What are the differences between baffled and regular flasks?
Baffled flasks will generate more agitation. More agitation means better aeration. More agitation also produces more foam. Foams act as oxygen barriers. Foams produced at high shaking speeds offset the benefits of agitation. We found that shaking speed range of 350 – 400 rpm is optimal for E.coli growth in baffled shake flask containers. For regular flasks, the optimal shaking speed range is 400 – 450 rpm. Regular flasks (non-baffled) generate less agitation. Less agitation also produces less foam. These flasks produce no foam with our high density growth media with antifoaming agents. With no foam produced, aeration increases with higher shaking speed. In general, the cell densities in regular flasks are higher than those in baffled flasks, but they require higher shaking speed. Baffled flasks should be used if the shaker incubator cannot reach a high speed. Regular shake flasks should be chosen if the shaker incubator can reach a high speed. Both regular and baffled flasks can achiev
