How to Make Maple Syrup Boiling & Finishing(Part 2)

With maple sap collection complete, we'll show you the final syrup process. Learn how to boil down your maple sap, pre-filter the "almost syrup" solution, use a digital thermometer to reach 219 degrees, and turn your maple sap into delicious, homemade maple syrup.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• How
• to
• make
• maple
• syrup
• backyard
• sap
• homemade
• boil
• down
• 219
• degrees
• Franklin
• Wisconsin

[hilltopfarmsplumbing]

How do you know when you have "almost syrup"? Are you basing it off a boil down ratio, appearance, experience or do you start to achieve temps greater than 212 deg?

[VintageVideos2009]

@hilltopfarmsplumbing Good question! Actually, it can be based on all three of these conditions, and experience is one of your best guides. Keep in mind, the color, boil-down ratio, and viscosity can vary, from week to week during the season, and from various trees. A digital thermometer is nice, because you'll generally notice the temperature rising to around 212-213 as the color turns to amber. Plus, "almost syrup" will have a tendency to foam up more too. Just don't burn it to the pan!

[tappakeggaday1]

I have been watching videos about making maple syrup but I have a question.when it is still hot it still looks watery,as it cools down does the syrup thicken?

[VintageVideos2009]

@tappakeggaday1 Yes, the syrup will thicken as it cools off. It typically cools down into the 180-degree range, pretty quickly after you boil to 220 and finish, especially if you're boiling outside and the ambient temperatures are under 40 degrees. You would see the same result, if you had some commercial maple syrup, and heated it up...it would also become more viscous. Its the opposite effect, when you have motor oil in -25 below temperatures- tends to get a bit thick, until it warms.

[NETWizzJbirk]

I wish you wouldn't use plastic buckets with a hot syrup. The syrup will pickup some of the plastic flavor... Trust me use glass or metal containers if the syrup is hot... If it is cold, plastic is fine.

[VintageVideos2009]

@NETWizzJbirk You really suggest pouring 200 degree syrup, into glass containers, in 30 degree temperatures. I'd hate to see the glass fracture or break, & have to toss out 20 hours of boiling. I've seen hydrometers, made of glass, crack due to those conditions. Way too risky! These plastic containers are food grade quality, designed to handle this sort of thing. Syrup is not so hot that it is melting the containers. Metals tend to have reactions over time- unless you have stainless.

[fermagal]

Thank you great video

[tappakeggaday1]

@VintageVideos2009 thanks I was wondering about that, i live in Florida and well they make cane syrup down here.in about three years I am moving north east and hope to have some maple trees so I can tap them

[jorgekluney]

@VintageVideos2009 Thanks for all of the info!! I'm just a bit north of Milwaukee (Southeastern WI).

[VintageVideos2009]

@jorgekluney Hey Great.....hope you give it a try! You could become hooked though, and you'll never look at February/March/April- the same. Always interesting too, as no two seasons are ever alike, and you're always learning new things tapping sap and boiling syrup. Also, just curious- what area of the country are you from?