How to Germinate Mushrooms in Bags

Mushrooms are versatile ingredients for a wide array of dishes, adding texture, flavor and nutritional value. They offer the best texture, flavor and nutritional value when they are as fresh as possible. The best and least expensive way to get your hands on fresh mushrooms is to grow them yourself. Although mushrooms are a fungus and do not grow like seed-bearing plants, the process of mushroom growing is straightforward and effective once you get the hang of it. Mushrooms can even be germinated in something as simple as plastic bags.

Container (such as food grade 55-gallon metal bucket or drum)
Heat source (propane burner or wood fire oven)
Water
Long thermometer
Wire basket
Tarp or clean table
Mushroom spawn
Thick leather gloves
Plastic bags
Twist ties
Pencil

Instructions

- 1
  Place the container over a wood fire oven or propane burner. Fill the container halfway with water. Allow this water to heat to a minimum of 160 F and a maximum of 170 F, gauging temperatures with a long thermometer to protect your hands as you measure.
- 2
  Fill the wire basket with straw, submerging the basket into the hot water. Allow the straw to "cook" in the water for 1 hour to pasteurize it and make it safe for mushroom growth.
- 3
  Remove the straw from the water after the hour is up, placing the straw onto a tarp or clean table to dry and drain. Allow the straw to cool to 100 F.
- 4
  Break up the mushroom spawn, mixing it into the cooled and drained straw using gloved hands. Mix the spawn into the straw as evenly as possible.
- 5
  Fill plastic bags to the top with straw and spawn mixture. Do not compress the bags tightly -- simply fill them and secure the top with a twist tie. Punch holes into the sides of the bag with a pencil or other instrument, creating one hole for every square inch of bag.
- 6
  Place the bags into a cool, dark place with consistent temperatures of 65 F to 75 F. Allow the bags to remain undisturbed for two to eight weeks, only applying a light mist of water if the straw seems to be drying out.
- 7
  Move the mushrooms into an area of indirect light once they sprout. A room with a little natural light or lamp is appropriate, but never place the mushrooms into direct sunlight as you would risk killing the fungus.
- 8
  Harvest the mushrooms once they have grown large enough to eat.

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