How to store honey in the apartment so that it does not quickly become sugared and does not deteriorate?

Beekeepers know how to store honey so that it stays tasty and healthy for as long as possible. Subject to conditions related to humidity, lighting and temperature, the product retains healing properties for decades. Over the years, it acquires an even deeper taste and delicate aroma. By the way, the monks of Ancient Russia especially appreciated the “ripened” honey of 2-3 years old. In this article, we have collected many important nuances about storing a bee's gift at home.

Where to store honey?

In an apartment, people usually store honey in the refrigerator, kitchen cabinet, under the bed, in the pantry, on the balcony. Private home owners can also afford storage in the cellar. Consider the pros and cons of each option.

• Refrigerator

You can store the product in a refrigerator with dry freeze function. Inside the chamber, optimal temperature and humidity values ​​are maintained. But keep in mind that in a refrigerator, honey crystallizes much faster than at room temperature. Beekeeping products should be kept in tightly closed containers in the lower compartment for vegetables.

Crystallization is a natural process. It starts after 3-6 months from the moment of pumping and indicates that you have purchased a quality product, not a surrogate. Although there are varieties with a high content of fructose that do not crystallize for a long time. This is linden, acacia, honeydew honey.

• Kitchen cupboard

Suitable for storage, but subject to a number of conditions. The bee dessert easily absorbs extraneous aromas. Therefore, it can not be placed next to strong-smelling products: onions, garlic, seasonings, dried mushrooms and so on. A suitable option is a kitchen cabinet with groceries, that is, flour, pasta, cereals.

It is important that the storage location is away from heat sources: stoves, microwaves, radiators. At high temperatures, honey loses its beneficial properties.

• Place under the bed

If it is cool and dry under the bed, then it is allowed to store a honey treat there. It is important to maintain cleanliness at all times.

• Pantry

One of the best places to store honey in the apartment. It is dark, dry and cool. In the pantry, the product does not crystallize as fast as in the refrigerator, while retaining all the vitamins in the composition.

• Balcony

On the balcony (even glazed) it is better not to store the bee gift. In the summer there is too high a temperature, which leads to the destruction of nutrients. In autumn and spring - increased humidity. It reduces shelf life. In winter, honey crystallizes unevenly due to changes in negative temperatures.

• Cellar

The cellar is usually high in humidity. Therefore, it is better to choose another place for storage. In extreme cases, hermetically seal the container with molten wax.

Favorable conditions

Now consider in more detail what conditions must be observed when storing the product at home.

Temperature

In accordance with GOST, the optimum storage temperature of honey is considered to be from +6 to +20 degrees. This is why it is best to leave the product in the kitchen cabinet, closet or lower compartment of the refrigerator. And what happens if you store a bee's gift at other temperatures?

• +1 to +5 degrees

Honey will not lose its beneficial properties.But it crystallizes within a month or a little earlier (depending on the variety).

• Below 0

The product will simply freeze. At the same time, vitamins, minerals and antimicrobial enzymes will remain in the composition. Taste and aroma will not change. However, after thawing, the delicacy will not be able to be stored for a long time.

• +20 to +30 degrees

Honey will lose some vitamins, rich aroma. For the worse, his taste will change.

• +30 to +40 degrees

A bee gift will lose valuable substances. From a healthy product, it will turn into a regular treat - a mixture of sugars.

• Above +40 degrees

The product will acquire the properties of a carcinogen, that is, it will become harmful to health. That is why a spoonful of dessert cannot be added to hot tea (coffee) instead of sugar.

If the moisture content in honey exceeds 21%, then it should be stored at a temperature below +10 degrees.

Honey does not tolerate temperature extremes - it crystallizes unevenly, loses part of its vitamins. Therefore, always store it in the same place, do not rearrange dishes. If you choose a refrigerator, maintain a constant temperature.

Humidity

Honey absorbs moisture well. The optimum humidity in the storage place is not higher than 60–65%. Keep the product in a tightly closed container. If excess moisture gets into the honey, it will begin to ferment, sour, and quickly deteriorate.

Lighting

The product is afraid of UV radiation. If you leave the container in direct sunlight for 48 hours, then the inhibin enzyme is completely destroyed in honey. As a result, the bee gift will lose its antibacterial properties. This means that its shelf life will be reduced. In addition, UV radiation destroys some of the vitamins. Store dessert only in dark corners or in containers made of a material that does not transmit light.

Shelf life of honey

There is no single answer to the question about the shelf life of honey. It all depends on the particular variety, as well as on compliance with the conditions.

According to GOST, the shelf life is 1 year. But this is true only for an industrial product. What about home?

In theory, a bee gift has an unlimited shelf life. And there are a number of reasons for this:

• the presence in the composition of antibacterial enzymes that interfere with the reproduction of microorganisms and fungi;
• low moisture content (normal up to 20–21%), which excludes the fermentation process;
• high proportion of sugars - natural preservatives.

If you reliably protect the product from moisture and UV radiation, then it will never lose the listed properties and will be stored for decades. Over time, the chemical composition will even improve. The dessert will become more thick, dark, tart notes will appear in the taste.

The main signs of spoiled honey are a prolonged lack of crystallization, too liquid consistency, and sour taste.

Utensils for storing honey

The choice of dishes is no less important stage in preparing honey for storage than creating conditions for temperature, humidity and lighting. Packaging affects shelf life and even the chemical composition of the product. Consider the most common options among housewives.

Clay dishes

Fairy tales and cartoons do not lie - clay pots are great for storing honey. They have the following advantages:

• made of environmentally friendly material, which means they are safe for health;
• do not enter into a chemical reaction with the product;
• do not let in sunlight;
• resistant to temperature extremes.

However, clay containers, especially unprocessed ones, are still not ideal. It is able to pass excess moisture and odors. Therefore, it is recommended to fill the clay pots with a layer of beeswax for storing honey and put the container in a dry place.

Glassware

This is the most popular type of container for storing bee products. Like burnt clay, glass does not react with its contents. At the same time, it reliably protects the delicacy from water, dust, extraneous odors.

Perhaps the only drawback of glassware is that it does not isolate honey from sunlight.But this problem is easily solved. Just wrap the container with newsprint or a thick cloth, or rather put in a dark place (kitchen cabinet, pantry, refrigerator).

When stored in glassware, honey deteriorates less frequently than in plastic, wood, clay or metal. Shelf-life Unlimited.

Ceramic tableware

Pottery is one of the best options for storing honey. It is resistant to temperature changes, reliably protects the product from moisture, UV radiation, unpleasant odors.

Plastic container

Store honey only in containers, jars and buckets made of food-grade plastic.

The safest types of plastic containers are marked as follows:

• HDPE (LDPE) - low pressure polyethylene;
• PP (PP) - refillable polypropylene.

On sale you can find many containers of polyvinyl chloride (PCV / PVC). This type of plastic is toxic and can harm your health. In any case, honey should not be stored in plastic containers for more than 1 year. After this period, extraneous chemical impurities begin to penetrate into the product.

Wood utensils

Wooden dishes intended for storing honey should be thoroughly dried and treated from the inside with beeswax (can be with the addition of propolis). Otherwise, excess moisture will penetrate the product, in addition, the sweet mass will increase in volume, which will lead to cracks in the tree and a violation of tightness.

You can store a bee's gift in a bowl only from the following tree species:

• willow (the most suitable option);
• birch trees;
• beech;
• linden trees;
• maple;
• cedar;
• ash;
• alders.

In oak barrels, honey quickly darkens. Containers of coniferous trees endow the product with extraneous tarry odors, and aspen makes the taste bitter.

The main advantage of storage in a wooden dish is 100% preservation of vitamins and enzymes in the composition. In addition, over time, honey acquires a unique aroma.

Metal container

Usually metal containers (cans, pans, barrels) are used to store large quantities of honey. However, only two materials are completely safe for health:

• stainless steel;
• enamel without scratches, cracks and chips.

If you decide to store the product in a metal container, do not put it in the cellar. Due to the increased humidity, the metal will begin to oxidize and change the chemical composition of honey.

What can not be stored honey?

Before use, any containers should be thoroughly washed and dried. And if it's glass jars - also sterilize. Do not keep honey in dirty containers, no matter what material they are made of.

For washing dishes under honey, do not use detergents with aggressive surfactants. Better take ordinary laundry soap.

The following types of dishes are categorically not suitable for storing a bee's gift:

• Iron. Iron quickly oxidizes and rusts when exposed to oxygen. As a result, honey acquires a bright red color. Its taste and aroma deteriorate; some vitamins are destroyed.
• Copper. If you store honey in a copper bowl, it will turn greenish-blue, sour-bitter in taste, completely lose its aroma and healing properties. The composition will appear toxic compounds.
• Galvanized. The same problem as with copper utensils. The composition will include compounds of heavy metals, which will make the product unsuitable for consumption.

How to store honey in honeycombs?

To prevent honey from crystallizing for a long time, store it in a comb. Thanks to wax walls light, moisture and microorganisms will not penetrate inside. Cut the honeycombs with a knife into equal pieces so that they fit in a glass jar or other suitable container.

Ideal storage conditions:

• temperature - below +10 degrees;
• humidity - 50-60%.

Too low humidity is also bad. Such conditions contribute to the propagation of pests in honeycombs (in particular food moths) and the occurrence of mold.

Hygroscopicity of honey

Hygroscopicity is a unique property of honey, which is expressed in the ability to absorb and retain moisture.Due to the presence of fructose in the product. Hygroscopicity is taken into account when creating optimal storage conditions:

• At humidity above 60–65%, the product actively absorbs water, that is, it is diluted. Because of this, it begins to wander and quickly deteriorates.
• On the contrary, in a very dry room, the bee gives away moisture, becomes thicker, acquires a rich taste. By the way, the crystallized product is more hygroscopic than liquid.

Hygroscopicity makes honey a valuable product in the confectionery industry. It is able to retain moisture in baking: as a result, buns and pies do not stale for a long time.

Keeping honey at home is easy. It is enough to choose a suitable dishware, wash it, find a dry, darkened and cool place - and it will not lose its beneficial properties for several years.