Mycelium WorksCultivation tools & knowledge
StageInoculationColonizationFruitingHarvestingProcessing
Sterilization & Cleaning

Pressure Cooker

The core sterilising tool for substrate, grain and agar.

Illustration of a pressure cooker
Typical specifications
Working pressure15 PSI / 1 bar
Temperature reached121 °C / 250 °F
Grain cycle90 minutes
Substrate cycle90 – 120 minutes
Agar cycle20 – 30 minutes
CapacityEligible jars or bags, not litres, matter most
Sterilization & CleaningSmall to large batches

Overview

A pressure cooker reaches 121 °C at roughly 15 PSI, which is the temperature required to kill heat-resistant bacterial endospores. Without that pressure, boiling only reaches 100 °C and leaves endospores alive to contaminate your grain later. It is the single most important piece of equipment in a sterile workflow.

Primary stage: Inoculation

Where it fits in the grow

Used before inoculation to sterilise grain, substrate and agar.

Safety & handling

Never force a pressurised cooker open. Let it depressurise completely and rest before unlocking the lid. Check the gasket, seal and pressure valve before every run — a failing valve is a serious burn hazard.

Practical advice

Allow the cooker to cool slowly inside the pot rather than releasing pressure quickly. Rapid depressurisation boils over your grain and wets the filter patches.

Educational only. Mycelium Works does not sell this or any other product, and we receive no payment for listing it. Specifications vary by manufacturer — always follow the maker’s instructions and local regulations.
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