What are the limitations of pour plate technique?

There are various limitations of the pour plate technique. One drawback is that solid or semi-solid samples require suspension prior to inoculation, which can be challenging especially if the sample is not easily soluble. Serial dilutions are required to prevent the formation of an excessive number of colonies which cannot be counted separately. Additionally, heat-sensitive organisms may be impacted by molten media at temperatures between 40-45 degrees celsius. Another limitation is the growth of organisms and colony formation takes time, especially as microbial cells at the bottom of the solid media may receive less oxygen, slowing their growth rate. The overall procedure is time-consuming due to the need for dissolving solid samples, carrying out serial dilutions, and melting media.