🧫 Agar Recipe Calculator
Calculate precise agar-to-water ratios for MEA, PDA, and custom formulas.
Recipe Type
Note: Industry standard. Nature Lion's pre-poured plates use this formula.
Number of Plates
Plate Size
Extras
Agar Recipe — MEA
10 plates · Standard (90mm) · 220ml total (includes 10% extra)
Solution Needed
220 ml
Per Plate
20 ml
Ingredients
Method
- 1.Measure distilled water into a heat-safe container (Pyrex flask or mason jar).
- 2.Add dry ingredients and stir to combine. Agar will not dissolve until heated.
- 3.Cover loosely with foil — do not seal tightly.
- 4.Pressure cook at 15 PSI for 20 minutes.
- 5.Let cool to ~55°C (just cool enough to handle without burning).
- 6.Pour ~20ml into each plate in front of a flow hood or SAB.
- 7.Let plates solidify with lids slightly cracked open (15 minutes).
- 8.Stack, wrap in parafilm, and store upside down in the fridge.
Shelf life: 2-3 months refrigerated, stored upside down in a sealed bag.
Want to skip the prep? Our Pre-Made Agar Plates come sterile, pre-poured, and shipped to your door.
Agar Plate Tips
- 1.Use distilled or RO water — tap water inhibits mycelium growth.
- 2.Stir before autoclaving — agar settles and burns if not mixed.
- 3.Pour at ~55°C — too hot = condensation; too cool = agar sets in the container.
- 4.Store plates upside down — prevents condensation from dripping onto the agar surface.
About This Calculator
Agar work is the foundation of serious mushroom cultivation. Whether you are isolating genetics from a wild clone, cleaning up a contaminated culture, or storing strains long-term, getting your MEA recipe right matters. This agar recipe calculator gives you exact ingredient weights for any batch size, so you never have to guess ratios again.
The most common agar recipe for mushroom culture is Malt Extract Agar (MEA) — 20g agar powder, 20g light malt extract, and 1g yeast extract per liter of distilled water. PDA (Potato Dextrose Agar) is a cheaper alternative that works just as well for most species. For a complete walkthrough, see our guide to using agar plates for mushroom culture.
If you prefer to skip the prep, our pre-poured agar plates are made with our standard MEA formula, sterilized, and shipped ready to inoculate.