Mushroom Autoclaves

Mushroom Autoclave

An autoclave is the fastest, safest, and most effective way to sterilize mushroom substrate or grain spawn. There are many ways to address sterilization. On MusrhoomMediaOnline.com, we provide 3 levels of sterilization equipment. Pure entry level with simple pressure cookers, All American Sterilizers, and the true Mushroom Autoclaves.

With each tier or level of equipment you go, you get a tool that is faster, safer, and can process more sterilized blocks in a single run, and even complete those sterilization runs much faster. When you are just starting out as a mushroom farmer, often budgets are tight and you try using one or more simple pressure cookers. If you are very cautious, you are able to sterilize your blocks and start your mushroom farm.

The reason I mention caution is that pressure cookers are not designed to sterilize bulk items like mushroom grow blocks or grain spawn. The entire process is off label use and voids your warranty for the pressure cooker. If you are not careful, it can also be dangerous.

After working with inexpensive pressure cookers, most farms upgrade to a brand, we carry called All American Sterilizers. These are made to handle mushroom sterilization. They also come in much safer metal gauges, and with additional features and power. Many farms use the All American until they are ready to grow their farm.

Once mushroom farms are at a stage of growth, they purchase one or more mushroom autoclaves.

A great video from our friends at Mossy Creek

Mushroom Autoclaves Ready to Ship

Our Mushroom Autoclaves for the serious Mushroom Grower. When you already have the All American Sterilizer and want to step up, a true Mushroom Autoclave is the best step to take.

Get your hands on the true industrial grade autoclaves. These professional units are manufactured to last and get your great results. These autoclaves are the top of the line used not only in commercial mushroom farms around the world, but in laboratories, test facilities, and medical labs.

As an added safety measure the unit is manually filled by customer each time without automatic makeup water. The prevents accidental over-filling.

2 Sizes Available

Mushroom Autoclave 150

Our Mushroom Autoclave 150 Liter model (~39.6 gallons) is a true industrial grade unit while still remaining compact. This is the type of sterilization the top labs use, and commercial mushroom farms use. It is the industry leader and standard for value, safety, and quality.

Features:

• 150L chamber, this size is ideal for mushroom farmers.
• Multiple yields with quick turnaround time.
• Sterilize grains (rye berry, millet, corn and etc.) before inoculating with your desired strain of mycelium with liquid culture or agar.
• Sterilize substrates before inoculating with grain spawn.
• Sterilize items by subjecting them to pressurized steam under 15psi at 250°F (121°C).
• Safety door opening mechanism for user safety. Door remains locked as long as the chamber is under-pressure. Water level switch.
• 20″+ (510mm) diameter & 29″+ (740mm) deep chamber, 220V, 2 wired baskets are included (basket size 475mm diameter & 280mm high)
• Dimension External 608 x 750 x 1078mm H 23.9 x 29.5 x 42.4″ H
• 220V is recommended and the standard configuration.
• Reach proper temperature and pressure in 19 minutes. Much faster and more stable than other systems.
• 6KW Heater for fast work. 
• Reasonable Electrical Requirements
  220V, 50/60Hz, 1Ø, 27A
• Stainless steel Internal Construction.

The most costly and productivity destroying element in your mushroom production process is contamination. If you can establish the best practices, using superior tools you can increase your growth, yields, and profitability.

Important Installation Information 150 Liter and below units come with 6′ 3-wire cord without plug. Wiring is capable of single-phase only with 3 prong plug. Users must consult an electrician to correctly install Units.

Upgrade your lab today and maintain that consistent sterilization you need to be successful.

$3499

Before Shipping

Feedback from 150 Owners

How much substrate can these units hold?

SH Scientific autoclaves can accommodate 2 baskets vertically, effectively doubling your sterilization productivity.
For the SH-AC-150M 150-liter model (Ø510 x 740mm chamber), the max loads are:

• 120 lbs per run with 2.5-lb grain bags. This assumes up to 48 bags with two baskets per run.
• 128 lbs per run with 4-lb grain bags. This assumes up to 32 bags with two baskets per run.
• 128 lbs per run with 8-lb grain bags. This assumes up to 16 bags with two baskets per run.

For the SH-AC-100M 100-liter model (Ø440 x 650mm chamber), the max load is 90 lbs per run with 3-lb grain bags. This assumes up to 30 bags with two baskets per run.

Important Installation Information

150 Liter and below units come with 6′ 3-wire cord without plug. Wiring is capable of single-phase only with 3 prong plug. Users must consult an electrician to correctly install Units.

Understanding How an Autoclave Works

Autoclaves use pressurized steam to sterilize faster and safer. They’re controlled digitally. This automated control system requires much less attention and supervision than other sterilization processes.

A Mushroom Autoclave can produce more heat, pressure, and steam faster than other types of units. The power is in the steam and pressure.

When you try to use steam at atmospheric pressure, steam is prevented from reaching higher temperatures. However, as you increase the pressure in a Mushroom Autoclave, you can increase both the temperature and the pressure together at the same time. Your Mushroom Autoclave can quickly reach 15PSI and 121°C.

At that pressure point, any steam sterilization is about 80% faster than at atmospheric pressure. Faster and deeper penetrating steam heat is what makes these systems the best choice for sterilization of the Mushroom Grow Blocks, and Grain Blocks.

Sterilization Versus Pasteurization, which is best?

Pasteurization is considered being partial sterilization. If you are in a situation where sterilization is not possible (lacking any sterilization equipment) then you might use pasteurization. It can make items more shelf stable. We are all familiar with the term from items like the milk we purchase in the grocery store. Before pasteurization, if your raw milk got warm at all, much less hot before you consumed it, there was a much higher risk of bad things growing in the milk, and making you sick.

Sterilization, however, is the total elimination of microorganisms. For mushroom farmers and growers, this is ideal because we want nothing to compete with the growth of the mycelium from our mushroom spores. The more sterilized your grain spawn, the better your mushroom spawn will be. Once you move that grain spawn to your grow block, having the grow block itself sterilized is critical for healthy mushrooms that both look and taste great. Also, properly sterilizing your mushroom grow blocks creates the ideal growth substrate that will provide no resistance to your mushroom growth. In fact, a sterilized grow block only then provides the nutrients of your substrate ingredients.

Why is sterilization important?

Sterilization not only insures that your mushrooms are in the best condition, it also greatly improves your yields. I often think of Superman when I think of sterilization. I know it sounds odd, but hang in there, I will get to the point.

Superman, if you recall the story, came from an alien world. When he reached Earth, he was instantly stronger and healthier because of the environmental conditions. The gravity of his home world was much stronger and our sun was very beneficial for his growth.

A sterilized mushroom grow block is that same ideal environment as Earth was for Superman. It provides superior nutrition, and the perfect environment for rapid growth and development. It is like the healthy equivalent of putting your mushrooms on steroids. Or another way of thinking about a sterilized block is you have removed all the competition for nutrition, light, air, and moister from that block.

How much can I sterilize per run in a Mushroom Autoclave?

That depends on the size of your autoclave. But let’s look at some examples together. We will look at the largest model, 150. This model comes with two baskets that stack vertically in the unit.

150-liter model (510 x 740mm chamber), the max loads are:

120 lbs. per run with 2.5-lb grain bags. This assumes up to 48 bags with two baskets per run.

128 lbs. per run with 4-lb grain bags. This assumes up to 32 bags with two baskets per run.

128 lbs. per run with 8-lb grain bags. This assumes up to 16 bags with two baskets per run.

If you purchase the 100 model, you can also still process a great deal of substrate per run. 100-liter model (440 x 650mm chamber), the max load is 90 lbs. per run with 3-lb grain bags. This assumes up to 30 bags with two baskets per run.

That is a massive amount of substrate you can sterilize in a single run. Also, remember your run times are much shorter in these units because they get to temperature and pressure faster than any other type of sterilization. This then means you can do more runs in your working day and be more productive.

If you are using 4lb blocks, you can do that amazing 32 bags with ever run. At only 4 cycles in a working shift, you could have 128 sterilized blocks ready to go. Of 512 lbs. of substrate.

The Reason for Mushroom Block Sterilization

When you sterilize your mushroom growing block, you are practically eliminating your risk of contamination. You do need to use proper steps to eliminate new contaminants from getting into your sterilized block. However, you have created the ideal growth environment in the block itself.

Sterilization is the most trusted form of mushroom block preparation, valued by commercial farms and growers worldwide. When your business depends on the appearance, taste, and consistency of your mushrooms, there is no better way. The very best sterilization is from steam in a pressurized vessel. To date, the best tool available is a mushroom autoclave.

What are the uncrated weights of these autoclaves?

An uncrated 100L weigh 220lbs .

The uncrated 150L weigh 250lbs