What is the procedure of the pour plate method?

The procedure of the pour plate method is described in the steps below.

1. Sample Preparation: If it's solid or semi-solid, dissolve it in sterile water or broth to form a liquid solution. For liquid samples, create serial dilutions to achieve a microbial concentration between 20-300 CFU/mL. 
2. Inoculation: To inoculate, open the lids of the petri dishes and pour 1 mL of the diluted sample. Heat the agar slightly and pour approximately 15-18 mL onto the sample. Ensure the agar is at an ideal temperature. Close the dish lid and gently swirl to mix. 
1. Alternatively, mix the diluted sample into the agar medium and pour this mixture into the petri dish, although this method is less common.
3. Allow the plate to solidify after the inoculation process (approximately 10 minutes)
4. Invert the plate and place it in an incubator set at the ideal temperature (37°celsius) for 24-48 hours.