Maple Syrup 2011

[Gary_l]

Got our first 3 1/2 gallons of syrup.........(I maybe biased) But it is GOOD, first time doing it. For any first timers I highly reccommend if you really want to do this spend the extra money and get a pan.....that turkey fryer (yep I tried it) does not cut it, turkey fryer 20 gals reduced to 2 gals in about 18 hrs, maple pan plus devising my own preheater (the turkey fryer (preheating your sap helps to maintain a constant boil)),on a cement block fire box (easy to build) 120 gals 14 hrs. Heres to more sap flowing!!!!! Plus what a great way to welcome in spring!!

[pushbutton]

well i am a newbie and over the last day and a half collected about 15 gallons of sap, and will have to start the cooking soon. soooo where can i get me a pan?....been trying to figure a reducing method and thought of cinderblock, but also have a cast iron wood stove...any thoughts on either .....

[Gary_l]

wood stove would work if you have enough surface area. I had my pan made by a guy in osceola wi you can e-mail me for his number, [email protected]. the pan is stainless steel, mine measured 16" x 36" x 6" ran $120. The firebox I bought 16 4"x8"x16" blocks and used them as the base, 19 8"x8"x16" and used them 2 high sides and back with an addional block on each side and back to create a flue on which I placed my turkey fryer as a sap preheater, $50 in cinder blocks, just realize your looking at a roughly 40 to 1 reduction. Plus I picked up a hydrometer from anderson maple syrup. Like every endevore is seem to do initial start up is a bit......but then I am set for years to come.

[leech~~]

I messed around with the Slivers I have in my yard and used a large roasting pan on the grill to boil it down. Worked out ok for small batches. But, my first try ended with about a qrt of solid sugar!

Hey, Maple sugars good!

[pushbutton]

yeah, after i purchased the taps, hoses, and buckets i actually researched a little and became painfully aware of the 40 to 1 reduction looks like i will just have to buck up and have a pan made.... thanks for the info!

[mcgarth]

there is 2 other topics about maple syrup already. one in this section and another in cooking. good deal to everyone on there syrup. we made 10 gallons so far and today were hoping to pick up a butt load of sap to boil down. this week and weekend the sap is going to pour out of the trees i hope anyways. have fun and good luck to all sappers!