Proper storage of honey depends on many factors. A technician and beekeeper, Mykola Maliarchuk, told UNN journalist in more detail how to store honey properly and what signs may indicate that it has begun to spoil.
According to the specialist, glass containers are best suited for long-term honey storage. They must be clean and completely dry, and the honey itself must be protected from moisture. It is also important to avoid sudden temperature fluctuations.
It is advisable to use clean and dry glassware. Under such conditions, honey can be stored at room temperature. At the same time, significant temperature fluctuations should be avoided. It is better to place the container in a cooler spot, such as on the floor, where there is no excessive heat
Honey also does not necessarily need to be kept in complete darkness if it is stored in an ordinary room, but the expert does not recommend leaving the jar in direct sunlight.
There is no need to specifically hide honey from the light in a room. If it is kept in a normally lit room, this does not affect its quality. However, honey should not be left in direct sunlight, because the temperature there can fluctuate significantly. It is also important to protect honey from moisture, so the container must be tightly sealed
Mykola Maliarchuk also explains that an open container can lead both to the honey drying out and to moisture getting into it. Therefore, for long-term storage, the jar must be tightly sealed.
If the container remains open, honey gradually loses moisture and may dry out. Moisture from the surrounding environment can also enter the product through the open container. If there is enough of it, the honey may begin to ferment. Therefore, it must be hermetically sealed for long-term storage
If the goal is to preserve the liquid consistency of fresh honey for as long as possible, the beekeeper names freezing as one possible method. In this case, the product may remain liquid for a long time.
Fresh liquid honey can be placed in a freezer. In that case, it may remain liquid for a long time and retain the state of fresh honey. It is important to do this before it begins to crystallize. It can be stored in a freezer for even one or two years
At the same time, for ordinary storage, it is important to choose the right container material. Mykola Maliarchuk emphasizes that glass is best suited for long-term honey storage.
I would not recommend storing honey for a long time in plastic buckets or canisters. Aluminum containers are also not the best option. Stainless steel may be used, but the container must be hermetically sealed. A glass jar with an airtight lid is best suited for long-term storage
The specialist also refutes the widespread claim that honey supposedly never spoils at all. According to him, moisture entering the container can lead to changes in the upper layer of the product.
The claim that honey never spoils at all is false, because some moisture still gets into the container, even through a loosely closed lid, so the top layer of the honey may gradually change. It becomes fluffy and soft, although the lower part may remain normal
According to Mykola Maliarchuk, a sign that honey has spoiled may be a change in its structure specifically at the top. In solid honey, the top layer becomes soft, while in liquid honey the consistency may also change, becoming significantly thinner.
When solid honey begins to spoil, its top layer changes first - it becomes soft. If the honey below remains solid, this means that the changes began at the top. The consistency of liquid honey may also change: it becomes as runny as water because it loses its viscosity and begins to ferment
The beekeeper separately draws attention to the ripening of honey before it is extracted. If unripe honey with a high water content is purchased, it may begin to ferment very quickly.
Unripe honey is essentially nectar that the bees have not yet had time to process. They gradually evaporate the water from it, and when the honey matures, they seal it in the honeycombs. You should not rush to extract it, as unripe honey contains a lot of water, which can cause it to begin fermenting
Another important stage is cleaning the honey after extraction. According to the expert, the product should be strained through special sieves to remove foreign particles. This should also be done with purchased honey to make sure that there is nothing unnecessary in the product.
After extraction, honey should additionally be cleaned and strained through special sieves. This helps remove pieces of honeycomb, bees, brood and other foreign particles that may have gotten into the product. I try to extract honey without brood, but if any gets into the honey, it must be strained
The cleanliness of the container is also quite important. According to the beekeeper, old honey left on the walls of a jar or other vessel can affect a new batch of honey.
If old honey remains in the vessel, it must be completely removed, and the container thoroughly washed and dried. You should not pour fresh honey into a vessel containing remnants of old honey, as this can cause fermentation. The container must be clean, dry and free of foreign substances
How to choose natural honey: simple ways to check12.08.26, 09:13