Storing maple syrup in bulk tanks

[emericksmaple]

Does anyone out there store their maple syrup in a bulk tank? We buy in several thousand gallons of syrup and are looking at installing 2 - 1000 gallon bulk tanks, that way we could empty the barrels into the tanks and return the barrels. Any thoughts? I know the biggers packers do this but I've never seen it done on the scale we are thinking of.

[OGDENS SUGAR BUSH]

Bascoms has a couple large tanks inside their building. it would have to be refrigerated

[DrTimPerkins]

The larger companies also have a "nitrogen blanket" introduced into the top of the tank to reduce spoilage.

[emericksmaple]

What if you used a vacuum bulk tank and kept the syrup under vacuum? Would this decrease fermentation?

[DrTimPerkins]

What if you used a vacuum bulk tank and kept the syrup under vacuum? Would this decrease fermentation?

No. It would reduce aerobic spoilage, but not anaerobic degradation (fermentation).

[lew]

A smaller producer around here used to store syrup in a 300 gallon bulk tank. He installed ultra violet lights in the top. Said it kept quite well

[emericksmaple]

Do you know if he also refrigerated it? Any thoughts Dr. Perkins?

[DrTimPerkins]

Might help for microbes that float...not for those that sink. If you constantly stirred it perhaps, but UV penetration through syrup is VERY low...very top surface only. Keeping it cold would help.

[Timberwolf]

The larger companies also have a "nitrogen blanket" introduced into the top of the tank to reduce spoilage.

I had considered a nitrogen blanket for sap storage in the future, has there been any research done on this? I know this is quite common in wine production.

[DrTimPerkins]

I had considered a nitrogen blanket for sap storage in the future, has there been any research done on this? I know this is quite common in wine production.

I am not aware of anyone using a nitrogen blanket for SAP storage. It is used by some of the very large packers for SYRUP storage. Nitrogen is introduced into the top of bulk silo tanks to retard spoilage microorganisms. I haven't seen any research on inert gas blankets specifically for maple, but it is fairly commonly used by large food companies. Lots of rules pertaining to purity of the gases, equipment construction, and worker safety (to avoid suffocation, etc.), so it isn't something that sugarmakers would use in their operations. More common in vineyards, but justifiable there given that the value of the product is so high.

[fred]

Does anyone out there store their maple syrup in a bulk tank?

You're welcome to come out to the Chardon store to see what we have.

[Timberwolf]

You're welcome to come out to the Chardon store to see what we have.

Are you using a nitrogen blanket for sap storage?

[fred]

Are you using a nitrogen blanket for sap storage?

no nitrogen at all. we just have syrup storage.

[minehart gap]

Would a vacuum tank seal tight enough to utilize the nitrogen blanket instead of putting the tank under vacuum?

[fred]

I'm really not sure why we're overthinking all this. Besides if you get your vacuum too high you're just gonna boil the syrup

[DrTimPerkins]

I'm really not sure why we're overthinking all this. Besides if you get your vacuum too high you're just gonna boil the syrup

I agree. Recommendations for sap storage are to keep it cold and process it quickly for optimum quality. Doing anything beyond that just adds complexity and cost for unknown and likely limited benefit. Syrup storage recommendations are to hot pack. A nitrogen blanket "might" be (probably is to some degree) useful in reducing microbial growth (UV lights might do the same if the syrup were constantly stirred) and darkening (due to oxidation), but is complex, can be costly (to do it correctly), and carries some danger (you'd want to have good lock out/tag out procedures before anyone entered those tanks). Thus it is only feasible for really large packers (and relatively few of them do it). Keeping syrup under vacuum also adds cost, complexity, and is likely of limited benefit to the vast majority of producers....not to mention the fact that (as Fred notes), it could cause the syrup to boil in the container.

[TapTapTap]

It seems like bulk storage would require an effort and cost that you need to weigh against the benefits. And I'm not sure I understand the benefits since you need to handle it again and reheat the syrup for final bottling.

On nitrogen - I recall that when I was in highschool (long time ago) a classmate died of asphyxiation from entering a nitogen rich confined space - maybe a box trailer or something. I didn't really know the guy so I don't remember the details or his name but the concern for hazardous atmospheres stuck with me. I'm pretty certain the nitrogen wasn't for maple storage but some other industrial use.

Ken

[johnallin]

I'm really not sure why we're overthinking all this. Besides if you get your vacuum too high you're just gonna boil the syrup

Solution...filter with a Leader Clear Press and not worry how it's stored...<big GRIN>

[fred]

Dammit john!!!

[johnallin]

Dammit john!!!

Couldn't resit... you walked right into it. <HUGE GRIN>
Just remember,,, "dont take life too serious, nobody gets out alive anyways"...you'll be OK.

Anyway, it's feeling pretty good to have the boat put away and be back into Maple.
Like I say.. I go from the water to the woods every year.
Let 2023 season begin can't wait to get started back up.