How many years can honey be stored? how is it stored properly?

• About honey

Many lovers of such a useful bee product as honey are wondering how long honey is stored, under what conditions, what the container and temperature should be. This topic is very important and relevant for the reason that there are many secrets and subtleties in it.

Everyone knows that honey is an organic, natural and very healthy product due to the presence of useful substances in it: sucrose, trace elements, minerals, organic acids, fructose, vitamins B and C, glucose. For this reason, it is very important to preserve in this product the properties that nature has endowed it with.

Honey storage space

A very important condition is to choose a place in that part of the house where it will be most convenient, and most importantly, without harm to this product. It is recommended to choose a place based on the following indicators :

1. Darkness. Honey does not like being exposed to direct sunlight. Under their influence, it can quickly lose its healing properties. If you leave honey on a balcony or windowsill for several days, it will soon turn into a simple carbohydrate mixture.
2. Dryness. If the room where you are going to store this beekeeping product is very humid, this can lead to a decrease in value and souring of the product. This is due to the fact that the liquid level in the product will increase. The optimal humidity level at which honey can be stored is 60–80%.
3. There should be no strong odors nearby. Honey should not be kept near food or substances that have a strong pungent odor. This is due to the fact that it has the property of very quickly absorbing the odors that are around it. This applies to both products and building materials.
4. Temperature. When choosing a place to store honey, it is very important what the temperature will be there.

The conditions listed above are suitable for premises such as a pantry or cellar. But, unfortunately, the apartment does not have such rooms. And here the question arises: where then can this healing bee product be stored? Perfect for this:

1. Fridge.
2. Cabinet on a loggia or balcony.
3. Cabinets in the kitchen, located away from heat sources (radiators and stoves).

The most preferred of all the listed places in the apartment is the refrigerator . It maintains moisture and temperature. The most important thing here is to ensure that the container in which the honey is stored is tightly closed and the honey does not absorb any foreign odors.

Common mistakes: why has the type of honey changed?

Wooden barrels are an excellent option for storing honey.
Even minor details can cause a spoiled product and wasted effort on preserving it:

• Honey absorbs all surrounding odors well. A container that is not tightly closed or close proximity to odorous foods (for example, fish, onions, fresh herbs) significantly spoils the taste and natural aroma.
• If a container of product is exposed to direct sunlight for more than 40 hours, it can most likely be thrown away as it becomes available for microbial growth.
• Sudden temperature changes negatively affect the color and structure of the mass. This is fraught with rapid sugaring and loss of taste. If the refrigerator is chosen as the storage location, it is best not to change anything.
• If the container is not covered with a lid and left for a long time , the delicacy will begin to absorb moisture from the air and ferment.
• After a certain time, the natural process of crystallization begins in honey; it may thicken or darken. This does not mean that the product is spoiled. If all storage conditions are met, then you can simply stir the mass to restore the structure.

Why does honey foam?

Bubbles or foam that suddenly appear on the surface of liquid honey are alarming and make you doubt the quality of the product.

After a certain time, the natural process of crystallization begins in honey; it may thicken or darken

There may be several reasons for such surprises:

• The beekeeper's dishonesty. Not everyone can distinguish natural honey from fake honey. Some sellers dilute good bee nectar with sugar syrup to increase sales. The beneficial properties are lost, but the appearance and taste are preserved. Over time, it becomes foamy, heterogeneous and unsuitable for medicinal purposes. This product can only be used for making desserts.
• Poor filtration. If a white coating with small particles of bee products appears on the surface of the treat, do not be alarmed. This is an indicator of the naturalness of honey and does not affect the quality and taste. This foam is removed with a spoon and the product is left for further use in the refrigerator.
• Fermentation process. Dense white foam, similar in consistency to soap, means advanced fermentation processes. This is facilitated by violation of storage rules - a loosely closed container, high humidity, failure of the temperature regime. Such honey becomes unsuitable for human consumption and absolutely unhealthy.
• A variety with high glucose content. Some types of delicacies collected from different apiaries differ in their qualities. A porous white layer on the surface means that the variety is saturated with glucose, this does not affect the quality and taste of the product. This honey just needs to be mixed well from time to time and stored only in a cool place.

Read more ► How to dry pumpkin seeds at home: preparation, ways to check readiness

To reduce the risk of receiving a low-quality product, it is better to contact proven apiaries with good recommendations. Conscientious beekeepers have certificates and value their reputation.

Honey separated during storage

Delamination occurs at different periods of storage at home, even if the product is in the refrigerator. The separation of the mass into two layers begins due to the high glucose content.

It settles at the bottom in the form of crystals, and a liquid layer of fructose remains on top. The crystallization process does not affect the quality; the mass returns to its normal state after thorough mixing.

Also, the thickness and viscousness of candied honey can be restored by heating it in a water bath. If there is a lot of product in the container, then you only need to heat up the amount of treat that is needed at the moment. The remaining mass is stored in the refrigerator or other suitable place.

At what temperature is it best to store honey at home?

The best place to store bee products is the hive. In it, the optimal temperature (5–15 degrees above zero) is achieved thanks to the vital activity of bees. In winter, the optimal temperature is maintained due to the insulation of the bee house, but in summer - due to active ventilation from the wingspan of insects. Based on this, the temperature limits for proper storage of beekeeping products are:

1. Maximum temperature - 45 degrees above zero;
2. The minimum temperature is 5 degrees above zero.

The most optimal temperature for storing honey at home is between 5 and 20 degrees above zero.

If you overheat honey , it will develop a characteristic bitter taste and will darken. But the main disadvantage is that beneficial microelements and vitamins will begin to be destroyed when overheated, resulting in the formation of substances that are very harmful to the human body - toxins.

Due to this reaction of honey to high temperatures, beekeeping experts do not recommend putting it in baking dough or hot tea . To dissolve honey, the temperature of the liquid should not be more than 25 degrees. The best way to consume honey is to take it as a bite into a drink.

Low temperatures also contribute to changes in properties and structure . When cold, the bee product acquires a solid consistency and a light color. Therefore, it is not very recommended to store this medicinal product in the cold, although lower temperatures do not cause severe losses of medicinal properties.

Optimal conditions

The shelf life of honey depends significantly on how honey is stored.

If the contents are incorrect, the api product may deteriorate in a short time. It is negatively affected by high humidity, sunlight, and temperature changes.

What should be the temperature for storing bee products?

In order to find out the ideal conditions for keeping a fragrant delicacy, it is worth analyzing the conditions in the hive. In preparation for winter, insects insulate their house, plus bees live in a large family (swarm), thereby creating warmth. Therefore, bees winter quietly even in very severe frosts.

The ideal regime is from 5 to 20 degrees Celsius; this is the microclimate that is maintained in a bee hive.

Where to store honey at room temperature in an apartment? A cold pantry or a closet in the non-residential part of the apartment is suitable for these purposes. If you live outside the city, you can put honey in the basement or garage.

With a significant increase in the above indicators, the bee delicacy will most likely darken and begin to become very bitter; the chemical composition will become poor due to the destruction of the vitamin. For the same reason, it is not recommended to add beekeeping products to boiling water or hot tea.

Correct container

It is better to store honey under conditions as close as possible to natural ones, these are wooden barrels coated with propolis. Then the shelf life reaches several years, subject to the correct temperature conditions.

Naturally, not everyone can make or purchase such a container. Therefore, it is recommended to keep the natural product in glass or plastic containers, which will protect it from moisture and foreign odors. In addition, it is believed that clay pots are the ideal utensils.

Important! Plastic containers must be made of food-grade plastic, and the shelf life does not exceed 1 year. After this time, the plastic enters into a chemical reaction with the bee product and releases harmful components. The situation is aggravated by keeping them in a warm room with sunlight shining on plastic containers.

What type of container should be used to store bee products at home?

Clay dishes

In ancient times, all people stored beekeeping products in containers made of clay. It is best suited for these purposes. This is due to the fact that clay dishes do not allow sunlight to pass through , which contributes to the longest and most effective storage.
The container is filled with a wax layer on top, which reliably preserves the product and helps prevent the entry of foreign odors and moisture. Nowadays, dishes made from clay are not accessible and convenient for everyone. For this reason, honey lovers often ask whether this product can be stored in glass or plastic containers (which are not always safe for health).

Glass container (jar)

Glass jars are more often than other containers used for storing beekeeping products at home. Glass jars are neutral containers that do not release any substances and do not react. The disadvantage of such a container is that it allows the rays of the sun to pass through. It is for this reason that you should choose dark glass containers. Such glass minimally transmits sunlight to the product.

Plastic dishes

Most often, stores and markets sell honey in plastic containers. This dish is ideal for short-term storage and sale. It's no secret that over time, plastic loses its properties under the influence of the environment and sunlight. Due to the influence of these factors, plastic begins to release toxic substances that end up in products. Given these factors, honey should not be stored in plastic containers.

Wooden dishes

At home, you can also store honey in containers made from materials such as wood and metal. The advantage of dishes made of wood is that when a beekeeping product is stored in it, it acquires an extraordinary aroma and all its healing properties are preserved. But it should be noted that there is no need to store food for a long time in containers made from those types of trees that produce essential oils (such as conifers and the like). Tree species such as linden, birch or beech are excellent for this purpose.

Metal utensils

Very often, beekeepers use stainless steel utensils to store large quantities of bee product. These are mostly metal barrels. But such dishes have one huge disadvantage : over time, most metals oxidize. And this can lead to oxides getting into food products, which are dangerous to human life and can lead to poisoning. When choosing metal containers, it is very important to pay attention to the fact that they do not contain alloys of lead, zinc and copper.

Based on the above, we can conclude that in glass containers the shelf life of bee products is much longer than in containers made of metal, wood or plastic. It is for this reason that it is worth giving preference to it for long-term storage.

Storing honey in the refrigerator

Most people who have a jar of honey at home are wondering whether it is still possible to put it in the refrigerator for long-term storage. In principle, this is not so categorical. If you follow certain rules prescribed by the conditions for storing honey in the refrigerator , then you can store it in it without any problems.

Firstly, the temperature of the place where you are going to place your product should be at least 5 degrees. In standard refrigerators, this temperature is maintained on the door.

If your refrigerator has a dry freezing function, then you definitely have nothing to worry about, it will do everything for you. Otherwise, you will have to constantly check the humidity level and also remove excess moisture from the walls.

It's no secret that any refrigerator contains a lot of foreign odors, and, as we know, our delicacy cannot stand them. Therefore, make sure in advance that the packaging in which it is stored is sealed. Otherwise, you will have to regret several times what smell it will absorb.

Features and basic rules for storing honey in honeycombs

Honey in combs is a special delicacy that can also be stored in the apartment. This healthy and nutritious product needs special attention due to the fact that it contains beeswax. The conditions for storing honeycomb should be the same as for liquid consistency.

sterilized jars are best suited for storing honeycombs . Cut the honeycomb into pieces of such a size that they can fit freely into the opening of the jar. Cover the top of the jar tightly with a lid. Under such conditions, cells can remain for no more than one year.

In order to increase the shelf life, you should fill the honeycombs with liquid fresh honey, and then seal them with melted wax. After this, seal the jar with a lid. Under such conditions, soda can be stored for more than 10 years.

How to maintain freshness for a long time?

Once you have purchased honey, store it correctly so that the honey does not lose its unique qualities and properties.

Storage recommendations:

• Use suitable utensils. Glass is best. Place the honey in a well-treated jar and close with a lid.
• Wooden and clay dishes have been famous since ancient times; honey is stored in them for a long time and does not lose its beneficial qualities.
• It can be stored in plastic, but not for a long period of time. Honey cannot be stored in metal containers, as oxidation occurs.
• Choose a safe place to store honey, place the jar in a dark place where there is no light.
• The temperature should not be higher than +18 degrees. If your home is warm, place the jar in a cool place. Honey should not be heated.
• Monitor air humidity. In dampness, honey begins to deteriorate, ferment and oxidize.
• Close the honey tightly to prevent foreign odors from penetrating into the jar. Sealed packaging will protect against bacteria and moisture.
• If you purchased honey in combs. This honey has a long shelf life of more than 10 years. It is recommended to store it in a glass container; cut the honeycombs into pieces and place them neatly in a jar and close it tightly. We store the honeycombs in a cool place.

By following these honey storage rules, you will be able to preserve honey for a long time and make it usable for a long time.

Honey is elastic, liquid and very tasty.

How long can honey be stored at home?

First you need to decide on the honey consistency :

1. In honeycombs.
2. Thick.
3. Liquid.

Fresh honey has a transparent appearance and liquid consistency. It has a specific spicy pungent aroma. It is this product that contains the largest amount of useful substances of organic origin and vitamins that have a beneficial effect on the human body. Over time, even a long-term product loses its beneficial properties , even if all storage conditions are met correctly. It is recommended to store the beekeeping product at home for no more than 12 months.

After removal, the product begins to thicken and crystallize over several weeks. It is by these qualities that one can determine its organicness and naturalness. Thick honey can also be stored for one year if all conditions are met. At room temperatures, shelf life is reduced to six months.

What should you not store honey in?

Plastic containers are permissible only if the ambient temperature does not exceed +20 degrees.

Containers made of copper, zinc, aluminum, and iron are much more dangerous. Containers made from these materials form toxic chemical compounds that can cause a serious allergic reaction or severe poisoning.

Saving honey in a copper container causes it to acquire a bluish-green color, while in an iron container it turns a dark red hue.