how long will sap store

[upmep]

I was wondering how long sap will store in a refrigerator before it needs to be boiled? I am just making it for myself. Can anyone give some advice

[BryanEx]

It can't really be stated in a certain number of days because so much changes. Your enemy is bacteria growth. Early in the season there is far less bacteria in the sap which slows the spoiling process but as the season progresses it gets much worse. If I'm not mistaken, bacteria compounds at an exponential rate so the less you start with the longer you can keep it. Dark and cold really helps but frozen is even better. If you are a weekend boiler my advice would be to filter out as much debris as possible and then keep your sap as cold as possible until you are ready to boil. Most of your season will be fine but it's a real challenge toward the end of the season when sap is already cloudy in the buckets before collection. Batch production also helps so you can check each batch before bottling to be sure all is good.

- Bryan

[Maple Hunter]

Seems like if you brought it to a boil and then stored it, it would last longer.

[stoweski]

Seems like if you brought it to a boil and then stored it, it would last longer.

Hope so! I went from 70 gallons down to 20 today. Was a nice 4 hr test boil with the real stuff. Still would have liked a few more just so I could get some syrup but it was good to get the rig up and running.

[maple flats]

Once brought to a boil in the evaporator and concentrated it will keep fairly long, because it will be partially frozen or very close. If it got warm weather you would need to finish it off, but if real cold just wait for more sap to flow.