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Myc · 09-22-09, 08:32

I'm not sure about your PC - never used one.
I quit pre-soaking grains awhile back. Not necessary at all In My Experience.

I just rinse well - in the pot I'm going to simmer in.
Keep pouring the water off the top 'til it looks pretty clean ( relatively free of bubbles, scum, debris)
Simmer until the grain 'smashes' easily between the thumb-nail and the flesh of the fore-finger.
Load and PC

If your bags are contaminating so quickly,
I would suspect improper sterilization temperatures
I PC large, autoclaveable spawnbags for 1 hr and 15 min. at 15 PSI (can't achieve 20psi w/ my PC)
Each bag contains 5 cups of cooked grains. (about 3 quart jars' worth)
No problems with contams - even moisture inconsistencies from batch to batch don't seem to be a problem.

After reviewing your method:
Are you impulse sealing the bags prior to pc? I do
How much grain are you putting in them?
I've found that more than 5 cups of grain contams very easily and I had a lot of problems
5 cups seems to be the magic ratio for me.

09-22-09, 08:32	#11 (permalink)
Myc El Jardinero Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,262	I'm not sure about your PC - never used one. I quit pre-soaking grains awhile back. Not necessary at all In My Experience. I just rinse well - in the pot I'm going to simmer in. Keep pouring the water off the top 'til it looks pretty clean ( relatively free of bubbles, scum, debris) Simmer until the grain 'smashes' easily between the thumb-nail and the flesh of the fore-finger. Load and PC If your bags are contaminating so quickly, I would suspect improper sterilization temperatures I PC large, autoclaveable spawnbags for 1 hr and 15 min. at 15 PSI (can't achieve 20psi w/ my PC) Each bag contains 5 cups of cooked grains. (about 3 quart jars' worth) No problems with contams - even moisture inconsistencies from batch to batch don't seem to be a problem. After reviewing your method: Are you impulse sealing the bags prior to pc? I do How much grain are you putting in them? I've found that more than 5 cups of grain contams very easily and I had a lot of problems 5 cups seems to be the magic ratio for me. __________________ "...we'd like to help you learn to help yourself..."