Premium Quick Colonizing 32oz 5-Grain Mushroom Spawn Jars (3-Pack)

January 18 Update:So, as expected the "break and shake" took a bit of rigor, but I was able to distribute the agar slices and the colonized grains throughout the jar. And both jars ultimately colonized fully and nicely. At this point both jars have been transferred to substrate, and there is still no contamination (so far...no whammies!) in either batch...and the unused third jar still appears clean. So despite my concerns below...all's well that ends well....and I recently ordered another set of jars. I just received them, but they also appear free of contamination.Bumping the star rating to a well-deserved fiver. Recommend.Dec 18 (Orig):I ordered these, basically to use while I work to get my own jar/bag sterilization equipment and technique operational. And not a bad price for (reusable) quart-size sterile jars with grain. (A 4 quart option would have been nice though, and maybe some pint-size options, but minor gripe).I grew some mycelium from spore on agar (or rather, it grew). When I went to transfer the agar slices to these jars (two of three jars used so far, half plate to each), I realized that Myco Labs filled the jars a little too full, causing two issues.1. There was dried grain on the outside “shoulders and neck” of the jar, and opening the lids was a little “gritty”. These jars sat at for a month after delivery, without apparent contamination, covered by the “autoclave foil” and bubble wrap…so that’s promising. I tightened the lids after transfer well, but if there is grain on the outside/neck of the jar, with a gritty twist, I question the lid seal. Time will tell.2. There is little to no room for a “break and shake”. The listing pictures show a fill to a ~1/2 inch below the jar “shoulders”, and even then I’d fill a little lower. I still have to remove the cover and foil on the third jar, but two of them were almost filled to the lid. It even took some rigor to get the agar slices “submerged” in the grain, and I can’t be sure of that on one of them. I suppose I could have dumped some grain out, but at the time of transfer, I did not want the jars open for a second longer than necessary....let alone fiddling with dumping. Again, I’ll see how this plays out, but even with a syringe inoculation, the “break and shake” would be tight.I can’t rationalize grain on the outside jar necks…but I somewhat understand (assumingly saturated) grain expanding (a little) during sterilization…but Myco Labs need to work that out to a full but "headspaced" level. I'll add pictures later, but I also see overfilled jars in pictures from other reviewers.

*This photo is from 1 week before complete colonization; it’s now successfully a week into “spawn to bulk” in a mono tub. No contamination. Colonized quickly; much faster than a bag from another company. The top of the jar IS tapered, but I used a semi-rigid silicone spatula to help me get the material out. For the monotub-method, this wasn’t a problem. Would buy again.

Worth the money and time to avoid doing own sterilization

Not worth it at all… definitely not fast colonization it’s been almost 30 days now since I inoculated and still not even half way colonized. I suspect it’s because the grain isn’t hydrated enough… I had a big grain bag that fully colonized already and I inoculated it 1 week after I inoculated the jars… just not worth it

Sterile and the mycelium love it!

I ordered these before and had no problems this time I ordered 2 packs for me was fine but the other three jars were all open and the foil had moisture under it and the lids started to rust.

Love this kit

First 2 batches had mold. 3rd worked fine. Great customer service, company values its customers.