Spawned mushroom compost compressed in shrink‐wrapped blocks was stored at 4, 15, and 24°C for either 10 or 14 days. The properties of the compost blocks were evaluated at spawning and after storage. The stored compost productivity was also evaluated. Storage temperature has little effect on chemical and microbiological properties of the compost for a 10‐day storage period. However, after a 14‐day storage period the effect of storage temperature on compost properties was more noticeable. For compost stored at either 15 or 24°C for 14 days, the thermophilic actinomycete and thermophilic fungi populations, and the compost pH decreased whereas NH4‐N and NO3‐N contents of the compost increased. Development ofPenicilliumspp. was encouraged at 15°C. Compost stored at 24°C for 14 days was densely colonised byAgaricus bisporus.Water content, total N, organic matter, and C/N ratio of the compost did not vary significantly with storage temperature. Storage temperature did not significantly affect mushroom productivity or quality.