Does honey spoil due to long storage? What is the best temperature to store honey?

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Since ancient times, honey has been considered one of the most useful natural products. There are many myths and legends about the healing properties of the bee product. He is credited with many qualities that he does not actually possess. However, the question often arises whether honey deteriorates during long-term storage. To understand this, you should learn a little about the composition of a useful product.

Temperature conditions

Under natural conditions, honey can be stored for many years without losing its beneficial qualities. The composition of the bee product contains a lot of sugars that absorb moisture. In addition, it contains acids that prevent the development and reproduction of bacteria. This helps honey retain its beneficial properties for a long time. External factors such as sunlight, high ambient temperature can affect its quality.

Guided by instincts, bees build special wax structures - honeycombs, which, however,are intended not only to preserve the supply of food (honey) for a long time, but also to raise offspring. With the onset of cold weather, they are able to insulate the hive with wax so that the temperature inside the comb does not fall below +10 ° C. Due to the unique composition of beeswax, even in extreme heat, the hive maintains a temperature not exceeding +20 °C. Based on this, it follows that the optimal environment for storing honey ranges from +5…+20 °С.

Storage rules

Under the influence of high temperatures, the bee product darkens, unpleasant bitterness appears in its taste. Also, with strong heating, many vitamins are destroyed, and it loses its healing properties. If the temperature is too low, honey begins to crystallize, becomes hard.

To understand whether honey spoils at room temperature, it is enough to notice its fluctuations within a certain period of time. If the room is too hot, then for several months the useful bee product can be stored in the refrigerator, where it will not lose its valuable properties. However, it is impossible to keep honey in the cold all the time, this will significantly reduce the quality of the product, worsen its taste.

It is best to store honey in a dark place, out of direct sunlight. The bottom shelf of a cabinet or kitchen cabinet can serve as a storage place. It is important to tightly cork the jar, a useful product absorbs odors even through a nylon lid.

How to store in the refrigerator

Knowing the optimal temperature for storing beeproduct, you can answer the question of whether honey spoils in the refrigerator. If it is not possible to store it in a more suitable place, certain rules should be followed that will help preserve the healing properties of the product.

1. It is best to store honey in glass containers. It does not emit toxins, prevents the penetration of foreign aromas.
2. For long-term storage, you can roll up the jar with a metal lid, after leaving some honey for use. This method will help to preserve the quality and taste of a he althy product as much as possible.
3. To prevent freezing, every two months the container with honey is taken out of the refrigerator and stored in a dark place at room temperature for a week.
4. Instead of a metal lid, you can fill the surface of the product with wax or propolis. This will help cut off oxygen, preserving the product naturally.
5. Honey, closed with a nylon lid, does not withstand the neighborhood with pickles, cereals, flour and sugar. In addition to absorbing odors, it begins to ferment, as a result of which all useful properties are completely neutralized.

In private homes, the bee product is well stored in the basement under the same conditions as in the refrigerator.

Honey at room temperature

An important role in the storage of honey is played by the humidity of the environment. Too high a moisture level can have a detrimental effect on the healing qualities of a bee product. Keeping honey at room temperature shouldtake care to seal the container tightly to avoid moisture access.

Often, when honey is stored, liquid appears on the surface after the crystallization process. This does not mean that the product is defective. Honey contains fructose, which is not subject to hardening. Over time, it rises to the surface, forming a thin liquid layer.

The influence of time

Does honey spoil over time? The answer to this question is of interest to many people whose life is not complete without this useful product. Some evaluate the quality of honey by its consistency and color, believing that the light and liquid nectar is the freshest and most useful. Indeed, liquid honey happens immediately after pumping. However, during storage, its consistency changes, and this is normal.

The longer the product of bee production is stored, the darker and thicker it becomes. Fermentation of natural honey lasts for a year, and this is a natural process. According to experts, it is this nectar (if properly stored) that has the most useful properties.

Plastic packaging

Recently, the use of plastic containers seems to be a global craze. In containers made of popular material, not only liquids are stored, but also dry, bulk products. Honey was no exception. Undoubtedly, plastic dishes have a number of advantages over glass containers, but it is undesirable to store honey in it.

Don't forget that plastic containersis a chemical product. Even containers intended for food products come into contact with aggressive components. Honey is considered an active substance, it easily absorbs water, odors and chemical impurities from plastic. Of course, this does not happen in a few days. For transportation or short-term storage, you can use plastic containers, but then it is best to pour honey into glass jars.

The ideal option is a dark glass container with a tight lid. Suitable for storing honey ceramics, enameled dishes. In no case should you use an iron container, enameled with chips and galvanized utensils, otherwise the product will oxidize.