Gather these three stars: tryptone (partially digested milk protein), yeast extract (vitamin-packed fungal goodness), and sodium chloride (table salt, but lab-grade). That’s it. No fancy vitamins, no mysterious supplements. For solid plates, add bacteriological agar.
Classic recipe per liter: 10 grams tryptone, 5 grams yeast extract, 10 grams NaCl. Scale up or down as needed. If you’re feeling rebellious, some researchers drop the salt to 5 grams for “low-salt LB.” But for most E. coli strains, the classic ratio is golden.
Pro Tip: Water Matters
Use distilled or deionized water, not tap. Tap water has minerals and chlorine that can mess with bacterial vibes. Think of it like using filtered water for your espresso—your bacteria deserve the same respect.
