What is agar exactly?

plantman21 · 06-30-09, 16:38

Can I substitute a liquid culture such as karo and water for agar in a petri dish? Or is that a path for faillier? Thanks much.
Plantman

TastyBeverage · 06-30-09, 16:45

One of the benefits of agar is that it congeals into a (mostly) solid gel. This makes a more stable environment to work with/cut slices out of etc. Corn syrup + water can make a good liquid culture, but it won't gel up like agar so you can't really use it the same way.

bosshogg · 06-30-09, 16:49

agar is a gelatin made from plant protein used as a growing medium for mycelium and / or other microscopic things.

so to answer your question yes you would fail. you'd have karo all over the place spilling everywhere .

making lc's and agar isolation is very different but the same..

check the vaults for some good insight into the two techniques.

good luck*

catdaddy · 06-30-09, 18:40

Bosshogg himself did a tek on an agar substitute, and since I can't get agar here, I tried it.

worked GREAT!

So I'LL toot his horn for him.

http://forums.mycotopia.net/fungi-gr...-agar-tek.html (bosshogg's home made agar tek)

mycochef · 06-30-09, 18:45

nice tek I'll have to remember this when I'm out of agar. I always have lots of gelatin in the bake shop.

ShroomGuerilla · 06-30-09, 19:44

agar is used in many asian dishes as well.
Easy to find at your local asian-mart.

catdaddy · 06-30-09, 20:12

I don't know how many times I've heard that. I've been looking everywhere I go and haven't found any yet- but then the only "Asian Market" I ever stopped in was in Alexandria, VA, and maybe I missed it ?

HOWEVER! I can testify that Boss's tek works GREAT, and I would only change one thing next time I use it.

It TENDS to be a bit thin at room temps- I'd scale back the water just a bit next time. Could just be me, though.

TastyBeverage · 06-30-09, 20:28

You'd find it in the section with the dry fruit and herbs. It's marked Agar Agar (yes, twice) and it looks like long whitish/clear strips of stiff plastic. It's used to make a chinese gelatin like dessert.

plantman21 · 07-01-09, 09:30

Thank you to every one. The sad part is I have no asian food stores around me, only mexi marts

. So I guess one day I will have to do some online shoping

.
Plantman

Scratch · 07-01-09, 10:33

Found this at an asian market for $1.50

1/2 stick was enough to make up about 15 plates.

Worked fine except I don't like the green food coloring.
The plates ended up with a light green tint to them.

weeeeeee · 07-01-09, 10:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShroomGuerilla

agar is used in many asian dishes as well.
Easy to find at your local asian-mart.

or health food stores ah health food stores are great but pricey$$ usually mine sells amber bottles/vials, every grain imaginable, agar, pressure cookers, vacuum sealers, jars, and a ton of other stuff kind of a one stop shop if you have the extra money to blow

weeeeeee · 07-01-09, 10:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scratch

Found this at an asian market for $1.50

Attachment 132751 Attachment 132752

1/2 stick was enough to make up about 15 plates.

Worked fine except I don't like the green food coloring.
The plates ended up with a light green tint to them.

man that shit looks crazy never have i run across anything like that... until now

TastyBeverage · 07-01-09, 11:00

Ew, i hate it when they add food coloring. Gross. Although for our purposes it's not being consumed and there's less of an ick factor.

plantman21 · 07-01-09, 11:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by TastyBeverage

Ew, i hate it when they add food coloring. Gross. Although for our purposes it's not being consumed and there's less of an ick factor.

But still, it is going to make contam viewing a little harder, one would think.
Plantman

TastyBeverage · 07-01-09, 11:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by plantman21

But still, it is going to make contam viewing a little harder, one would think.

Also true. Definitely stick the the clear stuff if you can find it.

plantman21 · 07-01-09, 11:10

Will do.
Plantman

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06-30-09, 16:38	#1 (permalink)
plantman21 Mycotopiate Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 384	What is agar exactly? Can I substitute a liquid culture such as karo and water for agar in a petri dish? Or is that a path for faillier? Thanks much. Plantman

06-30-09, 16:45	#2 (permalink)
TastyBeverage thirsty for more Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2,482	One of the benefits of agar is that it congeals into a (mostly) solid gel. This makes a more stable environment to work with/cut slices out of etc. Corn syrup + water can make a good liquid culture, but it won't gel up like agar so you can't really use it the same way. __________________ Why do little blue men hit me with fish?

06-30-09, 16:49	#3 (permalink)
bosshogg joe schmoe super tripper Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 616	agar is a gelatin made from plant protein used as a growing medium for mycelium and / or other microscopic things. so to answer your question yes you would fail. you'd have karo all over the place spilling everywhere . making lc's and agar isolation is very different but the same.. check the vaults for some good insight into the two techniques. good luck* __________________ 'joe schmoe super tripper might think he can eat an 8 of those like he could any other mushy and off to the loony bin,or in the corner crying for their mommy-IL

06-30-09, 18:40	#4 (permalink)
catdaddy herding kittens Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2,325	Bosshogg himself did a tek on an agar substitute, and since I can't get agar here, I tried it. worked GREAT! So I'LL toot his horn for him. http://forums.mycotopia.net/fungi-gr...-agar-tek.html (bosshogg's home made agar tek) __________________ American history is full of heroes; men of great prowess and great renown... But only one Catdaddy.

06-30-09, 18:45	#5 (permalink)
mycochef Mycophiliac Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 26	nice tek I'll have to remember this when I'm out of agar. I always have lots of gelatin in the bake shop.

06-30-09, 19:44	#6 (permalink)
ShroomGuerilla Myco-Monkey Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,300	agar is used in many asian dishes as well. Easy to find at your local asian-mart. __________________ Revolución motha fucka, you heard of it? I light the spliff with the flag, while I'm burnin it

06-30-09, 20:12	#7 (permalink)
catdaddy herding kittens Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2,325	I don't know how many times I've heard that. I've been looking everywhere I go and haven't found any yet- but then the only "Asian Market" I ever stopped in was in Alexandria, VA, and maybe I missed it ? HOWEVER! I can testify that Boss's tek works GREAT, and I would only change one thing next time I use it. It TENDS to be a bit thin at room temps- I'd scale back the water just a bit next time. Could just be me, though. __________________ American history is full of heroes; men of great prowess and great renown... But only one Catdaddy.

06-30-09, 20:28	#8 (permalink)
TastyBeverage thirsty for more Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2,482	You'd find it in the section with the dry fruit and herbs. It's marked Agar Agar (yes, twice) and it looks like long whitish/clear strips of stiff plastic. It's used to make a chinese gelatin like dessert. __________________ Why do little blue men hit me with fish?

07-01-09, 09:30	#9 (permalink)
plantman21 Mycotopiate Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 384	Thank you to every one. The sad part is I have no asian food stores around me, only mexi marts . So I guess one day I will have to do some online shoping. Plantman

07-01-09, 10:33	#10 (permalink)
Scratch and sniff Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 309	Found this at an asian market for $1.50 1/2 stick was enough to make up about 15 plates. Worked fine except I don't like the green food coloring. The plates ended up with a light green tint to them.

07-01-09, 11:00	#13 (permalink)
TastyBeverage thirsty for more Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2,482	Ew, i hate it when they add food coloring. Gross. Although for our purposes it's not being consumed and there's less of an ick factor. __________________ Why do little blue men hit me with fish?

07-01-09, 11:10	#16 (permalink)
plantman21 Mycotopiate Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 384	Will do. Plantman

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