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8 questions and answers about honey storage

Honey is the product that can and should be stocked up for future use, because it can remain tasty and healthy for a long time. In this article, we will give answers to 7 main questions about storing honey at home, and also show you how you can decorate honey as a gift..

Question 1. How much honey can be stored?

The shelf life of honey according to GOST is 1 year (at a temperature not higher than 20 degrees). But in fact, in the right conditions, honey can be stored for years without losing its taste and useful properties..

Question 2. Is crystallization an indicator of poor quality? And what to do if honey has crystallized?

No, rather the opposite, it says that you bought not a surrogate, but real honey.

The crystallization process is natural and inevitable, and it begins 3-6 months after the opening of the can.

Depending on various factors and special processing, crystals can form large or small..

If you want to return the former fluidity to thickened honey, then you just need to warm it up in hot water until the crystals melt. Keep in mind that you do not need to warm up the entire jar, but only the amount required at the moment. After all, such heat treatment somewhat reduces the quality and usefulness of the delicacy..

Question 3. How to store honey at home in small quantities?

If you buy a healthy treat in small cans and eat it every day, then you should know the following rules for storing honey:

The best container is a glass container (even better, dark glass) or ceramic with a tight-fitting lid. Both the container and the lid must first be thoroughly washed and dried..

The ideal temperature is slightly cooler than room temperature, namely +5 – +15 degrees. The maximum allowable storage temperature for honey is + 20 degrees.
Suitable places are a dark kitchen cabinet away from the stove and oven. It is advisable that it does not open too often, does not have internal illumination and does not store salt and harsh-smelling foods. Also, the refrigerator compartment for vegetables is suitable for storing honey..

The worst containers can be called containers made of alloys of iron, zinc, lead and copper, since honey oxidizes in them, deteriorates and even becomes harmful.

Always close the lid tightly and do not leave the jar open for a long time. Bacteria cannot easily multiply in honey, since it contains very little water, but due to the not tightly closed lid, honey can begin to absorb moisture from the air, and as a result stratify and then ferment.

See also the material: How to store fruit at home – general principles, memo and photo ideas.

Question 4. Is it possible to store honey in the refrigerator?

Yes, if you wish, you can. Cold and even freezing honey will not hurt. However, low temperatures can speed up the crystallization process, and besides, chilled honey is always a little more difficult to use..

However, in the compartment for storing vegetables, where the temperature reigns up to +10 degrees, honey will feel great and stay fresh almost forever. Moreover, some varieties of honey with a moisture content of more than 21% require storage only in the refrigerator..

Also, remember not to store honey near foods with strong odors (fish, garlic, onions, etc.). Even in a closed jar, it can absorb foreign odors..

Question 5. How to organize long-term storage of honey?

If you have large stocks of honey that you plan to store for a long time (from several months to several years), then you can simply freeze it..

If you decide to freeze the product, make sure that the selected container has a reserve of space, since honey increases in volume during freezing..

Defrost honey at room temperature without opening the container.

Question 6. How to store honey in combs?

How to store honey in combs? In fact, just like ordinary honey – in the dark, cool and in tightly closed glass containers. Of course, the honeycomb must first be cut into pieces that could fit into your cans or containers..

Question 7. From what honey can deteriorate or change?

Due to sudden changes in temperature, honey can change color, become unevenly “sugared” and lose some of its aroma. Therefore, if you decide to store honey in the refrigerator, then keep it there until the end..
Protect honey from light, and especially from direct sunlight. If you leave a jar of honey in the light for 48 hours, then the antibacterial enzyme inhibin it contains will be destroyed..
If a jar of honey is left open for a long time, then the honey will absorb moisture from the air, stratify and ferment.
Due to long-term storage, honey begins to darken, thicken and slightly change in taste. This process, like crystallization, is natural for honey and does not mean its spoilage..

See also: Guide to storing 5 types of oils: olive, linseed, coconut, sunflower and butter

Question 8. How can you decorate honey jars?

Honey is a useful and always appropriate gift. Recently, beautifully packaged honey jars have even been given to guests at weddings. We have collected several ideas for decorating honey gifts and presents that you can easily make with your own hands..

Traditional decor

A jar of honey, covered with a piece of cloth and tied with a rope or ribbon, looks very cute. It is better to use natural materials for such a decor – cotton, linen, lace, craft paper is also suitable. You can tie the jars with jute rope, twine or satin ribbon..

Jar + spoon-spindle

A honey gift will be not only tasty, but also practical if you add a spindle spoon to it. To do this, you just need to tie it to the bank on a beautiful ribbon..

Honey in cones with a cork lid

If you want to make mini-presents, then you will have to pick up small jars, for example, from under baby food. However, you can do something more original and pour the honey into cones with cork lids, which are sold in craft stores..

Jar with label or sticker

To make your honey present personalized, all you have to do is tie a nice label to the jar or stick a sticker and, of course, sign. Labels and stickers can be printed on a computer, bought ready-made, or you can cut and decorate with your own hands.

Bank in a bag or sack

A jar of honey can be wrapped in a beautiful bag, paper or cloth bag. So you not only decorate your present, but also protect it from sunlight..