Petri Dish (Disposable), Plastic

Quick Answer: A disposable Petri dish is a single-use plastic plate with a lid, used in microbiology and biology labs in place of glass plates that would otherwise need washing and re-sterilising. It is typically moulded from clear polystyrene and discarded after one experiment.

The Case for Single-Use Plates

Reusable glass dishes must be decontaminated, washed, dried and sterilised after every use, which costs autoclave time, detergent and staff hours. A disposable dish removes that cycle: plates come ready to use, every base is equally flat and clear, and no poorly cleaned plate can carry residue or organisms into the next experiment.

The trade-off is waste. Used disposables still have to be made safe, normally by autoclaving in biohazard bags, and they add plastic to the waste stream. Labs that pour only a few plates a week sometimes keep glass for routine work and bring out disposables for teaching sessions where many plates are needed at once.

Disposables are sold both sterile, sealed in sleeves, and non-sterile for uses without microbes, such as seed germination or watching small animals. Check which type an order is before pouring culture media, since a non-sterile dish can introduce contaminants.

Applications

• Class sets for microbiology practicals where every student pours or streaks a plate
• Seed germination and root-growth observations
• Holding small invertebrates, leaves or specimens under a stereo microscope
• Evaporation and crystal-growing demonstrations with harmless salt solutions

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Open sleeves only when ready to use the dishes, then fold the sleeve shut again.
• Keep dishes flat and stacked; a warped plate lets agar set unevenly.
• Keep acetone and similar solvents out of polystyrene dishes, which they dissolve.
• Collect used culture plates in a labelled biohazard bag, never the general bin.

Why Choose LabEquip

Colleges, school labs and training centres running large practical classes choose disposables to save washing time between sessions. LabEquip supplies them within the Biology Lab Products range; for sterile plates ready for aseptic work see the gamma sterile Petri dishes, and request quantities on the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are disposable Petri dishes better than glass dishes?

Neither wins in every case. Disposables save washing and sterilising time and give a uniform clear base; glass can be reused many times and withstands hot agar and autoclaving. The choice depends on class size, autoclave capacity and waste policy.

Can disposable plastic Petri dishes be autoclaved?

Not for reuse. Polystyrene softens and collapses at autoclave temperatures, so plates are only autoclaved at the end of their life to kill cultures before disposal.

Are these dishes sterile?

Disposable dishes are made in sterile and non-sterile packs. Sterile packs are needed for culture work, while non-sterile dishes are fine for germination, observation and chemistry demonstrations. The packing type for this listing is confirmed at enquiry.

What is the safe way to throw away used dishes?

Dishes that held microbial cultures are bagged in autoclavable biohazard bags and autoclaved before they leave the lab. Unused or non-biological dishes can go to plastic recycling where local rules allow.

Can I use a disposable dish for seed germination?

Yes. Line the dish with moist filter paper or cotton, add the seeds and keep the lid on to hold humidity. The clear plastic lets students watch the radicle and shoot emerge without disturbing the seeds.

What chemicals should not be used in a plastic Petri dish?

Polystyrene is attacked by acetone, chloroform, toluene and many other organic solvents, which cloud or dissolve the dish. Aqueous solutions, dilute acids and alkalis and most stains are fine.

Last Updated: September 2026