How to Store Simple Syrup in 3 Easy Steps

Simple syrup is an easy-to-make sweetener that is equal parts water and sugar. While white sugar needs to be well-stirred or shaken to dissolve in cold drinks, sugar syrup is already a liquid and will keep your drinks from becoming grainy. As a result, it frequently pops up in drink recipes for cocktails like a classic Old Fashioned or Gimlet. Simple syrup is so easy to make, it’s common for bartenders to make their own simple syrup in large batches so they can add it to their signature cocktail recipes.

You can just as easily use simple syrup to sweeten ice cream, iced tea, sorbets, sponge cakes, and candied fruit. It can also be infused with other flavorings. Try infusing a basic simple syrup with vanilla beans, mint leaves, or cinnamon sticks. Homemade simple syrup should be stored in the refrigerator. When stored properly, it has a shelf life of up to one month.

This entire process should take a total time of roughly four minutes while providing a homemade alternative to corn syrup or the artificially flavored syrups sold in stores.

1. 1. Pick your preferred sugar. White sugar is standard for most simple syrup recipes because it has a neutral flavor, but brown sugar or demerara sugar work as well.
2. 2. Choose your water-to-sugar ratio. You can scale the amount up or down, but the ratio of sugar to water will determine the final product. Equal parts sugar and water (one cup of water and one cup of sugar, for example) will produce a rich simple syrup. Tilting the sugar-to-water ratio toward water will make it a bit less viscous and lower the calorie and carbohydrate count. Ramping up the sugar content beyond the one-to-one ratio will give you a sweeter syrup. Sugar also acts as a preservative, so more sugar equals a longer shelf life. That said, too much sugar may push you into the realm of jellies if you overdo it.
3. 3. Heat your ingredients. Add sugar and water to a small saucepan over medium heat. Let it simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves, which should be about two minutes. Avoid using boiling water to dissolve the sugar because too much water could evaporate and alter your desired sugar-to-water ratio.
4. 4. Let your simple syrup cool. Remove the mixture from heat and allow it to cool to room temperature before you move on to storing it.

Storing simple syrup properly mostly involves prepping your container for long-term storage.

1. 1. Choose an airtight container. Store your homemade simple syrup in a sealed glass jar such as a Mason jar that you might otherwise use for jellies or preserves. While you can use any type of airtight container, some bartenders favor glass since it won't leach other flavors into your syrup.
2. 2. Clean the container thoroughly. No matter what material you use, be sure to scrub it with hot water and dish soap or run it through the dishwasher to ensure it's a sterile container. Let it air-dry before filling it with your homemade simple syrup.
3. 3. Place your syrup mixture into the refrigerator. The shelf life of your simple syrup will depend upon the cleanliness of the airtight container and the amount of sugar in your mixture. The standard one-to-one sugar-to-water ratio will produce a simple syrup that lasts about one month in the fridge.

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