need to keep them loose during the PC cycle. The more flimsy lids should be kept loose to avoid warping. No need for a hot shake. Let the jars cool in the PC, and shake them before placing them on a shelf or after inoculation.

[@jamestraylor2162]

On a 150L auto-clave,and after venting for about 30 mintues, what would you recommend as my cycle time? Ive been trying 3 hours sterilization cycles after venting is complete. Is it possible to sterilize for too long?

[@StipeCap]

Both spawn bags and sawdust production blocks should be cycled for 3.5-4 hours, jars for 2 hours.

[@durrdoydurrdoy5512]

Can I take the jars out after the pressure lock drops if I want to run multiple cycles in a day?

[@StipeCap]

Yes, absolutely.

[@tabathagoad517]

Are they over hydrated if I feel starchy residue on hands when drying?

[@StipeCap]

Yes, but they should dry out a bit if you leave them overnight.

[@wolfeabroad758]

What do you do with all this? Is it for growing mushrooms??

[@StipeCap]

Food for mushroom mycelium.

[@marvin216]

Do you recommend to soak first?

[@StipeCap]

Soaking is not required when boiling, it's actually a waste of time.

[@marvin216]

@@StipeCap same for rye? Thinking about trying boil only and then PC :D

[@StipeCap]

@@marvin216 Yep.