How do u determine whether the inoculating loop is cooled after it has been heated to red hot?

Question

How do u determine whether the inoculating loop is cooled after it has been heated to red hot?

Answer 1

Generally it cools down for 20-30 secs.

But if wish to check if it is still hot or not, you can try touching the loop to a solid media, if it makes a little sound (you'll know it, like when you splash water onto a hot pan).

Answer 2

This may seem obvious, but it will no longer be red hot.  Once it has returned to the color of the rest of the loop (either shiny or blackish like the rest), the loop is generally cool enough.

To be sure, you can put it in media as another contributor suggested.  Unless you are sure that your media is sterile, though, you may contaminate your loop.