Well I guess I should shine a flashlight into my maple syrup but it tasted just fine on last Sunday's pancakes... and it's at least a couple years old if not more.

You do refrigerate it, right?

No....should I? I don't refrigerate Aunt Jemima or whatever it is the kids like....and I don't refrigerate jelly nor corn syrup, nor sorghum...
Why is this different

YELCH!!!!

I refrigerate it, but not the commercial fake stuff.... and I cant tell you why I do. Not sure who ever mentioned I should!

Alexa

Yes, you need to refrigerate maple syrup. In fact I just checked my bottle and it even says "refrigerate after opening" right on the label.

I also refrigerate jelly. Wouldn't dream of not refrigerating it!

Linda

Real maple is so expensive here that I refrigerate it. After hearing your experience, I'm glad I do.

Uck is right.

Sorry that happened Linda; that was not a nice surprise.

I had that happen too - years ago. Since then we have kept it in the refrigerator and no problems. I just pour some out into a small pitcher and nuke it for thirty seconds or so. We had blueberry pancakes and warm maple syrup this morning. The syrup was probably over six months old but stored in the frig it was fine.

Lee

I've never had it happen but I've always refrigerated real maple syrup. I refrigerate jelly or jams after they're opened but not corn syrup, molasses or honey.

For what it's worth, I've never refrigerated it and I've never had a problem. I guess I was thinking it is like honey, which is the one food that doesn't spoil -- according to no less an authority than the Snapple Beverage Company!

I just checked my bottle of "100% Pure New England Maple Syrup"(made especially for my local market, says right on the label:)but nothing on the label about refrigeration. I bought it last winter. I used it last night - it had formed these crystallized mountains on the bottom - it tasted fine so I used it. Now I wonder...

I always refrigerate the real stuff, as least I do since I had a similar experience as LindaC!

Real maple syrup is supposed to be refrigerated, it can even be frozen.

This is from the site of a maple syrup farm.

How long can maple syrup be stored and used?

Maple Syrup is an all natural product with no preservatives. Unopened containers of pure maple syrup may be left in a cool, dark place for about one year without refrigeration. After opening, the syrup should be refrigerated. Freezing keeps open or unopened containers indefinitely, and the liquid will not solidify. Any harmless mold that forms on the surface of opened syrup may be skimmed off, and the product may be used after reheating on the stove or in the microwave. Place reheated syrup in a fresh, clean container and refrigerate. Glass is recommended as it preserves the color and flavor longer than other containers.

Sorry to hear this Linda. I keep it in the fridge too. This rates up there with that cinnamon stick expirence a few years back. : )

David

Another who always refrigerates the real stuff ever since having the mold issue a few years back.

The commercial stuff seems to have a "forever" life span on the shelf which is information in itself!

I just bought 5 litres of maple syrup and froze smaller portions in 500 ml jars. Otherwise, we always keep our maple syrup in the fridge. It will last a long time if kept chilled.

We buy it straight from the local mennonite farms. But yes, the first time I bought a large quantity (2 litres) I had to throw out the unused container several months later. When I found it in the pantry, it was bulging, and smelled a little funky when I opened it.

I had to go brush my tongue after reading that!

Oh, Linda, I'm sorry. I've done something similar, and it's a taste that takes for-freakin-ever to get out of your mouth completely! Blech!

But I just learned something. I had no idea maple would freeze well. Good to know.

I admit I don't keep mine in the fridge, but that's only because the pantry here is nearly as cold as my fridge. (Not sure why that is since it's in the middle of the house.)

OMG green mold! That's terrible! I am eating some cereals with milk and reading your post. I can't resist looking in my bowl to see if there's anything unusual!

We use the cheap stuff so never put them in the fridge. If we ever get the real stuff, definitely will refrigerate it after opening. Thanks for the lesson!

Al

Ew. Yep, we refrigerate, and haven't had it go bad. Had it on French toast this morning, as a matter of fact!

I have had it mold in the refrigerator too...
Guess I'll freeze it but for a small amount.
Thanks...
I always leave jelly out...it never molds....and believe me I know from mold!!
If I would boil the syrup would that keep it from moldinga s fast?
Linda C

Ugh. I did that once too. My niece had given me some real maple syrup. I used it once or twice and kept it in the cupboard. I had a friend here for breakfast and he asked if I had any maple syrup for his oatmeal. Sure, says I. I pulled it out, he poured it in his cereal and then we noticed the green fuzzy islands.

Uck!! Uck!!

Hi Linda,

I always get the pure maple syrup & always refrigerate it too. At times a bottle might last a year, but I've never had it get moldy. Poor you - I'm sorry. Uck, uck is right!

I wonder if it's boiled if it might crystallize in the bottle? I don't know enough to tell you.

LindaC, it's already boiled, that's why it's syrup. If you boil it down more you might get maple cream, but it won't preserve it any longer.

Maple syrup is a natural product and will eventually mold and spoil, especially in a warm environment. it contains no preservatives or artificial ingredients, it's an agricultural product and will spoil just like all natural products (well, except honey, I guess that never spoils). I've always refrigerated mine and never had it mold in the refrigerator, but when we were still sugaring, we made sure to tell the relatives to refrigerate or freeze it.

The cheap stuff doesn't mold because it isn't a natural product, it's all "stuff". Nothing to feed bacteria there, LOL, but it is NOT maple syrup. It's "maple flavoring" and a lot of sugar....

Annie

I just got up from the computer and put my maple syrup in the fridge. Blech! I'd have a hard time eating it ever again if that happened to me! Thanks for allowing me to learn from your mistake, Linda!

Ick ick ick! After reading this I went to the pantry and threw away a bottle of maple syrup from Maine...didn't even look to see if it was spoiled (it's been open over a year). I'm so weird about a few things and green mold is one of them.

Went on a vacation from he!! about 12 years ago with the kids. We traveled by car and thought we would save money by taking the smaller vehicle (insert rolling eyes) and eating at the local diners and cafe. The food was unbelievably good but it seemed every dessert I ordered I'd get half way through it and find green mold. Every damn piece of pie, cake or anything. I was ruined from then on and now I read this...

Man I thought I was having a bad day I broke my salad spinner and now I have to toss the maple syrup in the pantry. ItÂs one of those glass Santa bottles someone gave me a couple of ChristmasÂs ago and I just never opened it.

Claudia

Claudia, if it's sealed and it isn't moldy, it's fine. If you open it, though, be sure to refrigerate it or use it up.

Annie

Thanks Annie I'll check it out and maybe make some maple muffins if it's not green on top.LOL

Claudia