How long can maple syrup (already opened) stay fresh in room temperature?

Question

I still have the maple syrup container I bought last July while in Canada. I keep the lid on tight grip when I'm not using it.

I noticed the last time I used it, there was some sugary sand-like stuff around the top of the bottle. Is this bottle still okay to use for pancakes or should I dispose it?

I hate to throw out Canadian maple syrup.

Answer 1

We used to keep maple syrup on our sailboat in Florida and the Caribbean without refrigeration.  I think it is ok.  As others have said, the cystally stuff is maple sugar.  I would use it.

Answer 2

I had heard that honey was the only food that does not ever go bad, so I would imagine syrup is in the same category.  The crystalization on the top is fine. It should still be good.

Answer 3

Still good, eh!

The syrup is just crystalling into sugar around the lid.

Answer 4

It keeps a pretty long time but I keep mine in the fridge because it doesn't last forever at room temperature but seems to in the fridge. If you see some moldy-looking skin on the top of the syrup itself, it's spoiled. The crusty stuff around the top of the bottle is just dried syrup. But why keep it? You got it because it tastes good--use it. It's great on vanilla ice cream.

Answer 5

We keep it in the refrigerator. It keeps longer. That sand-like stuff at the top is just crytalized sugar.

It's still good. We sometimes put the can in some water in a pot,on the stove and heat it up to melt the sugar that has crystalized.

My mom's cousin makes a little maple syrup from his trees every year. This year was not good so prices are going up.