It is often said the best plan is to boil it the day it runs, but we can rarely do that, especially early in the season. As mentioned before, when we were starting out we had to store sap for a long time before we could boil and often had slightly cloudy sap. I still recall that as some of the most delicious dark syrup I ever tasted.
Today we have some sap that was in the bags for a week, frozen several times, and now collected and in the tank, on the north side of our sugarhouse. But not enough to sweeten our bigger evaporator. Other sap is still in the bags, and we will fire up for the first time on Sunday, so several days old, but still clear. Using these methods we have won multiple awards for our syrup. It may be best to boil right out of the tree if you want the lightest syrup possible, but I like darker syrup too!
If your sap isn't smelly you will be fine, just do your best to kept cold and give it a try!
John
2x8 Smokylake drop flue with AOF/ AUF
180 taps on sacks
75 on 3/16 tubing with shurflo
Eden Prairie, Minnesota