How to store frames with honey, dried bee bread, wax. Processing and storage of honeycombs How to store honeycombs

Honey is one of the most delicious and healthy sweets in the world. Since childhood, we have been familiar with this medicine, which was given to us by our grandmothers and mothers along with hot tea. Its value is undeniable, however, to obtain additional beneficial properties, honey must be natural and of high quality.

Honey from honeycombs

The difficulty in buying a bee product is that we cannot be sure of the naturalness of the product. Naturally, you shouldn’t expect even the smallest amount of usefulness from a fake, but it is sometimes extremely difficult to identify it. Therefore, if you have the opportunity to purchase honey directly from beekeepers, you should not neglect it.

But it's not that simple. Even when choosing honey from combs, there is a possibility of purchasing a low-quality product. Some beekeepers deliberately feed bees with sugar syrup; the resulting honey contains a huge amount of harmful carbohydrates, but it will not contain such valuable enzymes and other unique substances.

The natural product was appreciated by our distant ancestors. Now it has become possible to extract honey in combs without serious damage to the hives, so this method of distribution has become even more popular and simpler.

Due to all of the above, a natural question arises: how to store honey in honeycombs at home?

So, comb honey is a bee product that has not been extracted from wax cells. Its consistency depends on temperature and weather conditions, and its aroma and taste are determined by the species composition of the plants from which the pollen was collected.

The peculiarity of this honey is that it contains many useful substances, as well as additional components in the form of propolis, wax and bee bread. Considering that the product has undergone a kind of natural preservation, all healing properties are not only preserved, but also increased. And most importantly, this honey is 100% natural.

Honeycomb

You can consume honey in honeycombs completely, for example, with black bread, or chew it thoroughly, and then spit out the remaining wax. Wax has a beneficial effect on the oral cavity, providing a healing effect. It also helps whiten teeth and strengthen enamel.

A similar effect is achieved by the fact that the wax contains components such as vitamin C and B, monosaccharides, vitamins PP, B9, B5 and organic acids (methane, ethanoic and butanedioic).

The healing properties of honey itself depend entirely on the plants that are pollinated. Honey strengthens the immune system and has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract. Promotes wound healing, relieves inflammation, reduces pain.

It fights viruses and microbes well, is useful for leukemia and protects against radiation. It also helps fight fungi and has an antiseptic effect. Well suited for the treatment of upper respiratory tract diseases, bronchitis and eye diseases.

With the help of honey, diseases of the genitourinary, cardiovascular and nervous systems are treated. Used for insomnia and migraines, to improve body tone. Honey improves performance, helps increase mental activity and restores strength after active physical activity.

Honey in small quantities will also be useful for people suffering from diabetes; it can improve metabolism and regulate cholesterol levels in the blood.

The bee product is no less widely used in cosmetics, due to its exfoliating and rejuvenating effect. It is included in all kinds of masks, creams and shampoos.

But, it is necessary to strictly observe the dosage, since honey is a very strong allergen. Contraindicated for people with hypersensitivity to bee products. Although there are only a few percent of people sensitive to it around the world, it would not be superfluous to check yourself before consuming it in order to avoid conditions dangerous to health and life.

What can spoil honey?

Propolis, which is part of comb honey, is a natural preservative, which ensures the safety of the product and prevents the entry of pathogenic microorganisms. And the peculiar caps make the honey almost completely sterile.

Honey storage

But they are not as dangerous to honeycombs as moisture. Wax has the ability to absorb moisture and various vapors, and therefore if the honeycomb gets into a too humid place, it may turn sour and even ferment.

The sun also contributes to damage. The sun's rays contribute to the destruction of the chemical structure, which renders honey completely unusable. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid both direct sunlight and high air temperatures. It is important to ensure that beekeepers store the frames in a dry and dark place.

No less dangerous for frames of honey are insects, various beetles, and especially the main bee pest, the wax moth. It takes only five days for an adult to fully mature. These insects especially love the hot period and actively reproduce at this moment.

Therefore, to prevent the appearance and protect the bee product, it is necessary to ensure good circulation of fresh air; low temperatures (below 10 °C) can also prevent the appearance of this unpleasant pest. Insects not only damage the wax, but can also introduce dangerous viruses and bacteria into honey, which can subsequently adversely affect the body.

The last enemy of bee honeycomb products is mold. Its appearance is promoted by very low air humidity, and getting rid of it is extremely difficult, almost impossible. If it does appear, then the product is not suitable for consumption.

Important! Some people scrape off a layer of mold and think they are rid of it. But its spores penetrate much deeper and can cause harm.

How to identify an infestation

The larvae of the moth eat away the passages in the honeycombs, enveloping them in a sticky web, so the offspring are not able to leave the honeycombs on their own. Adult insects chew out the wax to free the offspring from captivity, but the wings and legs of the young are entangled in a sticky substance, so they die. If there are dead young bees in the hive, it means that the larvae have begun their work and effective protection is needed.

The main factors of infection are the following:

The active work of bees has noticeably decreased.
They sit on the edge of the entrance, but do not fly away to collect nectar.
Small larvae appear at the bottom of the structure.
Moth droppings appeared.
Insects move little, entangled in webs.
By removing the lid, you can find the cobwebs between the honeycombs where the active larvae are located.

The causes of infection can be the following factors:

The bee family is weakened and unable to defend the hive on its own.
Increased humidity inside the house.
High humidity in the area where the apiary is located.
The swarm was left without a queen, so there is a lot of beebread, because the insects do not do the cleaning.
Dirty honeycombs, which is something pests love.
High temperature inside the winter hut.
Accumulation of dead bees in the compartments.

Conditions for storing honeycombs at home

Storing honey in honeycombs at home is, in principle, not very different from how bee products are stored in jars. However, some features still exist and require compliance with a few simple rules:

Storing honey in honeycombs

Initially, care must be taken to stabilize the temperature within a range of three to ten degrees. If sudden changes in air temperature occur, the shelf life will be significantly reduced. A cellar or basement is quite suitable for this purpose, but the room should be well ventilated and the humidity level should be no more than 50-60%;
While maintaining humidity is not a big problem, ensuring a low temperature is difficult and can be achieved with the help of a refrigerator. For these purposes, if possible, it is better to purchase a small separate refrigerator;
The container must be hermetically sealed to avoid the appearance of foreign odors. This is due to the fact that the wax itself and the bee product absorb various aromas and substances well; it is also worth making sure that there are no various dangerous and toxic substances in the vicinity. If open honeycombs were kept close to pesticides, then consuming them is strictly prohibited, as there is a danger of poisoning;
Glass, clay or enamel dishes are suitable as storage containers. It is impossible to store bee products in metal containers, since toxic substances can be formed during chemical reactions. It is optimal to use special plastic containers that will ensure complete sealing. It is better to keep the layers separately from each other in a shallow container;
Under no circumstances should the honeycomb be frozen and then suddenly heated. Usually, freezing preserves food and has virtually no effect on the content of vitamins, but in this case it will lead to a violation of the tightness of the wax and crystallization of the bee product. Because air penetrates into the cracks formed, disturbing the internal environment that ensures the protection and sterility of honey. Ultimately, the honeycombs containing the bee product will simply deteriorate.

Cell shelf life

In the cellular state, honey retains a liquid consistency for almost three years. If you approach the storage conditions of the product responsibly, it can be stored for decades. However, it is worth considering that every year the properties of honey decrease by about 20%, so the optimal shelf life is about two to three years.

Important! An interesting fact is the discovery made by archaeologists in Egypt. The honey found there was several thousand years old, but experts recognized that it was quite suitable for consumption.

If some storage conditions have been violated, then it is better to use such honey within one year. At room temperature, the period is reduced to only six months. This is not a big deal, especially if the amount of honey being stored is small.

Honey storage conditions

At the moment, the presentation of honeycombs is almost ideal thanks to the introduction of plastic frames. With such frames, honeycombs with honey are smooth and without visible flaws. The product should not smell of foreign things, since odorless varieties of trees are always used. This is worth paying attention to because the honeycombs can be damaged, for example, by fungus or pests.

Unfortunately, if the bees were fed sugar, then it is impossible to recognize such honey. In color, smell and taste, it is no different from the natural one, and the fake is revealed only during storage. Such a product may have unpleasant consequences.

It is better to buy comb honey from trusted suppliers who guarantee the naturalness of the product and its quality. The shelf life is quite long, and the preparation process itself is simple. The supplies are perfect during periods of exacerbation of colds, for maintaining health and as a remedy.

Pay attention to how long you store honey in your combs. This information will allow you to consume only fresh and healthy bee products.

Honey is one of the most useful products that is effective in treating not only colds, but also many other ailments. In addition, it retains its beneficial properties for a long period of time. That is why there are stocks of the sweet golden beekeeping product in almost every home. However, not everyone knows how to properly store honey in an apartment. As a result, its quality may deteriorate significantly.

Storage period

Before you figure out how to properly store honey in an apartment, you should define the acceptable time limits. There is an opinion among people that reserves should be used up within a year, otherwise there will be no benefit left from this product. Moreover, many argue that after 12 months honey ceases to be a medicine and can be harmful to health.

In fact, this is nothing more than a myth. Of course, after a year, the color, texture and aroma will change. However, if you know how to properly store honey in an apartment, even after 2 or more years it will retain its properties. This can be confirmed by the fact that during one of the archaeological excavations an ancient vessel with a viscous golden liquid was found. After appropriate tests, it turned out that this was honey, which after several centuries was still suitable for consumption.

Thus, the most important thing is to know how to store honey correctly at home. The shelf life of the product will be almost unlimited if you strictly follow the rules.

Framed bee bread and peeled bee bread: pros and cons

Bee bread can be stored in a frame, but most beekeepers prefer to clean it and then package it.

Each of these methods has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of unrefined bee products:

lower cost;
The frame is the main confirmation of the naturalness of the raw materials.

Minuses:

more space is required to store such beekeeping products;
The frame may not be completely filled.

Advantages of purified raw materials:

readiness for consumption or use for other purposes;
ease of calculating the optimal dose;
the opportunity to purchase in bulk.

Disadvantages of this type of product:

spending a lot of time and effort to remove the substance from the frames;
higher cost compared to framed beebread.

If we compare both forms, it should be mentioned that the packaged product is used in the manufacture of medicines. And the substance in the frame cannot be used for this purpose until it is removed from the honeycomb.

Temperature

When answering the question of how to properly store honey in an apartment, it is important to determine the maximum permissible temperature. It is 40 degrees. Then chemical processes and reactions may begin, which are accompanied by the release of toxic substances.

It is clear that a city apartment does not warm up to such critical temperatures, but the standard 20-30 degrees does not ensure long-term preservation of the product. Within a few months, honey will begin to separate and lose a significant part of its beneficial properties.

The optimal temperature ranges from 6 degrees below zero to +10. Under these conditions, honey practically does not change its physical and chemical properties. If the temperature drops too much, the product may harden, which is also not very good.

Recommendations and tips

Drying the frames should take into account several recommendations:

the distance from empty buildings to the hives should be at least 20-30 m (in some cases - up to 100-300 m);
clean cassettes should be stored in a cool, dry place;
when using a powerful radial honey extractor, you need to strengthen the frame with 5-7 strings of wire;
It is advisable to install the cassettes in the same hive from which they were taken;
crystallized honey is not left for overwintering.

After pumping is completed, you can begin to fatten the bees, and then add honey and honey-beebread frames for wintering. Cleaning the finished honeycomb from traces of sweet mass reduces syrup consumption and increases the survival rate of the colony.

Choice of location: private house

To understand how to properly store honey in a house or city apartment, it is important to know the optimal characteristics of the room. Everything is clear with the temperature. Also, direct sunlight should not penetrate into it, and humidity should be at a minimum level (if the container is sealed hermetically, then the last characteristic can be ignored).

Those who are lucky enough to live in their own home most often have to store food in the cellar. In terms of light and temperature conditions, this is simply an ideal place. Nevertheless, high humidity forces us to look for ways to seal containers. If the house has an unheated veranda, honey can be stored here in the winter. It is enough to protect it with a thick cloth from the sun's rays.

Choosing a location: city apartment

When wondering how to properly store honey at home, immediately exclude the kitchen, where the temperature is high at any time of the year. In winter, residential heated premises are not recommended.

The layout of many city apartments (the so-called Khrushchev apartments) includes storage rooms. In small rooms without windows or radiators, sometimes the conditions are ideal for storing honey for a long time.

If you don't have a pantry, the ideal place to store honey is in the refrigerator. Here the product is not afraid of temperature changes, humidity, or sunlight. It is better to place the lower shelves under honey (away from the freezer).

As for the balcony or loggia, this is perhaps the most vulnerable place in the apartment (even if there is glazing). It's too hot in summer and too cold in winter. In addition, when the seasonal rains begin, humidity levels rise sharply.

How to properly store honey and what should it be kept in?

Properly selected containers are the most important condition for long-term storage of honey while maintaining its beneficial properties and taste. So, the following options are acceptable:

for short-term storage (up to 3 months), a plastic container with a tight-fitting lid is suitable;
glass jars are an ideal option, because the material does not enter into any chemical reactions with the product itself (it is recommended to sterilize the container before use, and also take care of sealing);
Wooden or clay barrels will help preserve the properties of honey and give it an unusual aroma (the main thing is that the material is not treated with aggressive chemicals).

Never store honey in copper or galvanized containers. After just a short time, the product and metal enter into a chemical reaction, which results in the release of toxic substances. Even when buying honey, be careful if it is poured from a metal container (ask what alloy it is made of).

in honeycombs

Buying a frame with fresh honey is a real success, because you can be 100% sure of the freshness and high quality of the product. Many people pour honey into jars themselves, but some people prefer to store it in its original form. This is not an easy task.

The entire frame must be wrapped in polyethylene, and on top - with an opaque fabric. But watch carefully to ensure that no moths appear. In addition, you need to carefully monitor because if there is a product with a strong odor near the frame, the wax will absorb it.

The ideal option is to separate the honeycombs from the frame and store them in a tightly closed container. This way you will retain maximum beneficial properties and save yourself from unnecessary hassle.

How to protect honeycombs from wax moths using folk methods?

Salt

Wax moth, if left untreated, can destroy the entire honeycomb stock. So, after you have pumped out the honey and freed a significant amount of the honeycomb, dry it. Take a regular sprayer UOP-5, which our industry produces to combat agricultural pests, in particular the Colorado potato beetle, fill it with a saturated salt solution and sprinkle the honeycombs on both sides. After the water has evaporated and the honeycombs are covered with light dry salt, shake each of them, excess salt will sprinkle off, hide them. Moths will not grow in such “salty” honeycombs, and in the spring, when the honeycombs need to be placed in the hives, sprinkle them with water and then there is no need to give the bees salted water (5 g per liter of water). Such an event completely preserves the honeycombs and provides the bee colony with salt. But at the same time, the wire within the frame must be stainless or chrome-plated, otherwise it will rust. In this productive way, up to a thousand frames can be processed in an hour.

Vinegar

Honeycombs should be stored in empty hives, tightly closing the entrances with tin valves or paper stoppers. Place a vessel with a capacity of 50-100 milliliters at the bottom of the hive, pour acetic acid into it, place it near the frame and close the hive. It is advisable to place a plastic film on its ceiling to slow down the rate of release of acetic acid vapors. 4-5 tablespoons of acid are spent on the hive at a time. Instead, you can use vinegar essence or regular vinegar, spending more of it.

The acid does not have any harmful effects on bees, as it evaporates quickly. Before placing honeycombs for bees, it is advisable to ventilate them for one to two hours. Bees readily accept such honeycombs.

Sandy immortelle (immortelle)

To prevent wax moths from damaging the honeycombs, place a 1.5-2 cm thick layer of shade-dried immortelle (immortelle) inflorescences under and on the honeycombs, tightly close the box or hive in which they are stored, and place them in a dark, dry and cool place .

Drafts

It is best to store honeycombs in tightly closed boxes (hive bodies, etc.). To prevent moths from entering the container at the egg or caterpillar stage, the honeycombs are disinfected by placing formaldehyde in the box at the rate of 50 g per 1 cubic meter of volume. Good results are obtained by pollinating honeycombs with ectobacterin, which does not harm bees or humans, but has a detrimental effect on moths.

You can keep the cells open in drafts, placing them at a distance from one another. Most beekeepers keep their honeycombs in the attic, where they are well ventilated. In drafts, moths do not damage honeycombs and they can be left for the winter, separating those with beebread. The latter are covered with powdered sugar and stored at above-zero temperatures, preferably below 10°C, because under such conditions the moths already die.

Water

There are two ways to store honeycombs without bees:

Soak the honeycombs in water (preferably rain or river) for 24 hours, pump it out using a honey extractor and air dry. There will be no moths because they damage the combs that already contained brood.
Dry honeycombs can be stored in a whole plastic bag, tightly tied. This method is simpler, but the first is profitable, since the honeycombs are stored in the air, and there is no ventilation in the bag.

Advantages of storing honey in combs

There are many opinions about how to store honey at home correctly. The methods are quite numerous. But any beekeeper will tell you that it is best to store honey in combs. There are several reasons:

a large amount of vitamins are retained, which can be neutralized during the pumping process;
wax itself contains many useful substances;
sealed honeycombs are absolutely sterile, and therefore you can be completely sure of the absence of bacteria and germs (by the way, thanks to this, honey is stored longer);
The wax can be periodically chewed, thereby having a beneficial effect on the health of the oral cavity, as well as the gastrointestinal tract.

How to avoid sugaring?

How to properly store honey at home so that it does not become sugary? This method, perhaps, has not yet been invented. Considering how much sugar is contained in honey, after a while crystals will begin to form in it. However, if you want it to stay liquid for as long as possible, buy the product in a honeycomb. Chop them, put them in jars and enjoy the fresh honey.

The speed of honey sugaring largely depends on its storage conditions. If all requirements are met and the temperature remains constant, you will be able to enjoy the clear and liquid bee product for a long time. However, this way you can only delay sugaring, but not avoid it.

You can periodically reheat jars of honey. A water bath is best for this (the main thing is that the surface of the container does not have direct contact with fire). In this case, the temperature of the honey should not exceed 35-40 degrees. In addition, heat treatment significantly reduces the beneficial properties.

Ways to fight

Emergency Rescue

Each hive needs constant cleaning; if larvae are found, then similar activities must be carried out twice a day. If after several days the bees continue to expel larvae, this means that the hive is seriously infested with the pest. It is necessary to completely free the hive from the honeycombs, thoroughly clean the insides of the house and remove the affected areas.

As a last resort, a spare house is installed where the whole family moves: for this, a frame with pure honey is installed, the queen is carefully transferred - the whole family will gradually move after. Disinfection is carried out in the old hive, but it must be remembered that drugs without poisons of chemical or natural origin are used against wax moths.

Exposure to smoke or burning with open fire is effective, since at high temperatures the larvae and eggs of the pest die.

If the damage to the honeycombs is minor, then the honeycombs are removed, leaving only a small amount of them, and all compartments are thoroughly cleaned. With such effective help, a strong family is able to cope with the pest invasion on its own. To prevent new moths from flying inside and laying a new batch of eggs, place freshly picked wormwood on top; tansy will also help, but not more than 500 g. These herbs repel the pest from the bee house.

Chemicals against pests

There are various drugs available in the retail chain, but professionals prefer “Stop Moth” - it is an effective means of killing moths.

Paper plates impregnated with the product are packaged in sealed foil bags of 10 pieces each. The product was specially developed for effective treatment in honeycomb storage facilities, as well as for combating larvae and adults of the moth inside hives.

The dimensions of all plates are standard - 150x50x2.5 mm, one strip is enough to process 5-6 frames with honeycombs. The processing methods are quite simple: the strip is carefully removed from the bag, 4 holes are made at the ends, each with a diameter of at least 1 cm. Honeycombs are placed in a sealed bag made of plastic film, a strip of product is attached to the top and the container is tightly sealed.

The honeycombs prepared using this method are placed in storage, where they remain for at least 45 days. After this, the honeycombs are removed and used in the spring without restrictions. If all recommendations are followed correctly, then no side effects occur, there are no contraindications for use, but treatment is carried out only after removing all bees from the honeycomb frames, since the product does not have a selective effect and destroys all insects indiscriminately.

Physical elimination

Many beekeepers treat honeycombs with smoke, thus physically destroying the larvae and eggs. Some beekeepers scald the honeycombs with boiling water in case of severe infection, but this method leads to damage to the beebread - it is unsuitable for further use. If you treat the honeycombs with hot air at a temperature of 40 degrees for 2 hours, then all the offspring of pests will be destroyed.

Common problems

It is important to store honey correctly. However, even compliance with all conditions does not guarantee that problems will not arise with the product after some time. So, the most common of them is delamination. If you see that the thick part of the honey has settled, but the liquid part remains at the top, this does not mean that the reason is due to temperature conditions. Most likely, the honey was pumped out of the honeycombs without waiting for it to ripen. But this will not affect the taste and medicinal properties of the product. Feel free to mix honey and eat.

A much more serious problem can be considered the appearance of white foam on the surface of honey. If such a nuisance occurred shortly after purchasing honey, then most likely it was not filtered thoroughly enough. This product does not pose any health hazard. What's more, this head-scratching foam is incredibly healthy.

The situation is completely different with honey, which is stored for a long period of time. Most likely, you did not close the container tightly enough, and moisture got into it. In this case, the foam indicates fermentation, and therefore it is prohibited to eat such a product. However, to avoid throwing it away, you can use this honey to add a pleasant aroma to your baked goods.

conclusions

Honey is tasty and healthy. It's no wonder that people want to always have a supply of this delicacy at home. However, not everyone knows how to properly store honey in an apartment. There are so many tips that you can get lost in them. Based on the foregoing, the following theses can be distinguished:

the optimal storage temperature for this product ranges from -6 to +10 degrees;
in a city apartment, it is best to store honey on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator or in the pantry, and if we are talking about a private house, in the cellar;
ideal containers are clean, sterile glass jars, tightly closed with lids;
To avoid rapid sugaring, it is recommended to store honey in honeycombs (this can be a whole frame or fragments of honeycomb, placed in jars).

Honey is a rather capricious product to store. Violation of storage standards and rules can lead not only to loss of taste and beneficial qualities, but even to the production of toxic substances. Therefore, if you are not confident in your knowledge of how to properly store honey at home, purchase it in small quantities that will be used up quickly.

Instructions

The basic rule for long-term storage of honey is compliance with three conditions: tightness, cleanliness and darkness. Natural containers in the form of ordinary honeycombs can make the storage process as easy as possible, because they help prevent unwanted fermentation processes, and also ensure maximum usefulness of the product without changing its primary properties until the coming winter or even next summer.

Among other things, experts say that it is the use of the product in its natural container that has the best effect on human health and helps to cure many diseases. The process of chewing wax itself promotes the absorption of vitamin A contained in it, as well as the effective prevention of diseases of teeth and gums. Honey in combs is an amazing product that helps restore vitality and muscle tone.

When deciding to store honey in honeycombs, remember that honey is a capricious product, capable of absorbing any, even the most unpleasant, odors, which is why honeycombs should be protected from unnecessary exposure and kept away from odorous substances.

The maximum storage temperature for honeycombs is considered to be a temperature not exceeding 22 degrees, upon reaching which the honey darkens and begins to taste bitter. The lower the ambient temperature, the more beneficial properties and compounds your favorite product can preserve. That is why it is recommended to place the honeycombs in a refrigerator or other place that can protect them from the harmful effects of sunlight.

Do not forget to cut the honeycombs into small plates, after placing them in clean glass jars or other containers equipped with lids, which will also help to carefully collect the leaked honey. Never use copper or aluminum containers that can interact with the acids of the product itself.

Remember, at low temperatures honey becomes sugared and inevitably loses those substances that are of primary value to humans, which is why the optimal storage temperature is considered to be from +5 to – 10 degrees: neither higher nor lower.

Honey in combs, like any good wine, requires compliance with a certain humidity regime; traditionally it should not exceed the required 75 percent, which is why it is necessary to carefully monitor and defrost the refrigerator used as storage. Following these simple rules will allow our favorite product to retain its taste and properties for many months and even years for which we love and appreciate it so much.

At the end of summer, I always buy honey in combs from beekeepers. It can be chewed like sweet gum, and in its beneficial properties it even surpasses ordinary liquid honey. But most of all I like it because you can be sure of the quality, because it is simply impossible to fake this product. Therefore, I try to take more of it, several frames at once. But then the question inevitably arises: how to store honey in honeycombs? However, over time I had an answer to it.

In addition to processed pollen, comb honey contains wax, wax and propolis, thanks to which it acquires its healing properties. The benefits of this product were known even in the ancient world, which is confirmed by references to it in the works of the great physician of those times, Avicenna.

The composition of comb honey includes amino acids, minerals, vitamins, sucrose, maltose, dextrose, succinic acid, carotene, enzymes and many other substances necessary for the body.

In folk medicine, this product is used to increase immunity and hemoglobin, stimulate appetite, as well as mental and physical development in children; They treat diseases of the respiratory system and diseases of the thyroid gland. In addition, cellular honey normalizes the activity of the gastrointestinal tract, removes toxins from the body, improves the functioning of the kidneys and cardiovascular system, activates metabolism and normalizes blood pressure. Honeycomb honey is even used to prevent caries and get rid of nicotine addiction. The benefits of this product are simply enormous, and therefore it is worth making every effort to keep it at home in pristine condition for as long as possible.

Factors affecting the safety of cells

1. Living individuals. These are large and small wax moths, various beetles, rodents, birds, thieving bees, as well as various fungi and microorganisms.

2. Climatic conditions. These are conditions of high humidity and high temperatures. To save cells, you need to eliminate all of the above factors. But the greatest threat to the preservation of frames has always been and will be large and small wax moths. Therefore, beekeepers who want to know how to store honeycombs need to learn the biology of wax moth development. The development of wax moths is affected by ambient temperature. At a temperature of +24-27 degrees, the development of a moth from egg to butterfly is only 5-8 days. Each butterfly is capable of laying from 300 to 3000 eggs, depending on external conditions. At a temperature of +10 - 16 degrees, the development period of the moth is only 35 days. And at temperatures below +9°C, the development of moths stops. From all this it is clear that moths pose the greatest threat to the storage of honeycombs in the summer. The development of wax moths is also stopped with sufficient air circulation around the honeycombs that are stored.

For example, if you move the frames in a honeycomb storage facility to a distance of several centimeters, the development of the moth stops. But in a closed space, with stagnant air, at a temperature of more than +15 degrees, ideal conditions are created for its development.

Main Enemies

The presence of propolis in comb honey provides it with natural preservation. Microbes are not dangerous for honeycombs, which leads to a very long shelf life. Interestingly, thanks to the natural “packaging”, the bee product does not even harden, but can remain in a liquid state for up to three years. But germs

- are far from the only enemies of frames after they are removed from the hives. Moisture is a much greater danger. Beeswax is very hygroscopic; if the humidity exceeds the permissible limits, the honey in the combs will begin to ferment and sour.

The second enemy of frames is the sun

. If you leave honeycombs under its rays, the beneficial substances in them begin to be destroyed, and after a certain time this medicinal product becomes completely useless. Therefore, experienced beekeepers diligently avoid storing frames not only in the sun, but also simply at high temperatures.

The third enemy is insects

, in particular, wax moth. In just 5 days, it can go from an egg to an adult and seriously damage the integrity of the honey frame. The moth is an insect up to 3.5 cm long (the average length of its body is 1.5 cm) and is especially active during the hot period of the year. When the temperature drops below 10 ºС, the moth is no longer able to reproduce and develop from eggs. By the way, this insect prefers musty rooms and really does not like ventilation. If there is good air circulation around the frames, and the temperature in the room is below 10 ºС, then no moths are afraid of the honeycombs. In addition, such conditions increase their shelf life by an order of magnitude.

And finally, the fourth enemy of comb honey is mold.

. If the humidity in the room is too low, this unpleasant phenomenon may appear on the honeycombs. You can only get rid of mold with drastic measures, so it is better to prevent its occurrence.

Briefly about the pest

For many years, the moth was considered the main scourge in the apiary: it was its larvae that actively ate the honeycombs, since the moth lays its eggs in the hive, and the offspring moved onto the frames, penetrated the honeycombs, entangling the entrance with a strong silk thread. Therefore, adult bees could not actively fight them, and the young, fragile generation dies, entangled in the placed nets.

But recent research by scientists and observations by experienced beekeepers prove that adult insects lay eggs mainly on old honeycombs that have been abandoned by the bee colony. The wax moth reproduces quite quickly, its life expectancy is short - only 26 days, but during this time one female lays more than 2 thousand eggs. The larva develops within 30 days, eating about 0.4 g of wax during this time - it doesn’t seem like much, but multiplied by the number of eggs laid, we get an impressive amount of 0.8 kg.

The bees deposit about 140 g of wax on the frames; dividing 800 g by 140, we get a disappointing verdict - the offspring of just one moth can destroy about six frames with honeycombs in a month. And it’s not hard to imagine what damage just a dozen adult insects will cause to an apiary. Therefore, the fight against wax moths should be carried out methodically and everywhere throughout the entire territory of the apiary farm.

Storage conditions

But let’s finally figure out how to store honey in honeycombs, and what conditions need to be created for it to retain all its beneficial properties.

First of all, provide it with a suitable temperature regime. It is best to store honeycombs at a temperature of 3-10 ºС. It would be optimal to organize storage in a dry basement or pantry, but you need to ensure that the room is well ventilated and the humidity level does not exceed 60%. And in no case should you allow sudden temperature changes, which significantly shorten the shelf life.

Maintaining a normal humidity level for honeycombs at home will not be difficult, but the only way to ensure honey at a low temperature at home is in the refrigerator, so make sure in advance that there is enough storage space. You can carefully separate the honeycomb into small pieces and place them in a shallow bowl. You should not put several layers in one container, as the honeycombs may stick together. It is best to store each piece in a separate container.

By the way, the dishes must be closed with lids. This will protect the honeycombs from fluctuations in humidity in the refrigerator and from the penetration of foreign odors. The fact is that honey absorbs aromas very well, and since there is something pungently smelling in the refrigerator every now and then, after a while the honeycombs will smell like anything but their natural smell.

The choice of dishes also needs to be approached very responsibly. Beekeepers store honeycombs in wooden boxes treated with putty. You won’t put boxes at home, so just choose a suitable smaller container for the honey. It is best to organize storage in a glass, wooden, enamel or clay container and be sure to tightly close it with a lid. But honey cannot be stored in copper, iron or galvanized containers, since toxic compounds are formed in it.

General storage standards

If the requirements for the preservation of beebread are not met, it is strictly forbidden to consume it internally, since in this case it will spoil within 2-3 days. The average shelf life is from 6 to 12 months, but here it is important to correctly determine the storage method and type of product.

To know exactly the expiration date, it is recommended to put a sticker on each package indicating this period.

In what form should it be stored?

There are several forms of bee bread storage that are suitable for use. Namely:

In honeycombs. An excellent option for those who prefer to enjoy beekeeping products in a naturally fresh form. Children especially love to chew on such honeycombs, since pieces of wax together with beebread resemble chewing gum.
Among the disadvantages are a short shelf life and inconvenient storage due to the large size. But the main thing is the need to create conditions under which wax moths will not penetrate the honeycombs.
A peculiarity is that sometimes the bees do not clog the upper part well, which causes the beebread to deteriorate, so you will have to do it artificially - generously lubricate it with wax.
Ground. To do this, twist the honeycombs through a meat grinder. The main advantage, as in the previous case, is the presence of useful wax. Shelf life is a little longer. Feature - this product is convenient to use for the preparation of external use and ingestion as dishes. Crushed bee bread, like honeycomb, is best stored in the refrigerator or other cool place.
In granules. In their production, methods are used to clean honeycombs from unnecessary elements, after which the product is dried and converted into granules. The main advantages are easy to store and long shelf life. Glass containers and canvas bags are suitable for storage, which are placed anywhere except the refrigerator, since the granules are afraid of moisture (leading to the formation of mold).

Disadvantages - if you store a large volume in one container, the granules are crushed, which spoils the aesthetic appearance. Experts say that along with the removal of unnecessary substances, the level of useful elements also decreases.
Pasta with honey. During production, ground honeycombs are mixed with natural and always fresh honey, which prolongs the shelf life. The main convenience is that the mixture can be considered ready for use, but this must be done with caution, since it contains not only beebread with wax, but also honey, which greatly increases the risk of an allergic reaction.
Dried up. The technique involves drying the honeycomb, which preserves all the beneficial substances, but at the same time significantly increases the shelf life. This natural product is convenient to store anywhere and in different containers; it takes up minimal space, unlike raw honeycomb.

To prevent wax moths from infesting, folk craftsmen recommend placing a bottle filled with acetic acid next to the product. The smell will definitely repel pests.

Where and in what should bee bread be stored?

Packaging is one of the important aspects in proper storage of beebread. Basic requirements for the safety of bee products include the following points:

integrity of the packaging – absence of cracks, holes and other damage;
no influence of high humidity - tightness of the container and dryness of the room;
ventilation – for dry products;
shelter from sunlight - overheating leads to incorrect chemical reactions;
hygiene - store only in clean packaging;
dosage – it is better to store in small portions.

To create optimal conditions, select the right container. It could be:

jars made of glass or ceramics - suitable for all forms of bee bread (easy to disinfect, but it is advisable to take dark-colored glass);
small canvas bags - only for dry types of products (an excellent option, but you will have to strictly monitor the level of humidity in the room).

Polyethylene bags and plastic containers are strictly not suitable, as condensation easily forms in them. It is not advisable to place beebread in metal containers (including tin cans), since oxidative processes occur when interacting with iron.

It is also important to choose the right storage location, depending on the type of product:

in the refrigerator - only honeycombs, paste and ground honeycomb bee bread;
in the pantry or kitchen - dry variations of the product (this can be a shelf in cabinets, mezzanines, etc.).
Inexperienced consumers take the products out onto the loggia/balcony or veranda of a private house. This is absolutely impossible to do, since they overheat in the summer and freeze slightly in the winter (due to unstable weather conditions).

Temperature, lighting and humidity

Temperature is the most important indicator for all forms of bee bread. If this is not observed, the product immediately begins to deteriorate. Depending on the type of bee bread, the temperature varies from +1-2 to +23-25°C.

Avoid exposure to light and sunlight - this leads to the breakdown of nutrients and spoilage of the product. What can be done:

place the bee bread in a dark container; if you don’t have one, wrap the jar with black cloth;
put it in a closet, or even better, a drawer that opens extremely rarely;
Place the container in a cardboard lockable box, then store it in a closet/refrigerator.

The level of humidity in the room also deserves special attention - if you store a dry product in an unsealed package, it will instantly become saturated with moisture and begin to grow mold.

The same applies to other forms of bee bread, which are stored even in glass jars - water or steam should not be allowed to penetrate inside. This happens in different cases - a drop accidentally fell into the container, the jar was opened at the moment when the kettle or pan was boiling, releasing steam, etc.

The maximum permissible humidity is 25-30%.

Is it possible to can it?

Preserving bee bread is quite acceptable and even desirable if you are preparing a fresh product (in honeycombs, ground). This significantly extends shelf life. It is enough to mix beebread with honey or pour it over the honeycomb, then seal it and place it in acceptable conditions. But keep in mind that the amount of honey should not exceed 30%.

The canning method has a drawback - the product hardens greatly, so removing it from the jar is problematic. Experienced consumers do this by placing the container in warm (not hot) water.

Do not use metal tools (knives, forks, spoons) to separate the bee bread from the walls of the jar - only wooden or plastic utensils can be used.