Simple Ways to Store Mushroom Spawn: 7 Steps (with Pictures) (2024)

FAQs

How to store mushroom spawns? ›

Refrigerating the culture helps to slow the growth of the mycelium, allowing the culture to be viable for longer periods. This is in sharp contrast to the best temperature for mycelium growth, which is much closer to room temperature, between 68-76 degrees F.

Store spawn in a dark spot at room temperature if you're using it in 1-2 days. If you know you're going to use the spawn within a couple of days, stash the bag in a dark spot at room temperature. Don't put the bag near any windows! Direct sunlight can damage or kill the spawn.

Plug and sawdust spawn will store for six months to a year in a refrigerator. The fresher the better, but mycelium is pretty resilient. If you don't get around to inoculating right away, tuck it away in your refrigerator until you're ready. Note: Pink oyster and almond agaricus cannot be refrigerated.

Straw mushroom can be stored for 2days at 10 - 150C in polythene bags (100 gauge) with 5% vent area. Other mushrooms like button, oyster and milky mushrooms are preserved at 50C in 100 gauge polythene bags (button and milky in non-perforated and oyster in perforated).

To preserve your mushroom spores for a long time, you shouldn't store them at room temperature. Instead, put them in air-tight containers and then refrigerate them to keep the mycelia – that's like the baby mushrooms – happy and healthy.

Water generously every week to establish the mycelium. Check once a week for a few weeks to make sure the mycelium is spreading by digging down in a few spots and then patching it back.

Mycelium grew best during spawn-running when the temperature was kept at 75° F. (23·9° C.)

Most mushroom kits will store for 3-6 months in the fridge if necessary. To store your kit, keep it in the fridge. This puts the mycelium into hibernation and will prevent it escaping the box early. Don't keep it somewhere it could exceed 30 degrees Celsius.

Keep your spawn bags in a warm, dark spot (75-77 degrees optimally) and try to leave it alone! Spawn bags colonize from the inside out so you will most likely won't see any mycelium growth for 7-14 days.

What precautions that may be taken while storing the spawn? ›

Spawn must not be exposed to direct sunlight or temperatures above 35°C. It is best to use it as soon as possible, since the quality decreases with storage. Once the bag is opened, spawn should be used shortly. The expiration date of plug spawn is at least six months when stored at room temperature and [...]

Store your 50/50 substrate in a cool and dry location. 50/50 substrate can keep for up to 4 months in these conditions. There will be no need to rehydrated or sterilize the products a second time. If you need to store the product longer it can be refrigerated for up to 6 months and frozen for up to 1 year.

Mushroom spores can be frozen, but it is not the best method for long-term storage because freezing can cause damage to the spores and reduce their germination rate. Freezing can cause ice crystals to form inside the spores, which can damage the cells and make it difficult for the spores to germinate.

Once the mycelium has established and grown out across the slant you are ready for long term storage. Store the slants in a zip lock bag in the fridge. Do not let them freeze. After 6 months check on the quality and appearance of the mycelium.

Most mushroom kits will store for 3-6 months in the fridge if necessary. To store your kit, keep it in the fridge. This puts the mycelium into hibernation and will prevent it escaping the box early. Don't keep it somewhere it could exceed 30 degrees Celsius.