Shiitake Contam?

[TastyBeverage]

I got a little bag of shiitake plug spawn a while back, maybe around mid November. The directions that came with the plugs said that as soon as i opened the bag, the plugs would need to be used immediately. Well since it's winter and i'm stubborn, i figured it would be ok in a dark box in the corner since i don't usually turn the heat on and the ambient day temp in my house in the winter is about 50-60 give or take.

I did several inoculation sessions using the plugs, but i only used a little over half of the bag. I should have been less conservative probably, but i have a tendency to hoard resources. I'm working on that. Anyways, i pulled the little baggie out yesterday to check on it and it's now got a bunch of brown spots all over it. I have little experience with shiitake; the first time i grew from a kit and this time my first sub blocks have only just started pinning. I know that shiitake blocks often 'brown over' and get a woody crust on them. I can't tell if the plugs are just developing that crust since they've been sitting too long or if it's some kind of mold.

I looked really closely and there is one spot that sort of looks like it could be sporulating, but the rest just looks like bark. Once again, i am looking for my damned camera (i need to put a beeper on that thing) but i'll get a pic of it soon.

Does anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks!

[TastyBeverage]

Found my camera...

[Lazlo]

That's normal. Keep them in the fridge to slow them down.

[golly]

Yeah, that looks like a normal casing developing..Either use or refridgerate, i reckon...

[TastyBeverage]

Thanks, guys!