Quickest safe way to make sugar water

[ugcheleuce]

Hello everyone

What is the quickest *safe* way to make sugar water for bees?

At this time, I'm dissolving sugar into water at the ratio 3 kg : 2 litres.  I do this at the kitchen stove, and I can only do 2 litres at a time.  I've managed to decrease the time it takes to dissolve the sugar to about 20 minutes, by using an electric whisk and by bringing the water almost to the boil before I pour the sugar in (instead of starting the sugar + water mixture from a colder temperature).  I know the solution is "ready" when I can see the bottom of the pot clearly.  Then I pour the sugar water into flat bowls and put them outside to cool off.

But... is there a safe way to get the to-solution time down to e.g. 10 minutes?  Is it safe to allow the mixture to boil? (that would free me from having to keep watch over it, or allow me to use the microwave oven)  Are there non-harmful ingredients that I can add to the solution to make the sugar dissolve quicker?

Alternatively, do any of you use overnight sugar dissolving methods, such as these: 1, 2, 3 (and what do you call it in English)?

Thanks
Samuel

[iddee]

It's not quick, but takes very little of my time.  I fill my jars half full of sugar, then finish filling with hot tap water.  Shake well and let set. 30 minutes later, shake again. About the third time shaking, all sugar will be dissolved and the solution will be clear.  For higher sugar to water ratios, use hotter water.

[oliver]

I believe this tip came from Cathy a while back. bag of sugar 4lb, in a gallon milk jug enough water to cover good shake, when it is dissolved add the rest of the water, I DO NOT USE HOT WATER works very well..dl

[rookie2531]

I have used the microwave and stove top and seems to me through stove top gets anything above 1 gallon hot faster than nucking. I put a 4 lbs. Bag of sugar in a milk jug and pore 180 degree farenheit, 1 quart water in and shake vigorously. The temp reduces down to about 120 very fast and I then add more hot water. This whole process takes probably 20 minutes or more and seems to be the quickest I come up with. And I should mention that it takes alot of shaking to get it 100 % dissolved.  Also, I do this as a ready to feed method. If I prepared better I would do it in the pot, as I have noticed, sugar dissolves quicker when stirred rather than shaken.

[sterling]

I mix mine in a 5 gl. Bucket. I put 25# sugar in the bucket put 2 gl. Water on stove in a big canning pan and let it almost boil then pour in bucket, stir with a brick layers trowel. Also add alittle apple cider viniger. It takes 30 minutes for water to boil on my stove.  Certainly not scientific but pretty easy and I do two buckets at a time. I don't have to watch water because I know how long it takes to boil.
And I don't know the ratio now but I mix it the same way everytime spring and fall and the bees don't complain. Sometimes I add alitte water to thin it.

[BeeMaster2]

I just use hot water out of the tap. Be careful with putting sager water on the stove and then boiling it. If it caramelizes on the bottom of the pot it can make your bees very sick.
Jim

[Vance G]

I just dump two gallons of water and four ten pound bags of sugar in my turkey fryer and stir with a canoe paddle until it is all dissolved.  Pretty straight forward and no risk I can see unless you are too lazy to stir.  I haul mine out and put it on warm.  That way the colony temperature keeps the feed in the baggie or top feeder warm and usable. People want to make this difficult and it is not.

[Hops Brewster]

Being a home brewer I am familiar with what happens when liquid sugar and bacteria and/or wild yeast get together.  Fermentation (aka spoilage).  I am in the habit of boiling the water first to sanitize it, then taking off the heat and stirring the sugar in.  I also sanitize the storage containers, if used.    Call me anal, but sugar is expensive, and I haven't had a batch of syrup turn sour yet.

[jalentour]

I use a clean 5 gallon bucket and 25 pound bag of sugar with what ever ratio I am trying for.  My tap water is hot. 
I don't put it all in at once, about 1/4 bag at a time and mix.  Serve the next day when cool.  Easy.

[GSF]

Yall talking about some serious feeding! Here's how I do mine; I take one quart of water...,

[BeeMaster2]

Yall talking about some serious feeding! Here's how I do mine; I take one quart of water...,

Come back Gary, I think we lost you.  :-D
You trying to say that you do not feed them?
For the most part, same here.
Jim

[GSF]

I feed but I only use a quart or a pint at a time. Some of the hives aren't the least bit interested and the others are addicts. I'm trying to avoid filling up the brood chamber and having a swarm, again.

[Joe D]

We have been going through a dearth, Golden Rod is just starting to bloom a little.  I put some hot tap water in a gal. tea picture, about a quart.  then add a 4 lb. bag a sugar, close the top and shake.  It is still hot down here.  I put 2 gals. on a metal roof in the sun, come back in about 30 minutes, shake once more to check it is fully dissolved and pour into the feeders.  In the winter I do like Iddee  when they need any.




Joe

[RC]

I have a black drum. I put in equal weights sugar and water, put the lid on and make sure it's in the sun. I come back tomorrow and its clear as can be. I dip out a bucket full, pour it in a wheelbarrow with some pine straw in it for the bees to land on. Best bee feeder I ever tried. I never have any drowned bees.

[ugcheleuce]

I put in equal weights sugar and water...

Do you really weigh the water?

[RC]

I put in equal weights sugar and water...

Do you really weigh the water?

I do.

[Michael Bush]

You're not making pianos... the bees won't care if it's not perfect.  If you were making a souffle' it might matter.  You're not.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm#ratios

[jayj200]

MY Baby's

[GSF]

<I do>

Thanks RC, I used to think I was too anal about some things but since I've seen this post you've taken a lot of pressure off of me ;)

[Santa Caras]

Yall talking about some serious feeding! Here's how I do mine; I take one quart of water...,

LOL!! 

Same...that quart quickly turns into a half gallon after you add sugar.