Agar Plate Question

[pigfarmer]

I have a quick question, and I feel a little foolish for asking, since I believe I know the answer already but here goes...

Sometimes when I am to use a plate and I take it out of the refrigerator and set it on my bench or in an incubator to warm up it gets water spots forming on the agar surface. Is this simply a matter of not letting the plates sit on the bench long enough before putting them into the fridge?

I realize I may not get an answer...seems like this forum is for $10 electrophoresis and autoclaving PEG, but though this is where it belonged!

[Aga]

Before using agar plates we usually dry them a little bit at 45-50C so they don't have any water spots on them. This is normal if you take out the plate from the fridge into hotter ambient temperature.

You have to remember that drying procedure should be applied only once and the plates can't be overdried - just enough for the water to disappear.

You can dry your plates by leaving them for some time out of the fridge as well. Sometimes, if e dry the plates before putting them into the fridge then - say next day - we don't observe any water drops on them after taking out of the fridge.

[pigfarmer]

Yeah, I am pretty sure they just need to be allowed to sit out longer before putting into the fridge...I think the tech might have been in a rush on that batch! Thanks!