Making Sugar

[MapleCamp]

Does anyone use a kitchen aid mixer, small Hobart, or any other type of mixer to make sugar. Any thoughts or insight appreciated.

[unc23win]

Check this link out very good information.

http://mapletrader.com/community/showthread.php?28272-Maple-Sugar&highlight=granulated+sugar

[tbear]

I use an upright countertop KitchenAid. I wouldn't do over a quart at a time, I'd be concerned about burning out the mixer's motor. Ted

[mainebackswoodssyrup]

If you do go with a kitchen aid, make sure you go with a higher end model. The cheaper ones have plastic gears and the better ones metal gears. Researched this last year for my wife's Xmas present.

[Super Sapper]

I use the wife's 6 quart pro model and do 1/2 gallon without a problem.

[wiam]

If you do go with a kitchen aid, make sure you go with a higher end model. The cheaper ones have plastic gears and the better ones metal gears. Researched this last year for my wife's Xmas present.

You want one that the mixer head does not tip up. The bowl goes up and down. These are the ones with metal gears. There is some kind of a replaceable shear mechanism built in so you won't ruin the motor. My daughter who bakes looked into this last summer when she got one. Not a lot of price difference for the good ones.

[mainebackswoodssyrup]

Ya, I got a heck of a black Friday deal on it. Think it was $210........believe it was the pro 600?? Can't remember exactly but yes, it does not tip up like some do.

[unc23win]

I got a deal on my wife's 600 pro (with extra warranty) but she hasn't let me use it yet. 1/2 Gallon at a time sounds good to me.

[MapleCamp]

half gallon at a time sounds great to me, Can the KA handle it, sounds like some have tried. I can only do 16 oz at a time by hand. takes me about an hour per half gallon by hand. What attachment do you all use?

[wiam]

half gallon at a time sounds great to me, Can the KA handle it, sounds like some have tried. I can only do 16 oz at a time by hand. takes me about an hour per half gallon by hand. What attachment do you all use?

I know many that do it with the pro KA with the paddle.

[PerryFamily]

What grade of syrup works best for sugar? I'd like to try a batch.
Whats the basic procedure after the sugar is made? Drying, sifting that kinda thing
Thanks in advance

[abbott]

half gallon at a time sounds great to me, Can the KA handle it, sounds like some have tried. I can only do 16 oz at a time by hand. takes me about an hour per half gallon by hand. What attachment do you all use?

We do 3 qts at a time by hand. I even have the wife trained and she's not exactly rugged. Use an 8 qt stainless pot and add a couple drops of oil at the start. Go to 260, take off heat and stir. Your wooden spoon needs to be rugged.

We like to use amber as it seems to dry up quicker than dark. But I believe invert sugar has a lot to do with it, which we don't test for.

A batch takes an hour plus to come up to temp, then stir hopefully for 15 minutes, but sometimes it takes longer. After it has cooled down we scrape it out into a bowl and start the next batch. We'll have two pots going at once, starting a batch every hour in one pot or the other. Often make 50-60 lbs in a day this way. Sift out the "crunchies" when we aren't stirring a fresh batch. One of us can do the whole procedure if we don't have distractions (kids) but usually we take turns as it can be a long day in the kitchen.



Whats the basic procedure after the sugar is made? Drying, sifting that kinda thing

We'll stir a couple times as it cools to keep it from clumping, then sift after a half hour or more. Some people like to sift it hot as you can press the chunks through the screen that way, but we find sifting is a lot faster once it has dried more and we have plenty of market for the crunchies anyway. Just use a stainless mesh strainer that you probably have in your kitchen. The mesh size can vary, so just go with one you like.

[MapleCamp]

Wow 3qts by hand would break my wrists. Some. batches are easier than others for me but 16oz at a wack is about it for me I use a dab of butter while heating and transfer to stainless bread bowl. I heat another while I stir . I got about 7 gallons of left over from last year that Im converting. Im trying to turn it into a 1 day job insted of 2 weeks.

[abbott]

Wow 3qts by hand would break my wrists. Some. batches are easier than others for me but 16oz at a wack is about it for me I use a dab of butter while heating and transfer to stainless bread bowl. I heat another while I stir . I got about 7 gallons of left over from last year that Im converting. Im trying to turn it into a 1 day job insted of 2 weeks.

I would imagine it would be considerably more difficult in a bowl. Having it in a pot with a wide heavy bottom gives more stability. Through the hardest part of the stirring, we just keep chopping into the sugar and moving it in clumps, spinning the pot around as we go. Then when it really starts to dry, turn the spoon over and use the back of it to stir more thoroughly.

I have also found that too much oil, while making it less likely to foam over on the stove, makes it stir harder. No idea why. And to be fair, if I'm doing more then a couple batches I do wear light gloves to avoid blisters. The wife always wears gloves. We've done as much as 9 gallons in a day. I can keep up with it solo, but usually she stirs at least a couple batches to give me a break. There have been other times when I've taken the kids on delivery or something and she's done 5-6 batches in a row by herself.

It took some practice to learn the technique - we never would have considered doing this much at once when we first started. It's only in the last year that we've gone to doing two pots at once so we can do 60 lbs in a day (that's the amount our primary buyer takes each month.) I'll try to make a video when we have the next sugar day.

[MapleCamp]

Thanks for the tips Abbott I am off to sugar camp for the week to put wood up and clean up everything. When I get home I will get back to sugar making. What size pan do you use. I liked the bread bowl as I could hold between my legs. Wow, 60lbs a day by hand is impressive.

[abbott]

Thanks for the tips Abbott I am off to sugar camp for the week to put wood up and clean up everything. When I get home I will get back to sugar making. What size pan do you use. I liked the bread bowl as I could hold between my legs. Wow, 60lbs a day by hand is impressive.

We have an 8 qt pot that came as part of a set and we stole my mom's which is similar. I can't seem to find a new one that works as good - don't know why, but the ones I have tried foam up way too much and I have to add a lot of oil or turn the heat way down. Once the syrup is up to temp, we put it in the sink - an old single bay cast iron type - and stir it there. We scrape out and wash the pots with soap between every batch because it makes the results more consistent. Sure a small fraction of sugar is lost, but it seems to be worth it.

Good Luck!

[Sugarmaker]

You mentioned a Hobart mixer for sugar. We use a table top Hobart (may be 14-18 qt bowl).
Heat the 1+ gallon of syrup to 260F. Put into bowl. turn it on and walk away. Stop about half way through and scrape down the sides. Stir on low till fairly cool. No sifting required. Making 8 to 10 lbs.
Regards.
Chris

[abbott]

You mentioned a Hobart mixer for sugar. We use a table top Hobart (may be 14-18 qt bowl).
Heat the 1+ gallon of syrup to 260F. Put into bowl. turn it on and walk away. Stop about half way through and scrape down the sides. Stir on low till fairly cool. No sifting required. Making 8 to 10 lbs.
Regards.
Chris

Now that's information I need as I look to get away from doing it all by hand. Just because I can doesn't mean it's the most efficient!

What pot do you use to boil the syrup down? How long does it take to get up to density? Do you have any specs on the Hobart? Any defoamer added to the syrup? Any other tips?

Thanks,
Steve