How and how much bee pollen can be stored at home
Pollen, like bee products, has great value for human health. Bees are made from a substance taken from flowers - bee bread - a biologically active substance to feed the offspring. Pollen can be purchased at the farm, at the pharmacy, in specialized stores. To get the most out of it, you need to understand how to properly store bee pollen at home.
Why is it?
The product is used in home medicine, taken as a prophylactic agent for many ailments. The usefulness of the bulk substance is due to its rich chemical composition, which contains amino acids, iron, manganese and phosphorus, a group of vitamins and other useful components.
The use of pollen helps lower cholesterol, strengthen blood vessel walls and normalize hormonal levels. Adding pollen to the diet prevents vitamin deficiencies in the body and the development of anemia. The tool shows antioxidant properties, strengthens immunity, fights inflammation.
Not only the collection, drying, but also the way of storing pollen affects its healing properties. Therefore, the rules and regulations are adhered to without fail.
How to assemble correctly?
To collect pollen, the beekeeper uses a special device - a pollen trap. The device is a structure in the form of two grids with a pallet. It is installed in front of the entrance to the hive. The bee flies over the obstacle, thus losing part of the varnish.
The second grid serves as a filter through which insects and debris cannot penetrate. Pollen accumulates in the pallet. The beekeeper does not collect pollen every day. Select good dry weather. During the honey collection period, the bulk substance is also not subject to collection, since the percentage of nectar in the hive is lost. The best time to harvest is in summer and spring.
After harvesting, the beekeeper prepares the bee product for storage. Initially, the product contains a lot of moisture. In this state, the substance can become moldy and unusable. The pollen is first subjected to a drying process.
Drying methods
After collection, the pollen is temporarily placed in a glass container. It is not recommended to use metal containers as the product may oxidize. Then the collected substance is sent for drying. Beekeepers use two methods to remove moisture.
In-vivo
This method takes a long time. To dry in this way, a room is assigned with low humidity, good ventilation and an air temperature of not more than 45 degrees. Raw materials are laid out on clean sheets of paper with a layer of no more than 2 cm, covered with gauze or a cloth to prevent debris and insects from entering. Exclude exposure to direct sunlight.
Mix the varnish 2-3 times a day. After 3-5 days, the pollen structure becomes dense.This means that the moisture has evaporated from the balls. The readiness of the product is checked by sound. The balls are poured onto a hard surface, if a characteristic sound is heard, the drying process is complete. The substance is sieved and packaged.
Using a special drying cabinet
The equipment is in the form of a wooden cabinet with a door, sheathed with sheets. In the upper part there is a fan to remove moisture and air. There are electric heating elements inside. The temperature is maintained automatically. Drying in such a cabinet takes only 1-2 days. It is not necessary to stir the foil. The use of equipment reduces labor costs, increases the amount of processed raw materials.
After the drying process, the pollen is sifted to remove debris. This is necessary for a long shelf life of the useful substance.
Optimal storage conditions
When storing a beekeeping product, it is necessary to create the necessary conditions in order to minimize losses associated with spoilage and loss of useful qualities. It is important to keep the pollen from contamination by bacteria and fungi.
To preserve healing properties, raw materials are placed in glass containers with a tight lid. The container is pre-sterilized and dried. Keep the filled container away from direct sunlight, high temperatures and high humidity. You can store pollen at room temperature or in the refrigerator. The bulk substance is not suitable for freezing, since at subzero temperatures it loses its beneficial properties.
After drying and sieving, the prepared grinding can be stored for up to two years. The duration depends on the storage conditions. Even if all the conditions are met, a natural product loses 40% of its usefulness in one year. Therefore, for two years towards the end of the shelf life, only the protein compound has value. There are practically no vitamins and minerals in the composition.
Storage Expansion Methods
Preservation will help preserve the usefulness and extend the shelf life of the bee product. Pollen is mixed with honey in a 1: 1 ratio. The bee product is stored in a cool, dark place, protected from sunlight and moisture. The pollen is first ground with a coffee grinder or blender, then mixed with honey. The shelf life in this case reaches up to 5 years.
Pollen mixed with honey gives a better taste to the product. In combination, two useful components only enhance their healing properties. The mixture becomes richer in vitamins and nutrients.
Pollen is a treasure trove of medicinal properties for human health. In the absence of allergies, it is recommended not only for the treatment of a number of diseases, but also for the prevention of ailments.