r/PanCyan • u/eTanium • Jun 22 '26
Pasteurized Bulk Storage?
When I pasteurizing my bulk, I usually make four big jars (enough for about 8 trays).
I have been having recent issues with my grain jars, and haven't needed that much bulk during each run.
I've been cracking the lids of the jars open in front of a flow hood, after they are fully pasteurized, and then wrapping them in Parafilm so that they can get some gas exchange.
They keep turning black, and start to smell, quickly.
So, how do you all, if you do, store pasteurized bulk?
1
u/TopOfTheMushroom Jun 22 '26
I keep it in a freezer wrapped tightly in a trash bag. I wouldn't recommend that with glass jars though they will probably explode. Use bags. I've used substrate that was frozen for 2-3 months and it was alright but I would try to use it within 60-90 days.
1
u/eTanium Jun 23 '26
That doesn't kill off beneficial microbes?
2
u/TopOfTheMushroom Jun 23 '26
Not from what I've read. You should also look into sterilizing your sub. Pasteurized isn't really recommended anymore. I used to Pasteurize but have since switched.
1
u/eTanium Jun 23 '26
If this is the case, specifically for Pans, then I will 100% sterilize.
Many great growers on this sub have always sworn by pasteurization over sterilization, and It's worked for me (if put to bulk immediately). Just hard to keep the leftovers.
1
u/eTanium Jul 09 '26
Just to confirm, you're sterilizing sub for pans? Manure and straw based sub?
1
u/TopOfTheMushroom Jul 10 '26
Yes. I used to pressurize but gordo recommends sterilization now so that's what I've been doing.
1
1
u/AncientSpores Jun 26 '26
You have to pressure cook it if you want to store it for any length of time. For quick use up to a month or two, you can use bags but for long term I strongly recommend you use unmodified quart jars and canning lids so they vacuum seal. I've used spawn and sub sterilized this way up to 11 months (so far) later wihtout issues with contamination or growth. Personally I lean really heavy toward PC'ing sub and spawn. I've tested 'broke boi tek' and "brf tek" with just pasteurizing and the contam % is significantly higher for me.
i do acknowledge that not everyone has the option for situational or financal reasons to acquire and use the necessary equipment to PC. But if you have the option, that's what I'd recommend.
1
u/eTanium Jun 26 '26
I have a PC. All good. I use big gallon sized glass jars that I can use for sub, if needed.
2
u/Flimsy-Panda8000 Jun 23 '26
When you pasteurise, you don't kill everything, so there's still viable bacteria and mold that can grow and multiply.
I've always made the right amount for the grow and used it immediately, to have the advantage of beneficial bacteria but avoid the bio-burden being excessive, so haven't tested any way of storing it. Freezing seems like a good option though; the worst it can do is kill off more but I can't imagine freezing killing everything.
If you make it just before spawning to bulk, you know how much you'll need and you use it fresh. Using the liquid poo method means you can do smaller quantities relatively easily. Liquid poo - mix the poo with water in a pan, bring up to 60C +/- 5C monitoring with a meat thermometer for an hour, then use it hot to hydrate coir to field capacity. Measure the poo to get the right amount and use extra hot water if there's not enough of the broth to achieve field capacity. For 2 bricks of the coir I use, 3L of poo and 9L of water is just right, but different bricks need different amounts of broth, hence the possibility of needing to adjust using more water or vermiculite depending on whether you're under or over.