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Thread: Syrup bottle shelf life?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
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    Maine
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    25

    Default Syrup bottle shelf life?

    3rd year doing this usually i put my syrup in canning jars with the wax seal lids but this year i picked up some nice syrup bottles from sks bottling and was wondering if the syrup will keep ok if i put it right into these? They came with black plastic screw caps with looks like a paper type seal on the inside.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
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    North Grenville
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jaredd91 View Post
    3rd year doing this usually i put my syrup in canning jars with the wax seal lids but this year i picked up some nice syrup bottles from sks bottling and was wondering if the syrup will keep ok if i put it right into these? They came with black plastic screw caps with looks like a paper type seal on the inside.
    I don't think wax seal lids will do it anymore. So long as you hot-pack the syrup bottles properly, you should be fine.
    Been tapping since 2008.
    2018 - 17 taps/7 trees...819l sap, approx 28l syrup
    2019 - 18 taps/8 trees...585l sap, 28l syrup...21:1 ratio
    2020 - 18 taps/8 trees...890.04l sap...gave away about 170l, 30l snafu'd....23l total for me from approx 690l
    2021 - 18 taps/8 trees...395l sap, 12 l syrup
    2022 - 18 taps/8 trees....7 sugars 1 red due to #2 having surgery so had the season off....582l sap, 18.5l syrup
    2023 - 18 taps/8 trees...all sugars again. 807l sap, so far approx 14l syrup

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2020
    Location
    Hudson Valley, NY
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    40

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jaredd91 View Post
    i picked up some nice syrup bottles from sks bottling and was wondering if the syrup will keep ok if i put it right into these?
    As long as you bottle it at the correct temperature and seal the lids properly, it should last on the shelf a long time. The temperature should be 180-190 degrees as it goes into the bottle and many recommend briefly laying the bottle on it's side to sanitize the cap with the hot syrup. Technically, I've read that a year is standard, but I had a bottle from 3 years ago that was perfectly fine. Refrigerate after opening of course.
    Hudson Valley, NY
    Backyard hobby syrup maker on about 12 trees

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Oneida NY
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    11,575

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    Over the years I've had several failures to seal with bottles with a cardboard seal, (maybe 1-3%). I never had a failure with caps with a seal like these https://packagingoptionsdirect.com/1...thread-closure. Be sure the cap matches the threads on the bottle. In that type cap I've sealed thousands of bottles with zero failures.
    The ones I like best have a soft plastic (nylon?) seal part way down the cap, and a top quality seal in the very end of the cap. If sealed properly, in glass syrup will last 20+ years just keep it out of the sun to maintain grade.
    Dave Klish, I recently ordered a 2x6 wood fired evaporator from A&A Sheet Metal which I will be converting to oil fired
    Now have solar, 2x6 finish pan, 5 bank 7x7 filter press, large water jacketed bottler, and tankless water heater.
    Recently bought another Gingerich RO, this one was a 125, but a second membrane was added thus is a 250, like I had.
    After running a 2x3, a 2x6, 3x8 tapping from 79 taps up to 1320 all woodfired, now I'm going to a 2x6 oil fired and a 200-425 taps.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2020
    Location
    Chaska, MN
    Posts
    64

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    I've been using mason jars that have the dimple in the center of the lid. If depressed the seal is complete and should last for years. I've been told to always put on a new top and never reuse them.
    2020 1st season- 8 gallons of syrup
    2021 2nd season- 11 gallons of syrup
    2022 3rd season 6 gallons of syrup
    2023 4th season- 7 gallons of syrup

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Nashville, MI
    Posts
    942

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    You are correct always put on a new lid. You can re-use rings and jars, not lids.
    2004 - 2012 2x3 flat pan 25 to 60 taps
    2012 2x3 new divided pan w/draw off 55 taps
    2018 - didn't boil surgery - bought new evaporator
    2019 new SML 2x4 raised flue high output evap. 65 taps
    made 17 gal. syrup
    2020 - only put out 53 taps - made 16.25 ga.l syrup
    2021 - Didn't work out
    2022 - 25 taps on bags / 8 taps on 3/16's line - late start

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Red Bay Ontario
    Posts
    191

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    I always lay them on their sides to make sure the cap is getting sterilized by that 190 degree syrup. I also find you will notice caps that aren’t sealed properly as they will draw in small air bubbles. My first year I was having trouble with the caps but I think I learned it was from a bit of syrup spilled on the rims of the bottles when filling. I’ve never used masons for syrup but have for lots of other stuff. I was told to Always use new lids by my mom back in the day and I don’t know anybody that does as much preserves as she does. Old rings are ok as long as no rust. I’d probably not use used pickled masons jars for syrup just in case. I’m sure after a good clean and boil and bake they’ll be ok but I treat this stuff like gold. Plus I like the looks of it in syrup glass. I do a lot of the plastic these days as I find the regulars buy those for the fridge more. I gave a bunch to friends that brought me empty crown royal (different kind of liquid gold) bottles throughout the year. All those that did got One or two back filled with syrup. Looked sweet and super eye catching but I told them to start using it just in case it didn’t seal properly being a used alcohol bottle. I’m pretty sure they sealed good though as I didn’t see any bubbled air in when cooling. Was a huge pain removing the labels so that was the only year I did that lol. Kent bottles have been a bit hard to find this year in Ontario so I’m sure we will see lots of mason jars and different ideas kicking around.
    Happy sapping
    225 taps 180 on vac 45 on natural gravity lines.
    2x6 drop flue with auto draw.
    Home built 3 x400gpd ro
    2017 kubota M7060hdcc12
    2019 can am defender


    2017- first year 80 taps 22x36 home made arch and pan.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Wakefield,New Hampshire
    Posts
    505

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    For the first 3 or 4 seasons i bottled mine in Mason jars with the normal lids they offer. I still have a couple of those sitting around from 2014 and 2015 and still show no signs of going bad. I always hot packed at 190F screwed on the lid and flipped the jars over for about 20 minutes. Only had a handful that didn't seal properly and formed mold. Also it's a good idea to inspect the top rim of the jars before bottling especially if they are used jars. I had one with a little chipped edge that i didn't notice, when it was filled and flipped upside down it spilled very hot syrup all over my counter top and the other jars i had just bottled.
    6th season solo sugar maker in a young sugar bush of mostly red maples
    320 taps
    2x6 self built arch, Flat pans w/ dividers
    New 12x16 sugar house
    CDL hobby 250 RO

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