Bacterial cultures in the form of agar plates or liquid cultures are not suitable for long term storage at low temperatures such as 4 degrees. Long-term storage of bacteria is best at temperatures around -80 degrees. However, agar plates and liquid cultures cannot be stored at such temperatures, as the water crystallizes in and around the bacterial cells, rupturing and killing them. Glycerol or DMSO (anti-freezing agents) is added to the media to store samples at such temperatures.