This kitchen staple must be refrigerated after opening, and people are shocked.
Properly storing food once it's been opened or used is key to preventing foodborne illnesses and food poisoning. However, deciphering which foods need to be refrigerated and which foods don't can be tricky.
The topic became a mind-blowing discussion for a group of home chefs who were stunned to learn that a beloved kitchen staple they frequently use must be stored in the fridge after opening. Member GiuseppeZangara posed the following question to fellow chefs on the subreddit r/Cooking: "What is something that should be refrigerated that people often don't? What is something that does not need to be refrigerated that people often do?"
The shocking food most people have not been refrigerating? Real maple syrup.
Santa Claus Christmas GIF by Cameo Giphy
Real maple syrup does not have preservatives, and has a high water content that can encourage mold growth.
"As someone who lives in Vermont let me say as a PSA to everyone: Maple syrup should be refrigerated after opening no matter what kind of climate you live in!" one commented. Someone replied, "Yeah. I learned that one the hard way. I always assumed it was shelf stable like honey, until I had a big bottle [of] mold."
Other people shared their maple syrup horror stories after realizing it needed to be refrigerated. "Found this out when I went to pour syrup over a stack of pancakes I had just made from scratch. Green blobs spreading over the stack and I almost vomit. I always do a test pour now even if it’s refrigerated," one wrote. Another shared, "I found out the hard way what happens when you don’t. Not a pleasant realization halfway through eating waffles that there was green mold everywhere in that maple syrup container 🤢🤢🤢."
@littlehandskitchen_ How did I not know that you should refridgerate maple syrup?#kitchenstaple #PSA #maplesyrup #randomrealization
Other members noted they prefer buying glass bottles of maple syrup for this reason, which helps them more easily spot mold. "This is why I only buy maple syrup in clear glass jars. I hate surprises, especially fuzzy ones," one wrote. Another commenter noted, "If it's moldy you'll notice. Unless you're shaking it. Don't shake it. The mold forms (visibly) where it comes into contact with the air, so you should see it from the outside (assuming a clear glass container). When you open the bottle, also check the underside of the lid as well as the top of the syrup," another wrote.
Maple syrup storage tips
To properly store your maple syrup, stick it in the fridge once the bottle has been opened. Make sure the lid is tightly sealed. According to Michigan State University, maple syrup should remain safe to eat in the fridge for up to one year. You may also notice changes to its color and flavor within six to eight months of opening, per Purdue University. For long storage, maple syrup can also be frozen, and will last several years, according to Ohio State University.
Hungry Maple Syrup GIF Giphy
The surprisingly good news is that if you do notice mold in your maple syrup, you don't have to throw it out, says Ohio State University. To salvage your maple syrup, skim off the mold and bring it to a boil. Wash out the original container, then simply repack it.
Artificial maple syrup (brands flavored like maple syrup that are typically made of high fructose corn syrup--such as Hungry Jack or Mrs. Butterworth's) does not need to be refrigerated. That's because they contain preservatives that keep them shelf-stable. As one home chef noted, "My kids get the corn syrup cheap one cause most just is wasted in the dishwasher after they poured too much lol."