shelf life of sugar syrup

[jessbee]

I made up some sugar syrup (1:1) after misreading an email containing a tracking number for my bees that I thought were coming the next day...

Alas, now I still have no bees, but 3 gallons of sugar syrup, with 1 tsp. of honey-b-healthy in each, in my fridge.

How long will the syrup last? Do I have to bring it to room temperature before I feed it to the bees when they finally get here :(

Thanks for your help!

[guatebee]

If it will sit around for more than a week, a good idea is to boil it. This stops yeast growth.

Keeping it cool will help. How long till the babies arrive?

[Michael Bush]

With the HBH in it it will keep for a very long time. 2:1 will keep longer than 1:1. In the fridge it will keep longer than where it's warm. But I'd warm it up before feeding it. Bees won't take cold syrup and it will take a lot of body heat to warm it up.

[Sundance]

I was under the impression that boiling was not a good idea as it inverts the sugars and can upset the digestive system of the bees.

Also you can add 1 tbsp of vinigar per gallon to retard the spoilage. Some at cream of tarter.

[magnet-man]

Freeze it and thaw in warm warter. Don't boil it because you can caramelize it and that will make the bees sick.

[ May 09, 2006, 09:17 PM: Message edited by: magnet-man ]

[Carolyn]

boil the water, quickly take it off the heat, then add sugar. Will not carmelize this way ;)

[Michael Bush]

But if you're trying to kill microorganisms in the syrup to make it last longer, boiling could be useful. Burning it is an issue. As is boiling off all the essential oils you added (HBH).

[jessbee]

Thanks for your help. I will warm it up when they finally come. I was told they would come 3 weeks ago. I'm playing the waiting game now, and I'm all ready.

[magnet-man]

The issue is the sugar water is already made and will sit an unknown period of time before it is used. If you want to keep the syrup for an indefinite period of time you either have to get the moisture content to less than 20% or freeze it. At 20% yeast and other goodies have a very hard time growing that is why jelly last so long. A hydrometer will be needed to determine when you reach the 20% level. Does someone with a hydrometer want to do the calcualations?

[Michael Bush]

It's a lot of work to get it down to 20% when it's 50% now. Sounds like a job for bees.

[Jim Fischer]

How about "just add more sugar", and use a
refractometer to check the sugar content,
as one would check honey?

[Brent Bean]

I always keep a gallon or two on hand for a swarm that I might catch I keep it in the refrigerator for weeks with no signs of mold if I have any left over at the end of the season I just freeze it for next year. If I need it I let it warm up at room temp or if I need it faster I will set it in hot water for a while.

[MichaelW]

ge wiz, lets overthink this already.

Just either:
add more sugar,
freeze it,
add vinegar,
do nothing else,
or buy a hummingbird feeder.

I've been putting probably 3 tablespoons vinegar per quart in 1:1 and have noticed no problems with the bees and definately no mold.

[Ravenseye]

Here's my two cents as a newbie. I made 4 gallons of 1:1 about 10 days before my package arrived. I was going to be out of state for a week or so and I wouldn't have had the time to make it up upon their arrival. I also added HBH and stored the gallon jugs in the fridge. It stayed fine for the week and a half...no problems at all. I still have a gallon left that I didn't use and it too looks to be OK. That makes it's age at going on three weeks. Hope this helps.