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Thread: How long can raw sap be stored before cooking down?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Greenleaf, WI
    Posts
    4

    Default How long can raw sap be stored before cooking down?

    What is the shelf life for raw sap. Or how long can I store it (to accumulate more for a full day(s) of cooking) before cooking. If the weather is below freezing at night and upper 30's to low 40's in the day (typicaly surgarin weather). I store my sap in a 35 gallon holding tank that sits in the bed of my kawasaki mule. Keep it in the garage (out of the warm sun). Is a week about the limit?

    Thanks for the replies!
    LedgeRock Maple Syrup
    45 taps in 2012
    2x4 Wes Fab in 2011 (open flame and and 2x4 pan on cinder blocks prior)
    5 Acres in Southern Brown County

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Tony, WI
    Posts
    74

    Default

    I will typically cook on the weekends, everything I gather during the week goes into plastic barrels in my garage {no direct sunlight} and have had no problems at all.
    The only time I have had any problems is late in the year when temps are getting warmer, if I am still collecting I try to cook small batches a couple evenings.
    Scott Bingham
    Smoky Lake 2x5 Corsair Arch and Hybrid Pro Pan
    Smoky Lake 3 Bank Filter Press
    Smoky Lake Steam Bottler
    100+ Taps
    Pug 4x4 Sap & Wood Hauler

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Central NH
    Posts
    40

    Default

    We did weekend boils last year and that was fine... they say the grade might be darker, but we still had some pretty light syrup.
    My questions about this topic is can you freeze the sap (we have only like 5 gallons today) and keep it an extra week? I think we have room in our freezer for the five gallons, and don't really want to dump it...
    2011: 11 taps, block arch. 4+- gal syrup
    2012: 12-15 taps, oil tank evaporator with steam pans

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    NE PA
    Posts
    1,564

    Default

    yes, you can freeze sap. You can even freeze syrup.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    belchertown mass
    Posts
    110

    Default

    the best way to store syrup when done is in the freezer

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    S.E. Indiana USA
    Posts
    22

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by happy thoughts View Post
    yes, you can freeze sap. You can even freeze syrup.
    Quote Originally Posted by sapbrush View Post
    the best way to store syrup when done is in the freezer
    This is good information for guys like me who only have a few trees to tap. I have 9 buckets out now and sometimes not enough sap to process until weekends.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Weare
    Posts
    151

    Default

    If it's going to be warm during the day, I'll freeze some sap in food grade containers (yogurt containers or larger). I can pop the frozen sap into my container –*I use 55 gallon drums –*and it helps to keep it fresh.

    I like the yogurt containers because I can pop out the frozen sap and use the container to freeze more. 1 gallon jugs work well also.

    Unfortunately, I can't bury any of my barrels in the snow this year...
    30ish taps, all buckets
    StarCat evaporator with divided pan

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