I’m not sure how long sorghum syrup lasts in your house, but I know in ours it doesn’t last long enough to come close to being expired! When reaching for that jar or bottle of sorghum syrup and you notice that some crystallization has occurred, please don’t throw that bottle in the trash!
Crystallization of sorghum syrup is completely normal due to its sugar components and does NOT indicate spoilage. With a few simple steps you can dissolve the sugar crystals and return your sorghum syrup back to liquid gold. You can repeat this over and over and your sorghum syrup can last indefinitely.
Sorghum syrup or sorghum molasses as its commonly referred is made from sweet sorghum cane. Without getting too deep into chemistry here, if you looked at sorghum syrup on a molecular level, you’ll find several different types of sugar present. Crystallization of syrups occur when the concentration of sucrose is greater than other simple sugars that are also present. If stored over time some time crystallization will occur within the sorghum syrup, similar to honey.
Here Are Four Ways to Revive Sorghum Syrup and De-crystallize It
To revive your crystalized sorghum syrup in a jar, follow these simple steps:
- Remove cap and place syrup jar in the microwave.
- Heat on high for 30 seconds increments until syrup is warm.
- With a towel or potholder remove heated sorghum syrup from microwave and shake to dissolve the sucrose sugar back into syrup (take caution as glass container may be very hot).
- Repeat the process again and again if crystallization recurs from prolonged storage.
For sorghum syrup stored in a plastic bottle follow these steps:
- Place bottle (with cap on) in small sauce pan or large ceramic bowl.
- Add hot water (not boiling) covering the bottle to its neck but do not completely submerge it.
- Remove cap from the bottle
- Let sit in hot water for 15-20 minutes.
- Replace cap and remove bottle from water and shake.
Other ways to de-crystalize sorghum syrup:
- Leave a jar of sorghum syrup outside on a sunny day.
- Double boil method
- Boil water in a tea pot
- Place the jar of syrup in a larger bowl
- Pour the hot water so it surrounds the jar.
How to Store Sorghum Syrup
Sorghum Syrup should be stored in a cool dry place such as a pantry. When kept on the shelf in an airtight container your sorghum syrup will last indefinitely. Our best advice is to store your sorghum syrup as you would honey.
Does Sorghum Syrup Need to be Refrigerated?
We’re commonly told that refrigeration helps food last longer and prevent bacteria growth. With syrups this isn’t always the case. Sorghum syrup does not need to be refrigerated. You can refrigerate it but doing so will change the consistency of the syrup by making it thicker and harder to spread. What’s important is to keep moisture out of the container.
Can You Substitute Sorghum Syrup for Molasses or Honey?
If you’re considering replacing the molasses or honey in a recipe or dish with sweet sorghum syrup you can generally substitute on a one-to-one ratio. If substituting sorghum syrup for molasses in a recipe that calls for baking, you’ll want to decrease the amount of sugar called for by 1/3. Sorghum syrup is naturally sweeter than molasses so without the reduction of sugar your baked goods may be sweeter than you’d expect! We explain more about the differences between sorghum and molasses in this article.
Here is a great guide for Substituting Sweet Sorghum Syrup for Honey, Molasses or Sugar in Recipes:
We recommended the above substitutions based on experience. Its important to keep in mind that recipes vary, and other ingredients may effect the overall outcome of the recipe with substitutions. You may need to adjust the ratio further based on the recipe if the desired result isn’t achieved.
One thing to consider when replacing sugar with sorghum syrup in a baking recipe is to not replace all the sugar. We’ve found that leaving some sugar in the recipe have yielded much better outcomes. Start with substituting 50% of the sugar with the proper ratio of sorghum syrup as noted above. You can try increasing this to 75% percent but that is our recommended maximum.
Conclusion
Now you know that the sorghum syrup you bought will likely outlive you…hehe With a few simples steps you can return your crystallized sorghum syrup back to its runny delicious syrupy goodness. You can also substitute this yummy syrup in your baked goods for a boost of antioxidants and sweetness! A powerful combination!
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