1 3

Malt Extract Agar Mixture

Malt Extract Agar Mixture

$0.99 USD
$0.99 USD
Sale Sold out
Taxes included. Shipping calculated at checkout.
Quantity
  • Secure Payment
  • Discreet Shipping
  • Worldwide Shipping

Premium Culture Medium for Your Mushrooms

Our Malt Extract Agar mixture provides all the nutrients your spores need to germinate and your mycelium needs to grow. It is easy to prepare, affordable, and works with a wide variety of mushroom strains, making it one of the most widely used culture media among mycologists worldwide.

 

How to Prepare

  1. Mix one pack with 50ml of water.
  2. Stir until fully dissolved.
  3. Heat on medium-high until bubbles form.
  4. Sterilise before pouring (by pressure cooker or steam bath)
  5. Pour into petri dishes or ketchup cups.

Note: Make sure to work in a sterile environment for the best results. 

 

Why MEA?

  • Cost-effective and easy to prepare with no complicated steps or equipment needed
  • Provides all the nutrients your mycelium needs to grow and your spores need to germinate
  • Food colouring can easily be added with just a few drop
  • Compatible with most mushroom species

What is Malt Extract Agar?

Malt extract agar is a nutrient rich culture medium made from agar agar and light malt extract. It provides an ideal environment for spore germination and mycelium growth, closely mimicking the natural food sources of many mushroom species.

How to Prepare Malt Extract Agar?

Mix it with water and stir until dissolved, then heat on medium heat until bubbles form, which indicates the agar has activated and will turn solid once cooled.

For one MEA mixture you will need 50ml (2 fl oz) of water. You can use tap water or bottled water, it does not matter.

Do I Have to Filter MAE?

Filtering your agar is not necessary. To achieve a clear plate, make sure to mix everything thoroughly and ensure the mixture is fully dissolved before pouring. Taking your time during this step will give you the best results.

How to Test If My Plates Are Sterile?

After sterilising your agar, let the plates sit at room temperature for a few days. If any mold or bacteria are present, they will show the first signs of growth. If your plates remain clean, they are ready to use.

My Mixture Turned Hard. What Should I Do?

This can happen when moisture gets into the packaging. Don't worry, you can still use it. Simply add it to your water and stir until fully dissolved. It may just take a little longer than usual.

View full details

Why Use MAE?

Malt extract agar is affordable, easy to prepare and sterilise, and provides all the nutrients spores need to germinate and mycelium needs to spread. Agar plates let you test your spores or culture to confirm they are clean and contamination free, while revealing genetic quality through growth speed.

A top-down view of a clear petri dish filled with uninoculated, light brown nutrient agar for mushroom cultivation.

How to Sterilize Agar Plates?

Sterilisation is straightforward and does not require an autoclave or pressure cooker. Simply steam in a water bath for 1 hour, or use a pressure cooker at 15 psi for 30 minutes or 12 psi for 45 minutes. Make sure your container is made of heat resistant glass to prevent cracking during sterilisation.

Healthy, bright white rhizomorphic mushroom mycelium growing in a radial pattern on a light brown agar petri dish.

How to Inoculate Agar Plates?

You can inoculate using spores, liquid culture or mycelium. Place your sample in the center of the plate so it spreads evenly. Work in a clean environment using a still air box or laminar flow hood, and always wear gloves, use 70% isopropyl alcohol and a mask to minimise contamination risk.

Bright white, rhizomorphic mushroom mycelium spreading outward from the center of a petri dish filled with blue tinted agar.

How to Color Agar Plates?

Add a few drops of food colouring while mixing the agar with water until you reach your desired colour. Keep in mind that not every colour works well for cultivation. Blue and purple are ideal, while green is best avoided as it makes spotting green mould considerably harder.

A person wearing a white lab coat and blue gloves pouring liquid blue agar from a glass beaker into a petri dish in front of a laminar flow hood.

How to Make Agar Plates?

There are two main methods for making agar plates. You can sterilise the agar first and then pour it, or pour it into the container first and sterilise both together, known as no pour agar. Each has its advantages, though the no pour method requires a still air box or laminar flow hood. Full guide here.

A top-down view of a clear petri dish filled with uninoculated, light brown nutrient agar for mushroom cultivation.

How to Store Agar Plates?

Store your agar plates in the fridge at 2 to 8°C (35 to 46°F) sealed airtight for up to 3 months, though they are best used within the first month before they start to dry out. Always store them upside down to prevent condensation from gathering on the plate surface and affecting your culture.