Maple syrup in sealed
containers keeps well at room temperature. To assure the best
quality of maple syrup we recommend that you refrigerate or freeze.
Once the container has been opened, refrigeration is necessary.
Unlike
mistakes in canning other foodstuffs, spoilage in syrup has never resulted
to anyone being poisoned. A really bad container is unmistakably
inedible, usually smelling like rotten fruit or vinegar. Most often
the spoilage is nothing more than a layer of mold that forms on top of the
syrup. The mold can safely be peeled off and the syrup re-sterilized
by bringing it briefly to 180 degrees (or even to a brief boil) and then
rebottling it.
