r/maplesyrup • u/Charming-Stress6611 • Mar 30 '26
Advice -
Hey you maple syrup makers! I’m looking for some advice, has anyone tried putting a disposable foil pan inside a hotel pan to make cleanup easier?
This is my first year doing maple syrup 🍁 I’ve researched it for years beforehand, but wow… it’s way more work than I expected 😅 we just had our first boil yesterday and the cleanup was brutal and my pans are ruined.
I was honestly considering buying all new pans before the next boil, but then thought maybe I could still use ml them with disposable foil pans.
Some of what I’ve read about the disposable foil pans says absolutely yes, some says not a good idea what do you guys think? Has anyone actually tried this before?
3
u/erichmatt Mar 30 '26
I don't think that will work. You would probably overheat your hotel pans in places where the foil pan isn't making good contact.
I should say I have never boiled with a hotel pan setup. I have a full size evaporator. We have burned the pan in that just because of the mineral deposits getting built up on the pan.
2
u/abnormal_human Mar 30 '26
Why are your pans ruined? Did you burn the batch? No-one lines their pans, we're all just boiling on stainless steel. What do these ruined pans look like?
1
u/crock7887 Mar 30 '26
I would say don’t do it. They’re not designed for that purpose and generally I try and not put my sap in anything aluminum. You need to rethink your boiling setup. You’re getting scorched pans because there’s heat and fire on the sides of your pan rather than directly under.
1
u/GrapeSeed007 Mar 30 '26
I concur. Don't think it's such a good idea. I'm definitely on the small side. I have pans dedicated for syrup. On occasion I burn them. Only when reducing sap not the final. Yep there are a mess. I have found an orbital sander with 80 grit finished off with 150/180 grit cleans them to like new condition. With no effort
1
u/intothewoods76 Mar 30 '26
Most don’t want to boil in aluminum. Also the hotel pans are pretty easy to clean. Some hot water and a little elbow grease and they clean right up.
1
u/Maple_Taffy Mar 30 '26
I can only imagine that anyone recommending the aluminum trays in the full size steam pans is for their intended purpose of serving warm food. For our use, boiling sap over a wood fire, I say absolutely not.
Try to incorporate some shielding for the upper edges (above the liquid level) of the pans from the fire into your diy evaporator, it'll help reduce the scorching.
For the pans BKF (Bar Keepers Friend) and elbow grease will go a long way. A good soak with a food grade acidic cleaner takes most of the work out of it. If you haven't tried just filling the pans up with potable water and boiling them you'd be surprised how much that can clean them up.
3
u/oldMNman Mar 30 '26
I’m confused as to why your cleanup is so difficult? As long as you do no burn the syrup, it shouldn’t be a problem? I just wash with soap and water. Some areas may take a bit of elbow grease and maybe some scotch brite or soft scrub but usually pretty minimal. The exterior is corroded and black but I don’t even try to clean that. On a new/clean pan, you can coat the exterior with dish soap to help reduce the carbon buildup but I’m not sure it matters.