Jar vs Ziploc Grain Spawn Tek

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[@glenw3814]

You could use sous vide tek to pasteurize (1hr@185°F?) your popcorn IN the Ziploc bag and never need to do the jar to bag grain transfer.

[@TechGorilla1987]

@12:29 - Once it sticks to the inside of the jar, it's a BEAR to separate.

[@glenw3814]

For the purpose of your experiment to see which container would colonize more swiftly, it would have been useful to eliminate the issue of inoculation point placement. If you had just inoculated each container with one square centimeter of myceliated agar you would not have needed to mix nor would you have needed to select which petri dish to use as a donor. You could have used the same petri dish as the source for each container. Eliminating all sources of variation except for the thing you want to test is key to a good experiment. I found it very instructive to see the difference in the difficulty of mixing inoculation points into the two containers. 🙏

[@KitchenMycology]

Yeah, this was not a real rigurous scientific experiment. But I've found that Ziplocs always colonize faster for me. Thanks fr the input!

[@glenw3814]

@@KitchenMycology I appreciate your sharing your work. Do you have a hypothesis for why the ziploc bags colonized faster? I suspect it's because it's much easier to thoroughly mix them and get the mycelium in contact with every kernel...but that's just a guess.

[@KitchenMycology]

@@glenw3814 I think it's a few factors working together. 1 - larger Air Exchange vent on the Ziploc. Which is why I have 4 syringe filters on my old lids. I found Tha the more filters I added, the faster the jars would colonize. 2 - It may be that having a large pocket of air in the Ziploc exposes the grains to more air on top. I see that top layer get really thick with mycelium in the Ziplocs. 3 - What you mentioned: Agar mixes more evenly in the bags. Although I still see faster times with Liquid Culture... These are only guesses. I'm really not sure.

[@glenw3814]

@@KitchenMycology That's very interesting. Thank you for sharing. If colonization time is a factor you are keen to optimize, maybe give groats a try. They don't squish as easily as rice, and in my experiments they colonize about 30% faster than corn kernels. I found that sorghum produces higher yields than corn, but I'd have to check my notes to see if it's colonization time is better.

[@KitchenMycology]

@@glenw3814 I just did a round of Grain Spawn with Whole Oats. I prepared them exactly as Popcorn which is easy. But even though I rinsed them thoroughly, they always have th se black specs which look like contamination. That, I didn't like. I usually go for simplicity over speed, so I like Ready Rice or Popcorn because it's so easy to prepare.

[@renegarza1436]

I would add a lil less grain to the jar next time. Makes it easier for the B&S👍 otherwise good video!

[@WhiteBeardHashtag1205]

I would like to make a suggestion, when filling the jars only fill to about an inch below the lip that the cap screws down on. This will help not only when it comes time to Break n Shake, the "headspace" will also aid in colonization by providing more air and and better FAE. Hope this helps, rock on bro!

[@KitchenMycology]

I agree 100% - Now, I always dump the grain in Ziplocs, so I fill them higher when I PC the Jars. 😎👍🏼🍄

[@WhiteBeardHashtag1205]

@@KitchenMycology right, I get that. I had heard you talk about mainly using zip-locs in your video. I was mainly posting that suggestion for your viewers, as they may still be using jars, and it was a tip someone taught me many moons ago that really helped me. I figured it might also help some of the beginners that might be watching this video. Spread the knowledge, spread the love 🤍

[@KitchenMycology]

@@WhiteBeardHashtag1205 Definitely, spread the wisdom! Thanks for sharing. 😎👍🏼🍄

[@TechGorilla1987]

@8:54 - When I am in this moment, I find myself holding my breath.

[@KitchenMycology]

Ha! Me too! When I'm not taking for a video.

[@Houseofmycology]

Do you keep the bag of popcorn sealed while colonizing? Or do you have a filter patch somewhere on it? I don’t see one

[@KitchenMycology]

I put micropore Tape over the top of the Ziploc. I ssow that in the following video, but it's a compilation of many Video Lessons in the Patreon Course. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rp_NmpKMaq6bf68

[@Houseofmycology]

I’m going to start using bags

[@TheKenjondoe]

What's your experience so far using bags?

[@Houseofmycology]

@@TheKenjondoe it’s not to good! Lol I think I bought the wrong size filter patch it restricts the fae and the caps on the albino penis envy’s turn buue and black and then die! So what I have been doing because I don’t want to waste my bags that I have I’ll load the substrate and grains in the bag (I layer my grains and substrate) then let it colonize and when it starts pinning I take it out of the bag and put it in a big clear tub on a wire rack from the dollar stare with a doggie pee pad under it and that helps humidity and I fan 4 times a day! Every 6 hours or my caps start trying to turn blue! But it works great! I have a monotub with holes and micropore tape over them and it’s pinning and I haven’t fanned it once! If that works all the way through to harvest then that’s the way I’ll do it for now on!

[@TheKenjondoe]

@Houseofmycology Ahh, okay, at least you're finding ways that work. I've been using Walmarts Equate Paper Tape, and it works for letting the grains colonize in bags. I got a few fully colognized bags of rice using that tape.

[@Houseofmycology]

@@TheKenjondoe yeah I’m doing pretty good now! I use 3m paper tape too

[@retropursuit992]

Thanks for the video, I really struggle with the jars as I get some sides which colonise fully then I’ll get another side which will be like 50% so I have to shake them multiple times.

[@KitchenMycology]

Yeah. I've mentioned a few times that I only use jars to sterilize initially and then I dump in the Ziploc. I get faster colonization and Break and Shake is super simple. 😎👍🏼

[@SuperiorDave]

This is a great idea that I haven't considered much. I usually make my own bags since I have a bag maker/ sealer.

[@SuperiorDave]

I use them when I'm out of jars

[@BossPookie]

Bang jars against a tennis ball or similar. Or one of those new massage guns with rubber half ball tip works instantly to break up jar spawn.

[@DanielTorres-rw2rz]

@@BossPookieI have to try this. I beat the shit out of my hand breaking and shaking multiple grain jars

[@oongieboongie]

Have you ever used something as big as a gallon zip-lock?

[@KitchenMycology]

I like to use Qt bags because they colonize really fast. A gallon bag will take a long time to colonize so I'd rather split it into 4 Qt Bags.

[@bigb8443]

Do you have a video on ziploc grain sterilization? I've been using pint jars, curious how to use ziploc bags.

[@KitchenMycology]

Ziplocs will melt, so you have to sterilize in jars - or use 90 Second Ready Rice and then dump into the Ziploc. The good thing is that you can then wash and reuse the jars immediately instead of having to wait for the jar to get colonized.

[@TechGorilla1987]

@@KitchenMycology Another plus is not having to use fancy lids for the grain PC. Just flip the standard metal lids and send 'er!

[@KitchenMycology]

@@TechGorilla1987 Yes! I just use aluminum foil and after it's PC'd I put a rubber band around the foil to keep it clean until I dump into the Ziploc. So no lids at all.

[@bigb8443]

@KitchenMycology Heck yea, thanks for the info. That's gonna speed up the process exponentially.. love the channel, no Bs. Great information 👍

[@glenw3814]

Sous vide pasteurization in Ziploc bag. 😉

[@wookdabz6234]

can use less grain for fae and for shaking.

[@KitchenMycology]

True

[@mgguygardening]

Great video, I just set up a few jars recently with oyster mycelium. One question, I don't see anything allowing for air exchange with the bag (unless I just missed it) - is this not necessary?

[@KitchenMycology]

They have Micropore Tape over the top for FAE kzbin.info/www/bejne/rp_NmpKMaq6bf68si=ShzevjE5GN7HspjI

[@johnnywu2]

So the benefit to bag vs jar is faster colonization?

[@KitchenMycology]

That's just one of the benefits. I can Sterilize grain in a jar and then dump it in the Ziploc and re-use the jars right away. Break and Shake is much easier. Cheap. Easy. I don't know man. I dig it.

[@johnnywu2]

@@KitchenMycology wasn't trying to be a dick just legitimately curious. If it's better I'm down to try it.

[@KitchenMycology]

@@johnnywu2 I didn't think you were being a dick. I hope I didn't come off that way either. Sorry if I did. 👍🏼🍄

[@alberto2alvarez14]

This is probably a dumb question but did you use 70% iso alcohol to clean the Ziploc bags?

[@KitchenMycology]

Ziploc bags are sealed and sterile in the box, so no need to sanitize or sterize at all. 😎👍🏼 I go through all the steps and details in the Patreon Course: Patreon.com/KitchenMycology

[@TechGorilla1987]

@11:51 - Did you use your method to "french" the bottom corners of this bag or are these the ones that stand on their own?

[@KitchenMycology]

That's a Walmart brand Ziploc, so it has that already.

[@SuperiorDave]

Do you ever have any issues with the agar to grain transfers? I've got some jars that seem s though they don't like the process for some reason because it goes dormant or dies after the transfer. Also, i have the issue with some not wanting to go doable from the lid or the pieces of agar will stock to the glass at the top. I usually have to let the jars sit upside-down so the corn is touching the agar

[@KitchenMycology]

Agar pieces get stuck under the lid or on the glass, higher than the grain level. Sometimes it's a pain to get Agar pieces to mix in more uniformly. Although this gets solved when I Break and Shake, I'd rather dump the grain in a Qt Ziploc. It makes mixing Agar at inoculation and B+S a lot easier. I also believe that having the bigger Air Exchange at the top of the Ziploc helps speed up Colonization. Ziploc is just simpler in my opinion.

[@SuperiorDave]

I'll definitely check it out. Anything that makes it easier is cool with me as long as it doesn't create a chance for tammy.

[@helpyourfellowhuman]

👍🏻