Bulk Steamer,
basically copied from
here. It's an apparatus to pasteurize bulk substrate (for growing mushrooms) but you could probably also steam food in there if you wanted to
.
The way it's used is: placing the bulk substrate at field capacity, i.e. moisture levels are as desired for spawning, into bags that are suited for high temperatures and only loosely sealed to let out the hot air - place them inside the steamer, turn on steam, wait about 60-90 min or until the tank is empty.
Using an Ikea tub, some adapters for tubing, a connector for two rainwater collectors and tubing meant for washing machines, plus a steam-tapestry remover and some wire mesh:
tapestry remover:
set-up:
I drilled a hole the appropriate size into the plastic tub somewhere below half-height and used the rain-water-tank-connector to create a water-tight adapter between inside and outside the tub. I suppose there are alternatives using flanges or other things.
On the inside I used the washing-machine tubing because it resists high temperature. I pierced it with a nail about every two centimeters so the steam would be distributed evenly in the tub. Then I used wire mesh like this:
to create the level on which to lay out the bulk substrate to be steamed. On the outside I had to use some adapters in order to connect the hose of the steamer to this rain-water-tank-connector thing, but I found the necessary ones in the hardware department.
I used one of these meat thermometers to check the temperature inside the tub while the steamer is running and it goes up to 91°C, but this is outside of the bags.
I've used this for several of my bulk grows and never had any problems with contaminations, so my impression is it works well, and makes life very easy as far as pasteurization goes.
