Does Pancake Syrup Need To Be Refrigerated? 

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Pancakes make wonderful weekend breakfast treats, and topping them with butter and syrup is a classic way to enjoy them. It is hard to beat a heap of soft, warm, puffy pancakes with melty butter dripping off and syrup poured generously over the whole pile.

You may be wondering if that pancake syrup needs to be refrigerated. We’re here to answer that question for you so do keep reading!

Does Pancake Syrup Need to Be Refrigerated?

Refrigerating Pancake Syrup

The answer to this question lies in what type of syrup you use on your pancakes. There are as many as thirty different types of syrup worldwide that can be used as pancake syrup.

We’ll mention a few here, and look at the most common ones in detail. We will also discuss whether or not they need refrigeration.

• Agave syrup

As the name suggests, this is made from the juice of agave plants. It is used as a sweetener. Once opened, it can be stored safely in a dark kitchen cupboard for up to two years and does not need to be chilled.

• Chocolate syrup

This is made with cocoa, sugar, colorants, and flavorings. It is a delightful treat on pancakes and ice cream and in milkshakes. The commercial variety does not need to be refrigerated.

• Date honey

This Middle Eastern sweet syrup is a thick, dark brown natural syrup extracted from dates. It’s easy to make at home by soaking some dates in water and then straining them.

The syrup must be stored in the fridge and used within a couple of weeks, otherwise, it will ferment.

• Golden syrup

This is an amber-colored form of inverted sugar syrup. It is used in many countries where maple syrup is difficult to obtain, such as Australia, the UK, and South Africa.

It is made by refining sugar cane or sugar beet juice. Golden syrup is delicious on pancakes and can be kept on the shelf indefinitely without refrigeration.

• Palm syrup

This is a sweet South American syrup made from the sap of certain palm trees such as coconut palms and date palms. It is found in many Asian markets. It is very rich and sweet and tends to thicken or crystallize with time. It does not require refrigeration.

• Fruit syrups

These are a colorful and delicious addition to your breakfast pancake table. They come in a variety of flavors as they are made from concentrated fruit juice (such as strawberry or peach) with added sugar.

The commercial varieties do not have to be refrigerated as they are made with various preservatives. However, homemade fruit syrups should be chilled and used within a week.

• Honey

Honey is nature’s own original pancake syrup. Depending on what flowers the bees make it from, it comes in various flavors and colors.

For instance, citrus blossom honey is light yellow and mildly fragrant while cane honey is dark and has a molasses flavor. Honey does not need to be refrigerated and can be stored indefinitely on the shelf.

• Maple syrup

Maple syrup is possibly the most commonly used pancake syrup in the US and Canada. You can safely store an unopened container of maple syrup on the shelf for up to two years but once it has been opened, maple syrup requires refrigeration.

That is because, once it comes into contact with the air, it can pick up mold spores and become moldy. Plus, chilling the syrup reduces evaporation which leads to crystallization.

While maple syrup seldom goes off, a strange off, musty smell indicates that you should throw it away. When the syrup is in the fridge, ensure that the cap is tightly screwed on or, if it’s in a jug, cover it with clingfilm to prevent it from picking up fridge odors and from evaporating.

• Pancake syrup

Some stores sell what is labeled “pancake syrup”. Canadians call this “fake syrup” because it isn’t true maple syrup! It is usually made from high fructose corn syrup or cane syrup with perhaps a bit of maple syrup added.

Of course, it is cheaper than pure maple syrup but is still good on pancakes if you’re on a budget. Such pancake syrups often contain preservatives, which means that, even after opening, they do not need to be refrigerated.

To Conclude

As you can see, there are many different types of syrup you can try on your pancakes. Some need refrigeration and others don’t. We hope you are feeling inspired to try something new!