Myco Labs 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.

These jars are the best. Super fast colonization. I’ve ordered 27 grain jars and I’ve only had two get contaminated. I’d say I’m doing pretty good with these jars as a newbie.

Carefully packaged and prepared with love. I have tried several of their products and I have not been disappointed.

I've bought these three times. Each time, I assumed I could get them here faster than anywhere else. The product itself is just okay. Each time the jars have been way overfilled, which makes them slower and more difficult to use for my purposes, but never an issue with contamination. The consistency of the product as well lack of contamination is what made me a repeat customer, but I don't think I will be purchasing again.

Works as advertised colonizes relatively quickly, depending on how aggressive your culture is. I haven’t had any contamination issues with them and have used several times. It’s worth the $10 a jar instead of me having to sterilize plus comes in jar just inject and wait to colonize

Not a product I would recommend. George came in extremely full. Took nearly 4 weeks to start growing. When I tried to do the first break and shake, it was so full you can’t break them up. It’s almost impossible to get the grain to mix. Immediately after my attempt to break and shake, two of the three jars grew a red mold along the top. Reported it to the company they said that they would replace the jars blamed it on me got the new jars in two of the three were broken and growing mold in the shipping box Not a company I’d recommend not a product I would recommend

This is a pretty good way to get colonized grain jars if you don’t feel like making your own grain spawn, though i thoroughly recommend making your own. I have gotten a couple that eventually would contaminate knowing the culture is clean. They use enough grain for these that its enough for a normal size mono-tub or two 6qt shoeboxes.

This is my second time purchasing this product? It worked perfectly the first time so I figured I would leave a review this time high-quality durable packaging, and presentation. works perfectly as intended, lowest risk for contamination. Excellent for new and experience myologist alike. 10 out of 10 would recommend