Small amount of Sap in buckets what to do...

[Lindsey Simanskas]

So I have 80 buckets out and it ran some the last couple of days and have 3-5 inches in the buckets.
My question is it is suppose to turn cold again for next couple of day so might not run for until next week. should I collect and store in 55 gallon drum buried in snow or do I dump it? if I store it how long will it keep? I have a 2x3 pan

[Maplebrook]

There is a couple of things you can do, but don't dump it. You have worked too hard for that!
It will spoil fastest if left in the buckets. Even with cold temps, the buckets will absorb heat in the daytime and warm the sap which leads to spoiling.
Store it in your barrel in the snow, or fire up your evaporator and reduce it down to a more manageable amount. Save that and add it to your next boil. You can start and stop the boil...it will still make good syrup.
My experience storing sap if kept cold is 5-6 days. It will go cloudy if it starts to spoil.
Darren

[northwoods_forestry]

Definitely collect it. You don't want it to freeze and refreeze in the buckets. If your buckets are metal they may split. I never leave sap in buckets more than a day if I can help it.

[shane hickey]

Though it isn't much boil it

[bowtie]

i would collect it and boil it down, if you 30 gallons you can have 3 hr boil. if you store it and get a big run later it will be all the more you have to boil then. if you have the time now i would boil it.

[Paul VT]

I agree with everyone else. Boil it. It will at least sweeten your pan. Then by probably Wednesday we will have another run and you can boil again.