is frozen agar ok to use?

[ajman2463]

im trying to culture bacteria and im still new to biology, its for a mentoring program. i put my agar dishes in the fridge to keep them chilled but some of them froze completely solid. is it ok to use once it thaws? i havent put the samples on them yet they are still unused!

[joshuam168]

i dont see why it would affect it. if its nutrient agar it shouldnt have any acverse effects. freezing could disrupt some of the chemicals in more specialized agar....if you bought the agar i'd consult with manufacturer.

[ecoli]

try setting up two trials.

 

One with the frozen plates, one with fresh plates. You tell us whether there's a difference!