21 replies to this topic

[Pakil]

I PC’d 12 pint jars yesterday and they are too full. I thought I followed the directions exactly, and the grains look properly hydrated, but there is no space left in my jars. I’m not sure if the measurements were meant for quart jars? 1-1/3 cup rye plus 200 mL water.
What can I do? Can I remove some from each jar and re-pressurize for a little while?

[Mycol]

You could try that. Do you have a still air box, or laminar flow hood or Anything like that ? What was your next step for them?

If you had one of those things you could just dump some of them out in there .

[Pakil]

I don’t have a still air box made. I do have the tote but have been anxious to cut the holes yet. I used to clean the hell out of my bathroom to do transfers.

I was going to inject these jars with the ms solution and LC that I have to see if it’s still viable. I put the hobby away for a few years and have forgotten a lot, trying to get started again.

[ElPirana]

You could try that. Do you have a still air box, or laminar flow hood or Anything like that ? What was your next step for them?
If you had one of those things you could just dump some of them out in there .

I agree, dumping some out is probably your best bet if you don’t want to start all over.

[ElPirana]

I don’t have a still air box made. I do have the tote but have been anxious to cut the holes yet. I used to clean the hell out of my bathroom to do transfers.
I was going to inject these jars with the ms solution and LC that I have to see if it’s still viable. I put the hobby away for a few years and have forgotten a lot, trying to get started again.

Here’s some info if you wanna give a SAB a try. I’ve been using one for years, if done right it can be very successful.

https://mycotopia.ne...-sab-technique/

[Pakil]

Thank you. I guess I better cut the holes in mine. :)

Would it hurt the grains if I repacked the jars and started the PC up again for 15 minutes?

[MushLuvR]

I have on a rare occasion dumped some of the seeds out in a SAB (right before inoculation) with no issues, throwing them back in the PC isn't necessary.  A pint jar should be right about a half cup each (should have plenty of room) @ 60ml.  I run Milo @ 1.5 cups per quart @ 180ml and 1.75 cups of Oats @ 210ml.  I believe Rye is the same amount water wise.  Might be time to make that SAB.  All the best... of luck in your projects.  

[Pakil]

Just in case anyone else gets in a jam like this - the jars were packed severely tight, even if I spooned a couple inches out I had to pry them loose and the remainder wouldn’t shake up no matter how much I shook. I decided to empty and repack the jars with the hydrated grain, filling an additional 8 jars and tossing the rest because I didn’t have enough lids prepared to make more. I fired up the PC for most of them for 10+ minutes, and ran 2 batches of 4 in my Instant Pot for 15 minutes. The kernels didn’t explode so I think I’ll be ok. Fingers crossed that I killed any contams.

[ElPirana]

Just in case anyone else gets in a jam like this - the jars were packed severely tight, even if I spooned a couple inches out I had to pry them loose and the remainder wouldn’t shake up no matter how much I shook. I decided to empty and repack the jars with the hydrated grain, filling an additional 8 jars and tossing the rest because I didn’t have enough lids prepared to make more. I fired up the PC for most of them for 10+ minutes, and ran 2 batches of 4 in my Instant Pot for 15 minutes. The kernels didn’t explode so I think I’ll be ok. Fingers crossed that I killed any contams.

Am I understanding correctly that you only ran it for 15 minutes? It’s pretty standard to go 90 minutes.

[Mycol]

What EP said x2

[Pakil]

I processed the grain for 90 minutes a few days ago, that’s when they expanded in the jars, I repacked the jars yesterday with the same grain, fluffing it up and throwing out the extra. I didn’t think another 90 would be required on the same grain ?? (I did open the jars for a few minutes in open air to make some room since they were full- solid with hydrated grains)

Edited by Pakil, 22 February 2023 - 11:59 AM.

[MushLuvR]

Open air is filled with organisms you can't see, I hope your jars make it, you are playing a risky game in an Open environment.  

[Pakil]

You’d recommend another 90 minutes of pressure on these grains? Since it was recommended that I not recook them but do it in a SAB, I thought a short run would suffice since I don’t have a SAB rn. I could rerun them if they’ll hold up.

[WoodenMushroom]

Pakil!

Think of this as a game of snake on a nokia 3210. As you measure your grains, get the ratios correct, sealing your jars, PCing them for 90 mins (to primaraly and most importantly elimate any contamination) your snake is growing and your points are racking up. But as soon as any of your grains become exposed to open air! Thats the same as crashing into yourself on the game, snake. You lose all your progress and have to restart. In this case because the grains are freshly hydrated and have no inoculant in them you would have to go back to the "PCing them for 90 mins (to primaraly and most importantly elimate any contamination)" checkpoint, repeat this step, then continue as planned.

Think of a still air box as an air pocket in an underwater cave. Where you can expose your grains to openair without a severe chance of contaminations getting in and taking over. With the correct SAB sterile techniques being followed of course.

Do what ya gotta do fellow fungi, SAB!

WM

[Pakil]

Gotcha. They’re back in the PC now that my chili is off the stove. I need to test out my spores and cultures, I don’t want to be wondering if the darn jars are the problem. Hopefully the grain will hold up ok, I put the drier jars on the bottom and the moister ones on top layer, since it seemed like the wetter ones had been on the bottom of the PC. Fingers crossed.

[WoodenMushroom]

Thats the one matey!

Best of luck to ya.

15psi, 90 mins, and you dont expose the jars to open air, and follow sterile technique you shouldnt need to worry too much about wether its the jars or not.

Take it easy, WM

[Pakil]

No jar activity yet, but I think it may be too cold. It’s only 66-67° in here tops. Any tips how to elevate the temperature inside a plastic tote? I have all my jars inside, and the lidded tote next to the heat register, but it never hits 70 in there. It won’t be warm here for several months.

[YoshiTrainer]

Cube mycelium can grow into the lower 60F range, just much slower.

[Pakil]

My homemade oyster LC jars have started. None of the others have activity yet. I’m surprised, I thought my LCs would be the least likely to be clean and alive after 3 years. Spore solution, I’d imagine, will naturally lag behind liquid culture. No activity in the cube LC yet either. Those Oysters were voracious so I’ll keep my fingers crossed. :)

[WoodenMushroom]

Good stuff Pakil!

Mycelium running!

WM