Transfer Grain

Transfer Grain

Now that your workspace has had time to settle, it's time for you to transfer your inoculated grain to the freshly sterilized jars of grain.

Sterilized grain jars and oyster spawn

Shake Jars

Shake the colonized and freshly sterilized jars to break the grain up. If the grain doesn't break apart easily, use something soft like a towel or bike tire to hit it against. Please ensure not to hit it too hard to avoid breaking the jar.

Jars after being shaken

Open Mason Jars

Pressure cooking your mason jars can cause the lids to tighten significantly. If you can't open the lid with your hands, use a spoon to pop the lid open. Place the spoon in the tightest seam between the lid and jar and slowly push the lid up.

Opening Jar with Spoon

After opening the lid, put it back on top of the mason jar until the inoculated grain is ready to be added, but don't close it tight.

Add Inoculated Grain

Remove the lid of the inoculated grain jar and place it on top of another jar with the bottom of the lid facing up. Lift the lid off of the sterilized jar with your non-dominant hand and keep a hold of it. Begin pouring the inoculated grain into the sterile jar until the top of the fresh grain is covered.

Pouring spawn into sterilized grain jar

Place the lids back on both jars, making sure you tighten the lid of the sterilized grain jar. Shake the jar so the inoculated grain can spread through the contents evenly. Try your best to ensure some of the inoculated grain reaches the bottom of the jar.

Jars after transferring spawn

Repeat this process for every jar.

Before adding the aluminum foil back on the lids, spray the inside of each with 70% alcohol.

The original inoculated mason jar should be emptied and cleaned now that it has been open for so long.