No-pour agar jars using an Instant Pot (petri dishes)

[@bunnyhop3283]

Thank you! I just made my first batch of agar in jars! I suffer from ADD so trying to manover through the steps for agar and LC is mind blowing for me. I realize mycology is probably not for me but I'm determined to grow my own. Thankfully your videos have got me this far. Much ❤️ from 🍁

[@christopherpenny6216]

You're a great teacher. Just found you, your videos are great

[@JolynJessica]

I have been reading up on mycology and watching KZbin videos for seven months now and feel ready to get going, but and the thing that I was still not comfortable with was the Agar, because everybody teaches it differently. But since I want to make the best out of the mycelium I buy and also store bought mushrooms Agar seems really good to try since I can grow it out if it gets contaminated. the way you just explained everything in this short video, finally made it so that I trust myself to try agar. the way you explain makes a lot of sense and is very easy to follow. i will make make some grain spawn jars, a liquid culture and Agar with the mycelium that I ordered and see with what I can work with best. thanks a lot for your content.

[@LowTechMycology]

Really appreciate your comment! Thank you. This is reason I decided to make these videos to begin with. I also had trouble at the start and it took a lot of reading, watching videos and trial and error tonget over the hump. I had a solid 3 months of failing, until I had success, it felt so wonderful when I finally figured it out on my own. Good luck on your journey.

[@JolynJessica]

​because of ptsd and depression, I can't work currently, living off welfare in Germany. they keep part of it, because of a loan for down-payment on my apartment and a loan for furniture and the garage that came with the apartment. so I literally can't afford to make many errors. I know there will be some but need to keep them at a minimum, as the cullinarys are meant to be used as food. I am vegan and mushrooms are so expensive in Germany. I started gardening as well because of my low budget. that's why your video is so helpful. might keep my mistakes and contams at a minimum. king oyster is in the fridge along with lions mane. ready to go!! @@LowTechMycology

[@ZombieSnax42069]

Does letting it cool overnight in the insta pot help with condensation ?

[@dummkompf]

when you seal up the jars afterwards, do you flip the lids back around? or just keep them upside down and tighten?

[@DDBwest]

Thank you! your later half of the video answered my biggest question, stacking the second level. I see you staggered them, i shall do the same. For tightening, does the lid remain flipped and you just twist the thing tight as you can? or does it need to be flipped back for a proper seal?

[@LowTechMycology]

I've staggered them and gone one ontop of the other, I never noticed much difference, and both ways have been successful. The lids remain flipped when finished, this allows the jars to not self-seal. They would also pull a vacuum and introduce air when opening them.

[@toddwmac]

Good vid, thanks! If you have a second for a question. I've used an Instant Pot for years but had not started trying no pour until now. i'm using PP5 screw top containers but my 1st run left the agar way over hydrated and soupy. I'm quite sure the ingredient and water mix was correct (MEAP - 250, 5, 5, .5) but I did not use foil, just left the lids a very tiny bit loose. I was wondering if you have tried w/out foil and found a similar result? BTW and FWIW, if you hydrate the agar powder in cold water 1st for about 15 - 20 minutes, it will decrease its tendency to clump and cloud. Thanks for sharing,.

[@LowTechMycology]

I almost always use foil, but I have use the lids you had mentioned without foil. I don't think I've had any water get in, but to mitigate over hydrated agar, I tend to add additional agar to the recipe to thicken it up, it also reducescondensation.

[@shaunm1983]

PP5 little screw top containers are way better and easier to use

[@SirDydimus86]

I'm sorry if you've answered this a million times but, will this work with an instant pot that does not have a pressure cooker setting?

[@LowTechMycology]

If it can't pressure cook, it won't be able to sterilize the contents. Maybe check the manual to see if it may be a possibility or not?

[@wubz_z4435]

Instant pots go up to 11 12 psi. I also only have a instant pot so what I've found so far is people with a actual pressure cooker won't really know much about instant pots. But other videos showed me a instant pot will be fine. Thing I'm confused is. Keep it in for 30 mins 45 or an hour?.. hmm

[@SirDydimus86]

@@wubz_z4435 I would imagine whatever time they typically use in an actual pressure cooker adding 5 - 10 minutes. I should have been more specific with my question a month ago...was it really only that long ago?! The IP-LUX model does not have a "pressure cook" button however the manual function works the same. I haven't done any substrate in it but, I have made LC and agar. I haven't invested in the 4oz mason jars yet, just the 2oz ketchup cups. It's a little frustrating having so little surface area for the mycelium to spread, just means more transfers.

[@LowTechMycology]

@@wubz_z4435 Trial and error, find the path for yourself. You can do many options and see what works best overtime. I have cooked my agar for 50 min and had great results, the least amount was about 20 min. The less time you cook it for. the more chance it isn't fully sterilized and some may be contaminated from when you prepared the jars.

[@wubz_z4435]

@@LowTechMycology Thanks man. I got all that down. Bout to make agar today doing 10 g light malt extract, 10 g agar powder, not adding anything else think I'll be straight?

[@BadddDoggg-id4po]

Now that's low tech!

[@carlotella6666]

No air exchange hole needed?

[@shaunm1983]

No

[@LowTechMycology]

Surprisingly not required

[@ZombieSnax42069]

The lid being flipped upside down allows for air exchange, so does leaving the cap 1/4 turn loose. But yea, if you didn't do either of those it would build up pressure inside. You had the correct line of thinking.

[@fennten8338]

too little likes.