Buy Pre-Poured Malt Extract Agar (MEA) Plates 10-Pack Online

The Pre-Poured Malt Extract Agar (MEA) Plates 10-Pack (by Myco Labs) provides a sterile, ready-to-use laboratory foundation for spore germination, tissue cloning, culture isolation, and contamination checks. Machine-poured fresh daily in a HEPA-filtered cleanroom environment, each $90 \times 15\text{mm}$ petri dish contains 20mL of nutrient-balanced malt agar media.

Formulated with light malt extract, yeast extract, locust bean gum, and high-clarity agar, these plates are sterilized at 18 PSI for 30 minutes, cooled to $145^\circ\text{F}$ ($63^\circ\text{C}$), auto-capped, laser-labeled, and sealed in protective polyolefin packaging to ensure maximum freshness upon arrival.

Key Features & Technical Specifications

Engineered for uniform depth and high-clarity visibility, MEA is the universal baseline medium recommended for mycology research.

Specification Parameter	Detail & Technical Description
Brand & Quantity	Myco Labs (10 pre-poured plates per pack)
Petri Dish Dimensions	$90 \times 15\text{mm}$ standard laboratory dish
Media Fill Volume	20 mL machine-poured fill per plate for uniform depth
Nutrient Recipe	Light malt extract, yeast extract, locust bean gum, premium agar
Sterilization Standard	Autoclaved at 18 PSI ($121^\circ\text{C}$) for 30 minutes
Cleanroom Processing	Cooled to $145^\circ\text{F}$, machine-poured, UV-C sanitized, laser-labeled
Packaging & Colors	Sealed in polyolefin film; assorted plate colors for batch tracking
Recommended Storage	Refrigerate ($2^\circ\text{C}\text{–}8^\circ\text{C}$); use within 3–4 weeks for optimal results

Why Mycologists Choose Our Pre-Poured MEA Plates

• Poured Fresh Daily: Manufactured in-house in small batches and shipped rapidly to eliminate extended shelf storage.

• Consistent 20mL Machine Fill: Machine pouring guarantees uniform agar depth across all 10 plates, preventing hot-spot drying.

• Assorted Color Tracking: Multi-colored plate rims allow researchers to organize culture lineages, test dates, and strains easily.

• Ready Out of the Box: Bypasses mixing, pressure cooking, and cleanroom pouring setups.

Agar Selection Guide: Choosing the Right Media Stage

Select the appropriate agar formula to optimize growth characteristics across each stage of your research workflow:

Agar Formula	Primary Research Application	Growth Characteristics & Advantages	Recommended Stage
Standard LME / MEA (This Listing)	Spore germination, initial transfers, contam checks	Balanced, reliable baseline media; makes early contaminants easy to identify	Stage 1: Initial Spore/Tissue Work
Rapid Rhizo Agar	2nd & 3rd transfers, clean strain isolation	Promotes aggressive, threadlike (rhizomorphic) hyphal growth for isolation	Stage 2: Post-Cleanup Isolation
Black MEA Agar	High-visibility photo plates, sector identification	High-contrast dark background highlights delicate mycelial borders and contams	Any Stage: High-Contrast Evaluation
Manure-Enriched Conditioning Agar	Pre-bulk substrate conditioning	Conditions clean cultures to complex organic media prior to bulk spawning	Stage 3: Pre-Bulk Conditioning

Step-by-Step Lab Protocol for Agar Handling

Follow these aseptic laboratory procedures when working with pre-poured agar plates:

Verified Customer Reviews (4.87 / 5 Stars)

“BEST AGAR EVER I LOVE IT”

“I was ordering the Willie Myco Agar but now I have discovered this malt agar. It works amazing. It’s my new favorite and I’m currently working on some microscopic work.. Can’t wait to re-order again thank you midwest you rock .”

— Zackary Rathel (10/18/2026)

“Delivered contamination free”

“Forgot to add to my order so I contacted support to see if they could toss it in before my order shipped out and they did. It was delivered very quickly without any contamination. Agar is nice and clear too, I’d recommend to anyone who needs some plates without the equipment or supplies to make their own.”

— K.L. (10/15/2026)

“Fair with Exceptional service”

“I ordered 2/10 pks (20 total plates) 11 of my 20 plates came in broken or contaminated… They refunded half the plates on the next business day. 10/10, have ordered from before.”

— Billy B. Joe (09/28/2026)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What ingredients are used in these MEA plates?

Each plate is formulated with light malt extract (carbohydrate energy source), yeast extract (essential nitrogen and B-vitamins), locust bean gum (gelling clarifier), and high-grade agar.

How should pre-poured agar plates be stored?

Store uninoculated plates upside down in their sealed polyolefin packaging inside a refrigerator between $2^\circ\text{C}$ and $8^\circ\text{C}$ ($35^\circ\text{F}\text{–}46^\circ\text{F}$). Do not freeze. For best results, use within 3 to 4 weeks of delivery.

Why are the plates stored upside down?

Storing agar plates upside down prevents condensation drops from falling from the lid onto the agar surface, which can cause running media or increase contamination risks.

What should I do if my plates arrive damaged from transit?

All shipments are backed by customer support guarantee. If any plates arrive cracked or damaged during transit, contact customer support immediately for a prompt refund or replacement package.