I was thinking of using canning jars to bottle my syrup in. Do many syrup makers use them? What are the advantages or disadvantages?
I was thinking of using canning jars to bottle my syrup in. Do many syrup makers use them? What are the advantages or disadvantages?
They work fine. Advantage is there cheap can be found anyware. Fill with 190 degree syrup and put the lids on DONE. I was in a truck stop in Iowa and they had a display of all sorts of Syrup and Jams in Mason type jars. They had ribbons and bows and all sorts of labels on them. Be differant.
I exclusively use mason jars. We wash them in the dishwasher and fill them with hot syrup right out of the water jacket filter/caning tank. You can get them cheap at auctions and garage sales. I even have several customers who always bring the empties back.
Matthew
Highly modified Leader Half Pint with Smoky Lake 2 x 4 Raised Flue
14' Grain Bin Sugar House
152 taps on 3/16 tubing
MES Dolly 100 RO
Homemade filter/canning tank with an electric water jacket
Kubota RTV 1100
http://s272.photobucket.com/albums/j...Maple%20Syrup/
We use canning jars for a lot of the family's syrup. Re-usable and a convenient size. When filling with hot syrup, put about 1/2 inch in the bottom, stop filling for about 10 or 15 seconds, and then finish filling. If you don't, sometimes the rapid change in temperature of the glass will cause them to crack or break.
I use mason jars just make sure you filter the syrup good before you fill them plus after I fill them I put them in the oven on warm for about 1/2 an hour to slow down the cooling of the syrup I was told to do that I don't remember why also I boil the jars before I fill them
That's what I used last year and will use again this year. I am not a big producer and only make couple of gallons a year. I give some away to friends and family.
2008- 30 taps evaporator-Turkey fryer in the driveway.
2009- 50 taps evaporator- concrete block with stock pot.
2010- 100 taps, oil tank arch with a 2x4 Mason evaporator.
2011- 78 taps mostly gravity tubing, some buckets
http://s951.photobucket.com/albums/a...%20Evaporator/
I haunt garage sales. I buy a lot of small jars at them as a lot of people don't put up jams and jellies. I can if I need to buy cases of 4 gallon jugs and the smaller ones at the Co Op in town if I need to. Around here I have to get to garage sales ahead of this little old man who sugars and buys a lot of jars also.
maybe 50 taps for 2011
Finally ready to boil when I get enough sap
I just might be crazy.( make that I know I am)
Trees all tapped except the ones with 5 feet of snow.
Enough rabbits to keep Elmer busy..
my father tried to get me to use them last year. I did put up a case of each ( quarts, pints & halfpints) wasn't able to sell any of them. Ended up using them for myself and found them hard to pour out of. they did seal easy however and I had no molding on any of them.
600 taps
3'x8' Dellair evaporator
I have no worrys as it's against the law for me to sell maple syrup in Quebec so any I make is for my own use or to give away.
maybe 50 taps for 2011
Finally ready to boil when I get enough sap
I just might be crazy.( make that I know I am)
Trees all tapped except the ones with 5 feet of snow.
Enough rabbits to keep Elmer busy..
I wash the jars and preheat them in the oven to about 200 degrees. Heat the seals in a pan of water.
I use only jars for my syrup because:
They are easy to clean and reuse
In most cases I get more for free
I like to see the color and clarity
Not made from dead dinosaurs(Saudi $'s)
Downside-More work than filling and screwing on a plastic cap.
John
100+ Taps, 40 on 5/16 tubing
Lunchbox Vacuum/Releaser, hodorskib's Small Scale RO
3x7 Stainless Flat Pan
No chickens........yet.
http://s219.photobucket.com/albums/c.../Maple%20Camp/