Six months ago I was given a bottle of pure Canadian maple syrup. It's been opened since and been sitting in the pantry in my warm kitchen. It's about half-consumed now. I noticed recently though that many blackish smudges have appeared all over the inside of the bottle above the syrup level. I tried rubbing them off using a stick wrapped in paper towel moistened with vodka (which evaporates cleanly). But I couldn't get all of the smudges out due to the shape of the bottle.
What are those dark smudges? Is the remaining maple syrup still safe to consume if I pour it out and it gets in contact with the smudges? Should I have stored the bottle in the fridge? Please help. Thanks! I don't want to toss out this precious maple syrup! They don't sell them here!
What are those dark smudges? Is the remaining maple syrup still safe to consume if I pour it out and it gets in contact with the smudges? Should I have stored the bottle in the fridge? Please help. Thanks! I don't want to toss out this precious maple syrup! They don't sell them here!