5 Gallon Container - Hot pack or cold pack?

[WestfordSugarworks]

Hey all,

Sorry if this has already been discussed but I couldn't find any related threads. I leave on a road trip today to market our syrup to restaraunts, breweries, food companies, etc. My question is do we have to heat our syrup to 180 before putting it into the 5 gallon container? ( here is the container I am tentatively planning to use http://www.uline.com/BL_8150/Plastic-Pails-and-Lids). The container is food grade and the lid will create a tight seal. The shipping to the destination would be 3 days at most, and then the receiver would put it in their fridge or freezer or whatever. If the receiver doesn't have a way to keep the syrup cool we will hot pack. So what do you folks do?

[wiam]

A few days should be fine. I gave up on hot packing 5 gallon plastic containers for long storage. All of my 5 gallon containers go in the freezer.

[tcross]

I've hot packed into 5 gallons jugs (not the same as the ones you are looking at, but 5 gal nonetheless) and haven't had any issues. usually i'll put 10-15 gallons into 5 gal jugs and take them out around Christmas for gifts and what not!

[lakeview maple]

I hot pack all y syrup into 5 gallon jugs, no issues .

[Dennis H.]

I use to use 2 gal pails for syrup storage, they worked fine. I would have gone with the 5 gal pails this time instead of the blue 5gal jugs if it was not for the cost.
The pails stack nicer than the blue jugs.

[BAP]

Are those pails food grade? I wouldn't use any container that is not food grade if you are selling it.

[Dennis H.]

Yes they are, I called and checked before I ordered mine a few years back. If memory serves me correct it is only the white that are food grade.

[regor0]

Lowes and Menards sell food grade pails and lids. Around $4 a piece.
Just don't lean on it to hard to seal the lid when hot packing. Bad things happen.

[n8hutch]

You can't use just any old food grade pails to hot pack syrup in. Just because it is food grade doesn't necessarily mean that it's food Grade at 185°.

Make sure that they are approved for Hot Packing.