Unfiltered - What Should Be Expected?

[cray54]

I don't spend much time with unfiltered syrup. In the sugarhouse, we go from the evaporator to the filter press while it is still hot, so there isn't much time for observation.

I decided to do some stovetop boiling and make some small batches for observation. These samples were over the course of about 8 days and are in order from oldest to newest.

Samples 2 and 4 both look approximately like what I'd expect. Particulate would settle out and the syrup would clarify over time. I was previously under the impression that the solids are all denser than syrup and settle.

Sample 1 is a mix of things, so it can be ignored.

Now, samples 3, 5, and 6: what is going on here? It looks like growth that you might find in undercooked syrup, but the cloudiness is there as soon as the syrup is finished (it didn't show up over time). The curious things here is that there is no sedimentation taking place in any of them. In sample 5, the cloudiness appears to be evenly dispersed, even though it was only made one day after sample 4. Sample 6 was made the day before the picture was taken, and the cloudiness appears to be heading to the top.

The sap is all from the same set of trees, was clean, and was boiled within 16 hours or so. These were all tested with the same hydrotherm and measured between 66.4 and 67.0 brix at the time of finishing.


http://www.grayred.com/images/s/unfiltered_syrup_testing.jpg

Thank you, Chris

[Galena]

Hmm interesting for sure. Fwiw I've made my share of your #5, I call it 'peach jam', over the years. Usually adding a little more sap and/or distilled water helps. #6 is a bit freaky, never had that.

[maple flats]

You will see the cloudiness settle, just need more time.

[SeanD]

I've got something similar I'm keeping an eye on. The very last of the last syrup wouldn't get through the press, so I have a quart of some unfiltered dark stuff with a little DE in there for good measure. Still can't pick up any sunlight through it yet! It's been about 10 days.

[cray54]

More time showed:
#4 did settle out
#5 remained suspended
#6 floated

http://www.grayred.com/images/s/unfiltered_syrup_testing_2.jpg

[DrTimPerkins]

#4 did settle out
#5 remained suspended
#6 floated


#1 might be OK, but looks like "mother" (microbial mass) in bottom on top of niter
#2 might be OK
#3 might be OK if that is sediment that just got stirred up. If not, then NOT ok (microbial mass)
#4 looks fine.
#5 looks kinda like ropey, but very hard to say without seeing it. Have you tried stirring or pouring it to see if it is stringy/ropey?
#6 is definitely got stuff growing on it.

Are you sure they density is correct in these? When was the last time the hydrotherm was calibrated or at least checked against a verified hydometer and thermometer? Were they hot packed? Were the jars clean and closed immediately after packing?

[cray54]

The hydrotherm was new, but was not tested by me after receipt. If the hydrotherm is accurate, they should all be higher than minimum.

I would say none of these were properly packed. Although the jars were all clean, the syrup taken from the stove and poured directly into them, and then they were closed... but these are relatively small volumes and they cooled while testing density. They all, however, had signs of looking just like they look now right after taking them off the stove. That said, is it possible to have microbial mass in the syrup straight off the stove?

These were from buckets - gathered every day, and boiled the same day or the following day.

#3 looks that way and is just sitting, it had been sitting for several days at the time of the picture.

#5 I will open and check if it is ropey.

After continuing to look at this, my biggest question right now is about #6. There is absolutely no sediment in it. In the first picture, it has only been sitting for a day. In the 2nd picture, it has been sitting for a while. In what circumstance do the solids float in syrup?