How and where is it better to store honey at home, temperature and time

Honey is valued for its natural taste, strong aroma and medicinal properties. To get the most out of the product, you need to know how to store honey properly. By creating favorable conditions, it will be possible to significantly extend the shelf life.

Does the product have an expiration date?

The question of how much fresh honey can be stored has not lost its relevance. According to the general rules prescribed in state standards, a natural delicacy without additives has a shelf life of 1 year. After this time, the product gradually begins to lose its healing properties.The exact recommended storage shelf life depends on the type of treat and a number of third-party factors. In some cases, the shelf life can be up to several years.

Which honey is best preserved

Natural honey has the longest shelf life. The product has a low moisture content and a high acid number. In such an environment, harmful microorganisms and bacteria are unable to exist.

Rapeseed honey is distinguished from natural honey by its external characteristics and by a more pronounced aroma. When storing a rapeseed product, crystallization occurs much faster, so it retains a viscous structure for a month, after which it becomes grainy and acquires a white tint. This variety is very sensitive to the fermentation process and if stored incorrectly, the product deteriorates in a short time.

Given the specificities of rapeseed honey, it is recommended to buy it in small quantities and consume it quickly.

The main enemies of honeycomb nectar

A number of external factors can negatively affect the shelf life of a product. In order to avoid premature loss of taste characteristics, it is necessary to eliminate the undesirable effect.

Mold

During long-term storage, the delicacy begins to sweeten and turns into a homogeneous dense mass. Sugar often leads to the formation of a moldy white film on the surface. If, with the appearance of a white coating, the shade, aroma and taste have not changed, you can use the product without consequences.

You can remove the film from the top layer using an ordinary knife. To exclude possible pathological causes of mold, you should pay attention to the following:

• pronounced fermentation smell;
• bitter or sour taste;
• change the original color.

The listed changes indicate the inadequate quality of the product. Also, the reasons for the appearance of mold can be improper storage conditions and the addition of impurities.

The wax moth

The larvae of the greater wax moth act as parasites for bees. Feeding on the combs, they cause damage to the bees and the beekeeper. In addition, the ability of the larvae to absorb wax can be used for medicinal purposes in the fight against bronchopulmonary and other diseases.

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From the larvae of the moth, galerina-like honey is produced. For this, 20-30 medium-sized larvae are crushed and mixed with 250 g of natural beekeeping product. The mixture is stored in the refrigerator and used for preventive purposes, one teaspoon 1-2 times a day.

sunlight

Do not leave the treat too long under ultraviolet rays. Due to the influence of light, a significant part of useful components is destroyed. In particular, the enzyme inhibin is destroyed, which performs an antimicrobial function.

In addition, the sun heats food, which also causes the destruction of vitamins. Frequent changes in temperature conditions lead to uneven crystallization of honey.

Third Party Odors and Volatiles

Honey absorbs odors well. If you smell manure in the smell, this sign does not necessarily indicate deterioration. Most likely, the product was obtained from an apiary on a farm where agriculture is actively developing. Other unpleasant odors may indicate poor quality. It is not recommended to consume such nectar in food.

The aroma of a natural and fresh delicacy should be laconic and sweet.Depending on the sugar content, the smell of the nectar changes. The sweetest varieties are lime, clover and white wattle varieties. A number of varieties, including honeydew and chestnut, have a more bitter smell.

Optimal conditions for long-term storage

To extend the shelf life of a delicacy at home, you need to create a favorable environment. Many people store the product at room temperature, but this is a common mistake. In addition, it is necessary to provide appropriate humidity and adequate lighting.

Storage temperature

The optimum storage temperature ranges from 6 to 20 degrees. At higher ambient temperatures, honey will begin to flake and deteriorate over time. Long-term storage at temperatures above 20 degrees leads to the loss of the vitamin composition. The lower temperature affects the product less, but over time also leads to deterioration in taste. It is important not to suddenly change the temperature during storage in order to avoid uneven crystallization.

Humidity

The lower the humidity, the better it is for keeping the treat. Since the product intensively absorbs moisture from the atmosphere, the container should be tightly closed. Even tightly closing the container with nectar, it is better to keep it away from damp places and water sources. If the honey absorbs a lot of liquid, its consistency will change and it will start to deteriorate.

Lighting

Natural light has a negative effect on the product, destroying useful vitamins and enzymes. For storage, it is recommended to choose a dark place, even if the container is opaque.

Container for storing honey

You can store honey in various containers.Properly selected container allows you to extend the shelf life of the product and not lose taste characteristics.

A plastic container

A food-grade plastic container is the most convenient and safest option. A plastic container or bottle preserves the benefits and quality of the product for a long time. The container must have a sign confirming that it is suitable for packaging food products.

The main advantages of plastic buckets are their relatively low weight and the absence of the need for sterilization before use.

Glass containers

Clear glass jars effectively showcase the color of honey, are hermetically sealed and reliable. Glass containers are often used as gift packaging for a product. Dark glass jars provide extra UV protection.

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Alternative packaging options for honey

In addition to the common packaging options, there are several alternative methods. At home, many people store the product in enameled dishes, but it is more convenient to use clay and wooden containers. You can also leave the nectar in the combs.

clay dishes

Clay pots have long been used to store a variety of foods, including honey. The delicacy of the bees in them does not lose its taste and aroma characteristics for a long time. The dense walls of the pottery block the passage of light and maintain a stable temperature.

To seal clay containers tightly, you can use wax. Regular candle wax is not suitable for this purpose, so natural beeswax is needed.Just melt it and pour it over the surface of the candied honey, and peel off the top layer before use.

honey comb

In honeycombs, the delicacy is kept in its original state and is not influenced by third-party factors. Cellular cells are filled with vitamins and useful components, and a layer of propolis with healing properties is deposited on the waxy walls. Honeycombs have a beneficial effect on the body, namely:

• increase immunity;
• stabilize the functioning of the nervous system;
• strengthen the cardiovascular system;
• relieve headaches;
• clean the intestines.

wooden tableware

Wooden barrels have become widespread due to the structure of the material. Wooden cookware heats up slowly due to the internal fibers, so the temperature of the bee treat won't change drastically. The dense walls of the dishes do not pass ultraviolet light and protect against negative effects.

The disadvantage of wooden dishes is the difficulty of hermetically packing the product. In addition, if there were previously other scented products in the dishes, the wood absorbed their smell. It is recommended to use a new barrel made of birch, beech, linden.

In what honey can not be stored

Copper, lead and zinc containers are not suitable for storing honey. The interaction of the product with these elements alters the taste characteristics and makes the taste of the delicacy more bitter. Iron containers are also not suitable, because over time, due to the oxidation process, the taste of the delicacy will be disturbed. For this reason, you cannot take the honey from the container with an iron spoon and leave it inside.

When choosing wooden dishes, it is important to take into account that in oak dishes the delicacy will darken, and the aspen will make it unpleasant in taste. Containers made of coniferous wood will give a corresponding strong smell.

Where is bee nectar stored?

Containers with the product can be stored in a city apartment or in specially equipped rooms. At home, a container with honey can be placed in a closet or other dark place. In this case, a favorable ambient temperature of not more than 20 degrees should be guaranteed. The average home storage period is 6 months.

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In the fridge

It is allowed to leave honey in the apartment in the lower compartment of the refrigerator intended for fruit. A stable temperature and low humidity indicator are maintained inside the compartment. An additional advantage is the lack of lighting. Leaving honey in the refrigerator for the winter, you need to take into account that if the temperature rises above 5 degrees, the nectar will turn white and quickly harden. To prevent honey from absorbing odors from other foods in the refrigerator, it is necessary to ensure that the container is sealed.

In the cellar

Temperature conditions in the cellar are well suited for long-term storage of delicacies, but the humidity indicator often exceeds the permissible norm. If you want to leave the delicacy in the cellar, you need to wrap the container well so that air does not get inside.

In the freezer

When frozen, honey loses a significant part of its useful characteristics and original taste. Also, the temperature in the freezer is too low to keep the treat.Exposure to frost can lead to a violation of the integrity of the container, which is more dangerous if the honey was in a glass jar.

How to keep honey liquid

It is not possible to keep a treat in a liquid consistency for a long time. The crystallization of natural honey is an inevitable process. Depending on the specific variety, the curing process begins after 4-5 months. Varieties that remain in a constantly liquid state have a low quality score. It is possible to slow crystallization for a short time by providing suitable storage conditions.

What if it's sugar coated?

If the honey has become too hard, it can be melted with a steam bath before use. To do this, you need to take 2 pots of different sizes, pour water into a large one and put it on the fire. When the water boils, put a small pot of nectar in a large pot and keep on low heat.

Heat the honey in a bain-marie until it begins to melt. After removing the pan from the heat, it is important to wait until it cools down and only then pour it into containers or eat it. Do not heat the product on high heat, since excessive heating leads to the loss of useful characteristics.

Why does it peel off during storage

On fresh honey, stratification sometimes occurs, and it is divided into 2 parts, which differ in structure and color. Delamination is not always a sign of inadequate quality and can result from the following reasons:

• premature collection of the product;
• strong heating;
• storage in a place with a high humidity indicator;
• mix the product with other substances to increase the volume;
• storage in a container of different qualities.

The natural layering does not affect the taste and aroma of the treat. If the reason is an alteration in the storage of the product, it may begin to deteriorate.

How to store honey with royal jelly

Honey mixed with royal jelly should be stored under standard conditions. The product will not lose its beneficial characteristics when placed in an opaque container with a sealed lid. The container should be stored in a dark room at a temperature not exceeding 5 degrees for 3 months.

The shelf life can only be extended by separating the royal jelly.