New (used) barrels - sap now smells like the barrels!

[QuietSeditionist]

I'm a new hobbyist, just my second year boiling. Last year I just did 5 gal water jugs and it worked well. This year I bought some used food grade barrels. I washed em out really well, but there was still some slight odor (grilled vegetables maybe). I figured it wouldn't matter.

Well, I just drew some sap from a couple of these and it smells of the barrel. Really hoping the smell boils off and doesn't end up in the syrup.

Any advise here? Can I get like a garbage bag liner for the barrels? Or do I just dump em?

[Bucket Head]

I know they make FDA- approved liners for 55 gal. drums. You'll have to do a search for them, or maybe someone on here knows a source for them. Other than new barrels, or different- unsented ones, its probably your best bet.
I have used totes and barrels for collection, and I have passed on a lot of used containers also. They need to have almost no odor of anything to be usable, in my opinion. After thorough cleaning, you should simply smell the scent of plastic. Maybe a very extremely faint odor would be acceptable, but something easily noticeable is a no-go for me.

[Bucket Head]

The odor may also dissipate after sitting open for a year, allowing them to "air out". But there are many foods/flavorings/toppings, etc. out there that just have too strong an odor for the container to be reused.
Let your nose be the judge.

[Russell Lampron]

Before dumping them boil some of it down to syrup and taste it. The maple may overpower it and it make good syrup.

[bigschuss]

I'm a new hobbyist, just my second year boiling. Last year I just did 5 gal water jugs and it worked well. This year I bought some used food grade barrels. I washed em out really well, but there was still some slight odor (grilled vegetables maybe). I figured it wouldn't matter.

Well, I just drew some sap from a couple of these and it smells of the barrel. Really hoping the smell boils off and doesn't end up in the syrup.

Any advise here? Can I get like a garbage bag liner for the barrels? Or do I just dump em?

I bought two 55 gallon black food grade barrels that were used for chopped vegetables. Cleaned them and they still had a pepper and onions kind of smell. Didn't affect the syrup at all. Not one bit.

[RollinsOrchards]

Uline is a good place to look for food grade plastic bags to line all sizes of containers.

https://www.uline.com/Grp_3/Poly-Bags-Flat-Open

[smokeyamber]

+1 on the suggestion to boil some down and taste. I use two barrels that had PEPPERS in them, they still smell like them after 3 years and that is with cleaning, and sitting out in the sun in the summer. My official taster who can detect any off taste has never found any in the syrup from sap in these barrels. I do find it kinda weird, but I am not asking any questions. I do think the fact that the sap is cold helps prevent a flavor transfer, but who know... :lol:

[Cedar Eater]

You could try letting them sit full of water into which you have mixed a full box of baking soda each. Baking soda counteracts acids (low pH). White vinegar counteracts bases (high pH). But I agree with the guys who say to boil some down and taste it first

[Person25]

Agree with everyone who suggests boiling some down and seeing what comes through for taste. I have two barrels I got years ago I use to store sap in from a Dr. Pepper plant that still smell like the Dr. syrup to this day, never had any odd taste or smell come through.