The apparent signs include mold or an off smell. If the syrup is green, it may be too far gone to be edible. If you’re not sure if the flavor is off, you can always taste it before you use it. Mold can also be challenging to detect if it’s early stages. To know how to tell if maple syrup is bad, read further.
Look for visible mold and check the surface of the container before agitating it. While maple syrup does not spoil if appropriately refrigerated, it might develop a strange smell. You may notice a sour, yeasty, or “funny” smell. If you smell this, it’s time to throw it out. Another tell-tale sign of lousy maple syrup is a moldy odor. If you notice these signs, you must toss the syrup and find a new one.
According to the New York State Maple Producers Association (i.e., people who know something about maple syrup), go wrong. “Maple syrup is a natural product, and like other natural goods, it can expire if not properly stored,” according to experts. Not only does this make logic, but it’s also reassuring to know that maple syrup can spoil (because, let’s face it, no one ever looked at a Twinkie the same after discovering that it could survive the apocalypse), but following storage, standards is a simple solution to the problem.
What is Maple Syrup?
We’ve all heard of maple syrup as a must-have for a decadent brunch, but what exactly? According to the International Maple Syrup Institute, this rich and indulgent souce is prepared from the “slightly sweet” sap of the Maple tree, heated, and evaporated into an oh-so-sweet concentrate. Don’t worry, though, because the sap is gathered using “tiny, tree-friendly spouts,” no trees are injured due to your craving for pan cakes.
How to Tell if Maple Syrup is Bad?
The first thing to check for are symptoms of deterioration, such as mold. Try smelling it first and then tasting it if you can’t find any. It’s perfectly OK if it smells and tastes well. If you enjoy pancakes or waffles, you will undoubtedly enjoy maple syrup. Mold is the most common indicator of damaged maple syrup, whether opened. According to the specialists, even an undisturbed bottle of maple syrup that exhibits signs of mold should be thrown, so if you spot some odd growth, don’t try to skim it and hit it. The good news is that mold is the only sign of spoilage you’ll likely see when it comes to maple syrup, and it’s straightforward to see.
Another way to tell if maple syrup is terrible is to heat a sample to see how much darker it becomes. Maple syrup should begin to thicken as it cools. If it doesn’t, you should add hot water and white vinegar to remove it. Otherwise, the maple syrup might not taste right. If it is too thick, you might need to throw it out. If it’s too runny, you can always boil a portion of it and taste it to see how it compares to the original.
When storing maple syrup, look for the best by date. Usually, three months after the bottle is opened. If you see mold, discard the syrup and get a new bottle. Maple syrup does not spoil, but it can go wrong when exposed to mold or fungi. Make sure to check the label carefully. Keeping maple syrup in a refrigerator at room temperature or above is essential to prevent mold and fungi growth.
How Long Can Maple Syrup Last?
The exact shelf life of maple syrup is difficult to determine. Many people claim it’s fine indefinitely, while others suggest it should be discarded after more than a year. As a result, let us discuss reasonably certain facts. People agree that when maple syrup is stored correctly, it will not deteriorate or go wrong. Thus unless you store it without the cap, it will be edible after a year or even a few years. It’s a different story whether it tastes well after 3 or 5 years. The greatest thing you can do is try it; you’ll know right away if you want to utilize that glass of maple syrup sitting in the cellar for five years or whether you’d rather throw it away. That’s all there is to it.
We don’t blame you if you don’t know what to do with that already opened bottle of pancake sauce but can’t bear the notion of throwing it out on the spot; after all, high-quality maple syrup is a costly grocery item. Fortunately, maple syrup has a long shelf life even after being opened. Once opened, store the contents in the refrigerator to keep them fresh for six months. If you think you’ll need to keep your maple syrup beyond that, your best choice is to put it in the freezer—yes, that’s a thing you can do—where it will stay safe until the end. Because maple syrup does not freeze solid, it can be stored in the freezer and remain fresh for a long time.
How to Store Maple Syrup?
As long as the bottle is unopened, keep maple syrup in a cool, dry place. This can be done in the pantry or a kitchen closet. Once you’ve opened the bottle, keep it well wrapped and refrigerated. Most people aren’t aware that you should keep it refrigerated after opening a bottle of maple syrup. Despite its high sugar content, the syrup cannot be kept at room temperature ([CW]). You can keep open maple syrup at room temperature for a long time. While freezing maple syrup is a viable option, it is not always essential.
While it’s not necessary to refrigerate maple syrup, you should keep it in the refrigerator. The cold temperature prevents the growth of microorganisms. If the container doesn’t have a screw-on lid, it might spoil. It can last up to one year in the freezer in a dark, cool place. If you haven’t opened the bottle, it might be too late.
Even though maple syrup might go wrong, it’s probably one of your refrigerator or cupboard’s most miniature suspect items. Maple syrup is quite challenging and will keep for a long (i.e., indefinite) time until the seal is broken, regardless of the conditions. “Maple is packed hot and is preserved until unwrapped,” the specialists concur. So, provided you haven’t broken the seal on that bottle of maple syrup, you have nothing to worry about.
Is it Possible to Become Sick from Bad Maple Syrup?
The good news (through Epler’s Maple Syrup) is that the mold that grows in maple syrup is non-toxic, and that means you don’t have to throw out an expensive bottle of the thing just because it becomes moldy.
It would be best if you experienced it for yourself. Even if it tastes bland, it’s safe to eat, so don’t worry about becoming sick from consuming “out of date” maple syrup.
Why does my Maple Syrup Taste Smoky?
Because the smoke and debris from the fire flow over the sap as it boils, a smoky flavor can sneak into maple syrup heated over an open fire. Even if you appreciate the smokiness, it is considered a defect in syrup and, depending on what you burn with, could even be harmful to your health. Because the fire is segregated from the sap and smoke travels out a chimney, there is no smoky flavor in syrup made in a typical evaporator arrangement. But, hey, we don’t have a sugarhouse, and our evaporator arrangement doesn’t require a chimney, so our syrup is smoke-free!
Conclusion
Even the most significant admirer of maple syrup may forget about a jar in the pantry for a few months. The majority of people feel it will be fine forever, but the truth is that it can deteriorate. Fortunately, going wrong with maple syrup is relatively rare, and unless impurities get into the jar or container with maple syrup, it will keep for a long time.
Those are the most significant facts that every maple syrup fan should know. While maple syrup doesn’t go wrong when opened, it can go bad if the storage temperature is too high or low. While it’s safe to eat openly unopened, maple syrup can still develop mold and degrade quality. However, if it’s already opened, you can clean it by following two steps. If you’ve opened a bottle of maple syrup, keep it refrigerated to avoid mold.
