Autoclave for Mushroom Cultivation
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Make professional-quality mushroom cultivation more accessible, consistent, productive, and stress-free.
SH Scientific
Autoclave for Mushroom Cultivation
Pressure cookers and canning pots are great ways to get started with mushroom cultivation.
But sooner or later, it’s time for something purpose-built.
You can take a chance on secondhand or off-brand equipment… Or you can step up your mushroom production with a lab-grade vertical autoclave from SH Scientific.
Unlike using a pressure cooker, there’s no mess, no hassle, and no need for a stovetop.
Safe & Accurate
Originally designed for biomedical use, our autoclaves add the top class performance for mushroom growers, mycology tools & supply stores, and mushroom-based ingredient businesses.
- Trustworthy grain sterilization thanks to temperature stability of just ± 1°C at 121°C.
- Rapid heating and efficient shape to produce more in limited space and time.
- Safer use with standard features like automatic door locking and water level detection.
- Streamlined workflow thanks to a digital controller and timer (auto-stop after sterilization is completed).
- Efficient electricity use for affordable operation and long-run cost savings.
- Versatile configurations of 60L, 100L, or 150L capacity and 220V power.
The vertical (top-loading) design is ideal for mid-scale commercial production as well as home and small-scale use.
Its cylindrical chamber maximizes sterilization volume—perfect when space is at a premium.
Unlike using a pressure cooker,
there’s no mess, no hassle, and no need for a stovetop.
Why Do Mushroom Growers Choose SH Autoclaves?
More efficient carrying capacity
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.
You can run twice a day without hassle.
Load Modestly & Evenly
It’s tempting to fill your autoclave to the brim to minimize the number of cycles.
However, that’s not a good practice. Overloaded autoclaves can’t sterilize things in the center as thoroughly as the rest.
Keep a little space in the center, and aim for some “breathing room” between all items in the autoclave. That’s especially important for things like grain bags, which tend to sag or compress when stacked.
Household items—like glass jars and ceramic mugs—make terrific spacers.
Quicker turnaround time
Sterilization time depends on the type and amount of grain you’re using. It’s generally a 1- to 2-hour process.
Unlike a pressure cooker or other common tools, our lab-grade equipment ensures steady temperature and pressure the entire time.
There’s no need for guesswork or assumptions, since how long you think it’s sterilizing is how long it’s actually sterilizing!
Hands-off timer & auto-stop features
Without precise timers and auto-stop functions, managing large-scale sterilization is chaos.
You or your staff may find yourselves running from one pressure cooker to the next, scrambling to manage different batches, let alone keep tabs on other tasks and even safety priorities.
But SH Scientific vertical autoclaves take this off your plate. We provide digital controllers, built directly into each device, for set-and-forget temperature and sterilization time management.
Hassle-free installation & operation
New equipment is no good if getting started means putting operations on hold.
Our autoclaves are plug-and-play, literally, with no confusion or headaches.
Note that the 60-liter model includes a standard plug, but its 100- and 150-liter siblings are hardwired. All models are 220V by default.
Quick, convenient stock & support
With a warehouse in California and sales office in Oregon, we ship quickly and can provide support during your hours.
Customer Photos
SH Scientific Autoclaves for Mushroom Cultivation
How to Cultivate Mushrooms with an Autoclave
Nationwide, we’re eating more and more mushrooms every single year. Not just the bland, soggy ones from the corner store, either. We’re talking specialty types like oyster, shiitake, even maitake and lion’s mane.
And it’s surprisingly easy to get started—provided you’ve got the right equipment. Here’s everything you need to know to prepare your first batch.
1. As usual, decide which type of mushroom you’ll cultivate.
2. Prepare the grain (typically rye berry, millet, wheat, or corn) by soaking it for 24 hours, then cleaning and drying it.
3. Place the grain in jars or grow bags with an air filter patch and injection port.
4. Load the jars or bags in an SH Scientific vertical autoclave for sterilization.
5. Set the autoclave’s timer as your batch size dictates. A typical range is 1-2 hours at 121°C and 15 psi.
6. Inoculate the sterilized grain via grain spawn transfer, agar tissue culture transfer, or liquid inoculation with a syringe.
7. Wait a few days as the grain gets fully colonized with mycelium and develops mushroom spawn.
8. Mix the grain spawn with the pasteurized substrate, and sit back as it grows into big, flavorful mushrooms!