Can honey be stored in plastic containers? At what temperature should honey be stored?

It is no secret that honey is considered a natural medicine that has no price. At the present stage, scientists are trying to reproduce the composition of this product artificially, but so far nothing has worked.

Bees collect honey and store it in honeycombs. As soon as the season ends, beekeepers get a treat. When purchasing a product, we usually put it in a jar, package it and place it in a warm place. But is this storage method correct? Can honey be stored in plastic containers? It is the methods of storing delicacies that will be discussed in the review.

Is there an expiration date?

Under natural conditions, in honeycombs in which honey was placed by hardworking bees, the product can be stored for a very, very long time. This quality can be explained by the composition. Honey has a very large amount of vitamins. Therefore, bacteria clearly cannot survive in such an environment.

Before answering whether honey can be stored in plastic containers, it is worth understanding that it should be kept at home for no more than 3 years. Naturally, the delicacy will not spoil or mold. However, due to high temperatures, light and the lack of a protective barrier such as honeycombs, the beneficial properties of the product will begin to disappear.

Naturally, the delicacy can be transferred to special barrels, having previously soaked them with propolis. In this situation, the shelf life will increase to 15 years. But in the conditions of standard apartments, such an action is hardly possible.

Can honey be stored in plastic containers? This will be discussed below. But you should understand that everything depends not only on the storage location, but also on the conditions. For example, experts recommend purchasing treats as soon as the honey collection ends. In this situation, the product has a liquid consistency and bright color.

What to store

In nature, the best container for storing honey is a honeycomb. Bees securely seal frames with mature honey with wax. In this form it can be stored for a very long time without losing its beneficial properties. Beekeepers put the sealed frames away in boxes or empty hives, where the viscous amber liquid awaits its fate.

What to store

By purchasing honey in combs, the consumer is more likely to buy a natural beekeeping product. Wax honeycombs are not only a perfect vessel for honey, but also a very useful product that can be consumed along with the contents.

The honey in the combs is thoroughly chewed, spitting out the remaining wax. Natural wax helps strengthen tooth enamel, has an antimicrobial effect on the oral cavity and whitens teeth.

On a note! It is not advisable to keep honey in honeycombs at home. The wax shell does not prevent the absorption of odors, and if the wax seals are mechanically injured at room temperature, honey begins to flow. For preservation, it is better to seal comb honey in an airtight container.

Experts have different opinions regarding the material of the honey storage container. The palm was shared by:

• Ceramic dishes for storing honey.
• Glass jars.
• Food plastic containers.
• Wooden tueski.

Ceramic tableware

It has been used to store honey for thousands of years. A glazed clay pot is an ideal container for beekeeping products. The walls of the vessel do not allow sunlight to pass through, and the porous natural material maintains the required temperature and humidity inside. The only requirement is a tight fit of the lid, which is sealed with an elastic band or filled with wax.

Important! The disadvantage of ceramics is its high price, significant weight and fragility. Modern honey pots are designed not only for storing honey, but also for table decoration, as an original detail of the home interior.

Glass jars

A glass jar is the most common and frequently used container for packaging liquid honey. Glass does not react with biologically active honey mass. Honey can retain its beneficial properties in glass for a very long time, if the lid is securely sealed. The main disadvantage of glass is its fragility and weight. The transparent walls of the jar allow you to clearly see the product, but let the sun's rays through. Therefore, honey in glass is wrapped in paper or put away in a cabinet.

On a note

Particular attention should be paid to the lid. If a glass jar of honey is closed with a nylon or plastic lid, the shelf life is reduced and the product may lose its aroma.

Glass jars

Food plastic containers

Plastic is a cheap and convenient alternative to glass and ceramics. Required conditions:

• Labeling for food products (picture - glass and fork).
• Manufacturing material – polypropylene (markings: PP, PP, “5”).

It is desirable that the plastic container is opaque and not heated by sunlight or household appliances.

Interesting! How long honey can be stored at room temperature in a plastic container depends on the tightness of the lid and the location of the container. Experts do not recommend storing honey in plastic for more than 1 year.

Wood and birch bark

Since ancient times, honey was stored in birch bark tueskas and wooden barrels. Natural materials are well suited for storing medicinal products, but their cost is very high. In addition, wooden barrels and tubs made of “fragrant” conifers and oak (which gives a color tint) cannot be used as containers for honey.

Metal containers

Metal containers are not recommended for storing honey. The product contains active substances that react with metal. The acids contained in the honey mass corrode aluminum, copper and galvanized utensils, forming compounds hazardous to human health.

For your information. Metal utensils with an enamel coating and made of stainless steel are not dangerous.

Storage temperature

At what temperature can honey retain its beneficial properties for a long period of time? To answer this question, it is enough to understand at what level this indicator is in the hive.

In winter, the bee house never drops below -5 degrees. This figure is limiting. If the temperature exceeds +20 degrees, then the beneficial properties of the product will begin to be lost. In such a situation, the honey will acquire a dark shade and begin to taste slightly bitter.

How to store it correctly

Lovers and connoisseurs of the sweet natural bee product need to know how to properly store honey. But of course! Bee honey, too, along with other products, requires certain storage. The quality of this valuable product, and therefore its healing properties, largely depends on the proper storage of honey.

Temperature and humidity

We discussed earlier what kind of container to store honey in, so we will not consider this issue here. First, let's look at storage conditions such as temperature and humidity. The honey storage temperature recommended by many books and reference books on beekeeping is +10°C and air humidity 60%.

According to GOST 19792-2001 (Natural honey. Technical conditions), honey with a moisture content of 19% should be stored at a temperature not exceeding +20°C, and honey with a mass fraction of water of 19-21% at a temperature from +4°C to +10°C (Such temperatures only happen in a cellar or basement). This GOST does not specify how to store honey with a moisture content of 15-18%.

This is interesting: Why did the honey separate?

According to the newest GOST for honey (GOST R 54644-2011), the storage conditions for honey have changed somewhat: now the honey storage temperature is no higher than +20°C (nothing is said about humidity at all).

Attention!

Not everyone has the above conditions in their apartment. Especially in the kitchen, where many people store “heavenly dew juice,” in the sense of bee honey. We ourselves store a jar of honey in the kitchen under the sink (next to the potatoes), where the temperature is +25°C, of ​​course I didn’t measure the humidity. Honey for sale (in hermetically sealed glass jars) is stored on the bottom shelf in the closet, where the temperature is the same.

I noticed that if you store bee honey at lower temperatures (under the window or in the refrigerator), it crystallizes faster and becomes hard, and when drinking tea it is not very convenient to take it from the honeypot with a spoon.

In a dry room (with low humidity), a process called honey blossoming may occur (this fact indicates the high quality of honey). At high humidity fermentation of honey may occur. To be honest, I have never even seen how honey ferments.

Smells, darkness and honey

Smells, darkness and honey You should not store honey in a room (on shelves, racks) with products that have strong odors, as honey can absorb them and lose its taste.
However, if you store honey in a tightly closed jar, then nothing bad should happen.

The first rule is that the place for storing honey should be dark or shaded. When exposed to sunlight, the product very quickly loses all its healing properties, since under the influence of intense light the healthy product turns into a mass of carbohydrates, and valuable components and enzymes are simply destroyed.

Therefore, honey cannot be stored on the windowsill or dining table. Many people prefer to store this product in the general compartment of the refrigerator. This is permissible, but only if certain honey storage conditions are met: the temperature should not be below +5°C; For storage it is better to prefer a compartment on the door;

What you really need to remember is that you need to store honey in a dark place.

Advice!

Back in the last century, German scientists proved that natural honey left on a window (in normal daylight) for two days will lose its medicinal properties.

It turns out that you should not store a jar of honey on a windowsill or on an open shelf.

The second rule is optimal air humidity, which can range from 60% to 80%. If the room is too damp, the honey will quickly absorb moisture and oversaturation with it will lead to rapid souring of the product. Here you don’t even need to mention that honey will immediately lose its value.

Honey perfectly absorbs moisture from the environment. If you do not close a jar of honey tightly and leave it near a damp place, the mass fraction of water in the product will increase and, as a result, the amount of useful substances will decrease.

In addition to moisture, honey perfectly absorbs odors, so it should not be stored next to strong-smelling foods (fish, onions, vinegar, sweet carbonated drinks, etc.), as well as household chemicals.

For honey, it is very important to store it in dry conditions and not to touch it with a wet spoon, since it is nothing but sugar and the honey can easily ferment.

Another thing is that there may be a danger for storing honey when you buy honey that is not quite ripe, and the moisture content there is higher than intended.

This honey will not be stored for long; it will sit for a while and may ferment. This may be an indication that the honey was not quite ripe.

Where exactly should you keep the treat?

Can honey be stored in plastic containers? Before answering this question, it is worth understanding for yourself that the product is afraid of direct rays of the sun. Because of them, all enzymes are destroyed. For this reason, placing the container with the product on the windowsill is strictly prohibited.

Humidity also plays a significant role. It should not exceed 75%. However, in this situation, much will depend on the type of product. For example, an acacia delicacy can take root in a damp room, and a honeydew product will retain its properties if the humidity does not exceed 60%.

It has already been said above at what temperature to store honey. It is also worth knowing that you cannot constantly move the product from heat to cold. As soon as honey is purchased, it must be immediately sent to the pantry, where the temperature varies from +5 to +15 degrees. There should be no seasonings or chemicals near the treat.

Where to store honey if there is no storage room in the apartment? Dark drawers and cabinets are suitable for these purposes. The main thing is that the temperature does not deviate from the indicators described above.

Possible storage locations

Choosing a good location will extend the shelf life of the product.

Fridge

In apartments, honey is stored in refrigerators. This ensures stable temperature conditions at any time of the year, absence of light and low humidity. In the cold, the product becomes viscous, but retains all the vitamins.

Basement and cellar

In private homes, it is best to store honey in basements that are protected from temperature changes and the influence of sunlight. Beekeepers recommend equipping such rooms with ventilation, ensuring a low level of humidity. Otherwise, you will have to seal the containers hermetically. The product absorbs water, which leads to its fermentation.

Wardrobe and pantry

The size of refrigerators often does not allow them to be used for storing honey reserves. In apartments, it is convenient to keep the product in a closet, which is isolated from sunlight. It is important that cabinets are kept away from heating and gas appliances.

Using the refrigerator

How long can honey be stored? As mentioned above, a lot depends on the location. If you decide to put the product in the refrigerator, you should take into account some recommendations.

1. The refrigerator must have a dry freeze function. Only in this situation can you safely put in it such a delicacy as honey.
2. When storing bee products in the refrigerator, you should first place them in an airtight container. Otherwise, the treat will simply “die” due to foreign odors.
3. At what temperature should honey be stored? It is important that it does not fall below -5 degrees. The product will “feel” most comfortable at a temperature of +5 degrees.

Flower storage

If you cut tulips yourself, then it is better to do it early in the morning or in cloudy weather. The inflorescence should be half-opened or in a bud, and the cut should be made at an angle. After cutting, it is better to immediately put the roses in water, which will not be very cold, and it is better not to immerse tulips and chrysanthemums. If possible, it is better to use settled tap water and store flowers in the refrigerator or on the balcony. The main thing is that there is an acceptable temperature - 8 - 10 ° C. Tulips are well preserved in a “dry” form. To learn how to store bulbous flowers, watch this video:

To prevent water from wasting, you should add specially made products “Crizal”, “Bud”, etc. to it. They have antiseptic properties and supply the tulips with the necessary minerals. To purify the water, you can use activated carbon tablets or put a silver coin in it. A good feed can be diluted sugar with water (1 tsp per 0.5 liter of water)

It is also important to change the water daily

Using the cellar

In a standard cellar, the microclimate is excellent for purposes such as storing a variety of products. Honey is no exception. But it is best to place the treat in a wooden barrel with wax. This precaution will help protect the product from moisture.

Quite often, the cellar is used for storing fish, cheeses and sausages. And you should understand that the delicacy will suffer very seriously due to the pungent odors. The product should not be placed next to cereals, sugar, or salt. Otherwise, the fermentation processes will be greatly accelerated.

Subtleties and features of the storage process

But a product such as honey must be stored correctly.

The main condition that affects the quality and beneficial properties of honey is temperature.

It is best to store honey at a temperature from -5C° to +20C°.

Advice!

It is not advisable to overheat honey. When heated above +40 C°, honey loses some of its enzymes and vitamins and becomes simply a sweet treat. Cooling honey affects its quality to a much lesser extent than heating it.

Frequent changes in honey storage temperature can lead to uneven crystallization.

Another important condition for storing honey is the container. Since honey is hydroscopic, it actively absorbs moisture from the environment. This leads to an increase in the mass fraction of water in honey, its fermentation and spoilage. Therefore, honey must be stored in a tightly closed container.

The best way to store honey is in tightly closed glass containers or willow barrels (conifers, oak, etc. are absolutely not suitable for storing honey).

Honey can be stored in clay, enamel or plastic containers, but it is important to remember that untreated clay absorbs moisture, and plastic may not be resistant to the somewhat aggressive composition of honey (you can only use plastic containers for food), iron containers can also react with incoming substances included in honey.

It is strictly forbidden to store honey in galvanized and copper containers, as honey will react with them and may become toxic. It is important to remember that sunlight is extremely destructive to honey - it loses vitamins and enzymes, while maintaining taste and color.

Ideal storage conditions for honey: a cool, dark place in a tightly sealed glass container.

Shelf life of honey

Typically, manufacturers indicate on the packaging the shelf life according to GOST (GOST 19792-2001 “Natural Honey” and GOST R 52451-2005 “Monofloral Honey”) - 1 year. But this does not mean that after a year, honey becomes unsuitable for consumption.

Attention!

The shelf life of natural honey is unlimited, subject to storage conditions. Due to its preservative properties, natural honey retains its taste and beneficial properties for a very long time.

Some experts believe that over time, if stored properly, the taste of honey becomes even better and the aroma becomes more subtle due to the ripening process of honey. It is known, for example, that monks in Rus' preferred aged honey 2-3 years old.

And in the hives of wild bees, honey is stored for years and the age of a bee colony can be recognized by the color of mature honey, like the rings on a tree.

source: www.berestoff.ru

Storage containers

Honey is stored only in spotlessly clean containers made of glass or aluminum. You cannot pour honey into an uncleaned container under the pretext that honey was stored in it. The film of old honey promotes the fermentation of new honey, as a result of which the taste and smell of honey change.

Honey should not be stored in containers made of zinc, copper, lead or alloys of these metals, since under the influence of the acids contained in honey, chemical compounds are formed that can cause severe poisoning.

Iron containers are also contraindicated, since due to corrosion of iron as a result of prolonged contact with acids in honey, it acquires an unpleasant taste and smell.

Jars of honey should not be kept together with strong-smelling products (paints, fuel, essences), as honey quickly absorbs odors. An open vessel with honey should not be placed next to hygroscopic substances that help maintain humidity in the air (salt), as this causes accelerated fermentation of honey.

Honey packaged in glass jars should be stored in dark rooms, as light causes the quality of honey to deteriorate. Honey turns dark quickly. To liquefy crystallized honey, the vessel with honey is kept in hot water, in no case directly on fire.

Attention!

We only need to heat the amount of honey we need. Heated honey quickly begins to ferment and its quality deteriorates.

The presence of nutritional and medicinal properties in honey depends on its correct storage. It is known that in honeycombs and under certain conditions, honey can retain its nutritional properties for centuries. But for medicinal purposes, only fresh honey is desirable, or at least honey with a shelf life of no more than one year.

Honey, especially honeydew, is hygroscopic: it has the ability to absorb moisture from the air and retain it. If stored improperly in conditions of high humidity and in unsealed containers, honey can absorb up to 30% moisture. Such honey, if stored for a long time in a warm place and at a relative humidity of more than 60%, can ferment and sour.

Honey with a water content of 17.4% at the same air humidity does not exhibit hygroscopicity. Therefore, veterinary and sanitary rules provide for the storage of honey in a clean, dry, cool, well-ventilated room with a relative air humidity of 60% (at a temperature of no more than 20 ° C, if the honey moisture content is less than 21%; at a temperature not higher than 10 C, if the honey moisture content is more than 21 %) and always in the dark, since sunlight, direct sunlight and even scattered light have a detrimental effect on the antimicrobial properties of honey.

48 hours of continuous exposure of honey to sunlight completely destroys some enzymes, in particular the enzyme inhibin. Namely, this enzyme is credited with antimicrobial properties. Therefore, you need to be especially careful when storing and preparing honey for sale.

The honey storage room must be isolated from toxic, dusty substances that have a sharp specific odor, since honey easily absorbs flour and cement dust, foreign odors from strong-smelling products such as fish, pickles, cheeses, sauerkraut.

Honey easily absorbs the smell of smoke, gasoline, kerosene, turpentine, pesticides, etc. The room where honey is stored is protected from insects entering it.

This is interesting: 10 unexpected facts about the composition of natural honey of different types

At home, it is advisable to store honey in a cellar or refrigerator. Honey can be stored at sub-zero temperatures (down to -20 °C). The healing properties of honey are not lost.

It is important!

As a rule, almost all natural honeys are in a crystallized state in autumn and winter. If honey is liquid in winter, this indicates that it has been adulterated or has been overheated.

Two layers of honey During the storage of honey, sometimes two layers are formed - crystallized at the bottom and syrup-like at the top - this indicates the immaturity of the honey, its high humidity, but not always. So, if grape sugar - glucose - is contained in honey (even mature) in small quantities, then during crystallization it settles to the bottom, and fruit sugar - fructose - above it. After mixing, such honey is allowed for sale.

For storing honey, the most hygienic and convenient are glass, enamel or nickel-plated containers with thick plastic or metal lids:

• wooden barrels (barrels) made of beech, birch, willow, cedar, linden, plane tree, aspen, alder with wood moisture content not exceeding 16%, that is, below the permissible moisture content of honey. Barrels made of coniferous trees are not suitable, since honey acquires resin during storage; You can’t store it in oak barrels: honey darkens;
• milk cans and flasks made of stainless steel, sheet steel, tinned with food grade tin, aluminum and aluminum alloys;
• tin cans coated inside with food varnish;
• glasses or tubes made of aluminum foil coated with food varnish;
• glass jars and other types of glass containers (to prevent glass jars from cracking, when filling them with liquid honey, wooden sticks are inserted, remaining until crystallization is complete);
• glasses molded or corrugated from pressed cardboard with moisture-proof impregnation;
• bags, cups and boxes made of waxed paper, parchment - for crystallized honey; from artificial polymeric materials, for food purposes;
• The dishes are ceramic, coated on the inside with glaze. The container must be clean, odorless, hermetically sealed. It is allowed to use rubber gaskets.

It is contraindicated, and even dangerous, to store honey in galvanized and iron containers, as this creates toxic substances. When honey is stored in a copper container, it turns bluish-green, and when stored in an iron container, it turns dark red. It is prohibited to store honey in containers made of synthetic materials.

It is important!

You cannot heat honey, as this destroys all the components of honey, the color changes - the honey darkens, the aroma disappears, bactericidal substances, vitamins, and enzymes are destroyed. This process is observed at normal storage temperatures, but accelerates at elevated temperatures. Partial decomposition of sugars occurs and hydroxymethylfurfural is formed.

As a result, honey loses its biological and many medicinal properties and becomes a simple mixture of nutrients, mainly carbohydrates.

Studies have shown that honey should not be heated at all, or even stored at temperatures above 20 °C.

Heating to a temperature of 35-40 °C is already unfavorable for it - complete deactivation of vitamins occurs, and starting at a temperature of 50 °C, honey quickly loses its bactericidal properties and aroma, 60 °C - enzymes, 80 °C - sugars are destroyed and a significant amount is formed hydroxymethylfurfural.

Prolonged heating of honey leads to almost complete loss of antimicrobial properties.

The low content of hydroxymethylfurfural is a valuable indicator of very careful and proper processing and storage of honey. Based on its content, it can be determined that the honey has been adulterated and artificial inverted sugar has been added to it.

When honey is stored for more than one year, its biological activity gradually weakens. For example, when honey is stored at a temperature of 23-28 C for 8-12 months, its antimicrobial properties, the amount of glucose and fructose decrease by 5-10%, vitamins BXi B2 and C by 10-20%, the diastase number drops almost by half, the amount of sucrose and acids increases. The higher the storage temperature of honey, the more significant the change in its properties.

Source: www.pchelovod.com

Which container is best?

Is it possible to store honey in a plastic jar? Or should I take another container? Such questions can quite often bother lovers of this product. You should start with the fact that the container for storing treats must be airtight. First you need to wash it, or even better, scald it with boiling water and wait until the container has cooled completely. A glass jar with a plastic lid is best for storage.

Do not forget that a new product cannot be mixed with an old one. Otherwise, the fermentation process will speed up, which will simply spoil the delicacy.

If there is no suitable jar for honey, you can use a barrel made of wood (alder or linden). An oak container or container made from aspen and coniferous wood is not suitable for such purposes. In this case, the product will either acquire a darkish tint or become bitter, losing its aroma.

Where to store honey? Utensils made of stainless steel are also suitable for these purposes. The container must be equipped with a lid. Containers designed for fermented milk products may be suitable for these purposes. It is necessary to understand that the delicacy will spoil in dishes made of lead, copper and iron.

It is not recommended to store the product in plain metal containers, as the container will begin to oxidize in this situation. This will lead to the fact that a useful product will turn into an extremely dangerous poison.

Where and how to store honey so that it does not become sugary: choosing a place

The first thing a person who is interested in where it is best to store honey should be is to find a suitable place for the product in a house or apartment. When choosing, be sure to pay attention to the following points:

1. The place should be dark, protected from direct sunlight.
2. Care should be taken to ensure that there is no high humidity in the place where honey is stored. Its maximum indicator should be 80%.
3. You need to make sure that there are no strong odors nearby, since honey tends to absorb them.
4. You need to choose a cool place.

Note! Where is the best place to store honey if you follow the rules suggested above? The best place for it would be a cellar or basement if the humidity is low.

Here's how to properly store honey in an apartment, or more precisely, in what places it is best to do it:

• Kitchen cabinets that are located away from heating appliances.
• Fridge.
• A cabinet that stands on a loggia or balcony.

The latter option is appropriate if you need to store beekeeping products in the cool season.

Proper storage in plastic

Is it possible to store honey in plastic containers? At the present stage, this type of container is quite popular. This is due to tightness and ease of transportation of products. However, even the most environmentally friendly containers are not suitable for long-term storage of honey.

Is it possible to store honey in plastic bottles, containers or other similar containers? Naturally, it is possible, but no more than 6-12 months. This is due to the fact that the treat is an active substance. Over time, it will begin to draw harmful chemicals from the plastic, gradually turning into poison.

Freezing berries for the winter in plastic bottles

Of course, the most common way of preparing berries for the winter is jam and compotes, and all of this is of course delicious, but not for everyone, I prefer to freeze the berries, and then, if necessary, cook compotes or preserves from these berries, use them in baking, yes and just like that - defrost and enjoy.

Many who have tried to freeze berries have noted that over time the taste of such berries deteriorates, but there is a way out. Firstly, use plastic food containers or plastic bottles instead of plastic bags, and secondly, sprinkle the berries with sugar before freezing. Absolutely any berries are suitable for freezing in this way, the only problem being some cherries. which I plan to use in the future for baking, I remove the seeds in advance. In addition, you can freeze assorted berries this way.

Preparing berries for freezing.

The berries are thoroughly washed, the stalks are removed, only high-quality berries without spoilage are selected, then the selected berries are placed on a wire rack to give it time to dry from the water.

Preparing containers for freezing.

If you are using new food grade plastic containers or bottles, simply rinse them with baking soda and let them dry thoroughly.

If these are plastic bottles that previously contained juice or milk, then pay special attention to washing, especially if the bottles contained a dairy product. By the way, it’s not in vain that it was said about the dairy product - bottles for milk and fermented milk products have a wide neck and are much more convenient to use

Next is the process itself.

After the berry has dried, take a little berry, lightly sprinkle with sugar (to taste), mix and place in a bottle or plastic container, repeat the process until the container is full, you can use a wide-necked funnel to fill the bottle, We close it and put it in the freezer, I prefer to use bottles, since such a container closes more hermetically and the berries do not lose their taste and quality until the next harvest.

Why do we process the berries in small portions? - Everything is simple here, if there are a lot of berries and they are tender, such as raspberries, strawberries, then when mixing they can be mashed.

Clay pots

In ancient times, they preferred to store delicacies in clay pots. So why not use this container today? At the present stage, such a container (if it has a lid) can be considered the best for the safe storage of honey.

As mentioned earlier, the sweet product is an active substance that can easily react with an unsafe container. Clay meets all the parameters for safe storage.

It will not let in not only the sun's rays, but also moisture. The composition of the dishes does not include chemical impurities or various coloring elements, since baked clay is used for its manufacture. In addition, a comfortable temperature for keeping honey is created inside the pot.

And if you are wondering what is the best way to store honey, then you should understand that clay pots are an excellent option.

Glass

A glass jar, in some cases, has its advantages. So glass, especially dark glass, does not transmit ultraviolet rays. In production conditions and on the store shelf, this advantage, of course, is not significant, but if you buy honey pre-packaged by a beekeeper or seller in the open air - in a tent without an awning near the metro or on hiking trails, then you should make a choice in favor of glass.

If you keep honey in the open sun for a long time at a temperature of +25 °C and above, this will lead to its destruction

In a store environment, honey does not need additional protection from ultraviolet radiation and buying it in dark glass or frosted plastic does not make sense. On the contrary, it is better to see the product in person. Although, it is more pleasant to give honey as a gift in a transparent glass jar; it favorably sets off the color of the honey and has a fascinating shine.

Additional recommendations

It should be understood that crystallization of the product is an irreversible and natural process. It is this that indicates that the delicacy is natural. As soon as the honey has been pumped out of the frames, it will gradually darken and thicken. After a few months, sugar crystals form in it.

If after purchase it was noticed that the contents were divided into two parts (thick and liquid), we can say that the product is unripe. Plus it was mixed with water. However, the beneficial qualities of the delicacy will not suffer from this.

If honey remains liquid for a long time, there is reason to think about the quality of the product. This circumstance suggests that this is either a fake or a product stuffed with various preservatives. This delicacy has an overly sweet taste and unnatural smell. And it takes too long to harden.

Is it possible to eat honey that has crystallized in a plastic container?

The separation of honey into thick and liquid is a normal process during long-term storage.
It does not degrade the quality of the product and does not affect the usefulness and taste. Honey crystallization is a natural process of making the product natural. It is a sign of the quality of honey. No chemical reactions occur during crystallization. This process depends on certain conditions: temperature, humidity, storage duration, mechanical stress. The main components of honey are glucose and fructose. It is these substances that underlie the process. Glucose crystallizes, and fructose remains in a liquid state, surrounding the crystals. If honey contains more glucose, the crystallization process will begin earlier. This includes, for example, sunflower honey. If it contains more fructose, then there will be much fewer honey crystals, as, for example, in acacia honey.

The ratio of water and glucose also plays a huge role in this process. That is, if there is more water in honey than glucose, then it will remain liquid longer. Low temperature slows down the crystallization process, since the molecules move much more slowly than at higher temperatures. At high temperatures, large crystals form.

How to properly store honey so that the product does not spoil and retains its beneficial properties for a long time, watch our video:

If honey is stored for a long time, this also affects the crystallization process - over time, the concentration of glucose in honey decreases, and fructose begins to predominate. Accordingly, the honey becomes liquid again. Mechanical action destroys the formed crystals, which slows down and stops the crystallization process. If you add thick honey to liquid honey, the process will go much faster - the existing crystals will join the rest, and their mass will increase.

Storage Tips

The opinion that honey can be stored for only a year was refuted above. If all of the above conditions are met, the beneficial properties of the product will not disappear for a long period of time.

How to store fresh honey? If it begins to harden over time, you should not be alarmed. This is a natural process. But you shouldn’t use a water bath to give it a liquid state again. Otherwise, a number of beneficial properties may disappear.

The delicacy has a high content of various vitamins. Therefore, bacteria do not survive in such an environment. In this regard, we can say that in general the delicacy is self-sufficient. Especially if it is natural and fresh. By recreating the conditions of the hives, you can keep the product indefinitely.

In the modern world, it is easy to run into fake or simply low-quality products. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to buy honey from friends. In such a situation, even imperfect storage will preserve useful qualities for a long time.

Plastic container for honey

After harvesting the crop, the beekeeper must think about how to store it. And here he has a huge selection of possible options.

Previously, honey was stored in wooden barrels. Now glass and plastic containers have also been added to this classic option.

Plastic containers have the ability to retain the properties of the product for a long period. However, it is made using chemical industry technologies: is it safe for food storage?

One of the popular varieties of such devices for storing sweet substances collected by winged apiary workers is the cubetainer. In fact, it is nothing more than a cubic container.

For small farms, a few jars will be enough to store the harvest: the fact is that its volume will be limited. But large beekeeping farms require an impressive number of containers for storing and transporting beekeeping products.

Thus, someone buys containers for beekeeping products in single quantities, while others make wholesale purchases. Naturally, in the second case the price per unit of goods will be less than in the first.

Thus, by making bulk purchases, you can save a lot. However, owners of small farms with bees should not be upset: containers for storing beekeeping products are quite cheap.

This especially applies to ordinary plastic jars and buckets. Your financial expenses will not be too large if you give preference to this type of container for storing and transporting sweet bee substance.

Is it possible to store honey in plastic containers? This is probably one of the most convenient devices for such purposes, so if you are confident in the quality of the material, then why give up this opportunity?

As a rule, such things are made from food-grade plastic, which is safe for food and does not in any way affect their quality and original properties. This means that when using such material, you do not have to worry about your health.

Storing honey in plastic containers is simple and convenient. Many sweet tooths prefer this option, as it is one of the most convenient.

In this regard, many newcomers to this business have a completely logical question: how long can honey be stored in plastic containers? In fact, high-quality plastic containers do not in any way affect the quality of sweet flower nectar processed by bees, so the shelf life of such natural wealth is not limited by any additional factors.

There are many different opinions about how long honey itself can be stored. Some believe that it is best to use sweet bee nectar for several years, while others insist that this product is almost eternal and only gains its beneficial properties over time.

As a rule, such containers have an airtight lid, which means that ideal conditions for storing honey are created inside it. How long does honey last in plastic containers? It all depends on how quickly you use such a sweet treat: make sure that the temperature and humidity conditions are maintained, and then your sweet treat will not spoil for the longest possible time.

Why should such dishes be airtight? Of course, the answer suggests itself: to ensure that the food product does not spoil as much as possible. If the seal is maintained, no harmful microorganisms will get inside.

In addition, everyone knows that the product we are considering, obtained on the territory of an apiary farm, under normal conditions has a liquid consistency. It is solid only if it has undergone crystallization or sugaring processes.

Thus, the presence of an airtight lid will prevent the sweet bee nectar from spilling by accident or carelessness. This is especially important if you need to transport this product over long distances.

Of course, not every material is suitable for making dishes suitable for containing food products. The fact is that all plastics can be divided into food and technical.

And only food options can be used for the purposes we are considering. It is also very important that such material actually meets all the necessary requirements.

How can you check this? Firstly, you can trust your own feelings. If there is some kind of unpleasant odor coming from the plastic, then it is hardly worth using such material to contain food products.

In addition, when choosing the right option, you can focus on trusted manufacturers. At the same time, you can make your choice in favor of specific brands, or you can simply request from your chosen seller all the necessary certificates confirming the quality of your product.

Let's summarize

Storing honey is a responsible matter. Therefore, you should not treat it with disdain. Otherwise, the product can deteriorate in a record short period of time, and its further use will cause irreparable harm to the body. Based on all of the above, we can identify the main criteria that must be taken into account when storing the product.

1. Temperature conditions. It is very important to store the product at the optimal temperature. Otherwise, it will begin to deteriorate and delaminate, losing its beneficial properties. It should be noted that vitamins will evaporate instantly if the product is heated to +40 degrees. Too low a temperature causes hardening.
2. Dishes. Can honey be stored in plastic containers? It's possible, but not for too long. However, the best option is a clay pot or glass jar. Do not place treats in iron or galvanized containers under any circumstances, so as not to spoil them.
3. Humidity. The lower this indicator is, the better for the product. This circumstance is due to the fact that honey absorbs moisture at a rapid pace. To prevent this from happening, the storage container must be airtight.
4. Light and smell. As already mentioned, direct sunlight kills the product. Therefore, you cannot store it on windowsills. It is best to place honey in a dark place where there are no chemicals or seasonings. There should be no other strong-smelling substances near the treat. Even the most airtight container is not able to completely protect honey from foreign odors.

General rules for storing honey

So that honey does not turn sour, does not ferment, and remains tasty and aromatic for a long time, it must be stored correctly.

Temperature

A suitable temperature is the main condition for preserving the benefits of any product, including honey, so you should not keep it in kitchen cabinets, especially near the stove. At home, the product is stored at a temperature not lower than +6 °C and not higher than +20 °C. At higher levels, it turns into a simple carbohydrate mixture, losing its beneficial properties.

After heating above +60 °C, hydroxymethylfurfural, a carcinogen, is released. For this reason, the product is not recommended to be placed in hot tea. At low temperatures (less than +6 °C), honey does not lose its properties, but becomes too hard.

Frequent changes in temperature, which lead to uneven crystallization, are also not recommended.

Smells

Honey quickly absorbs surrounding odors. When it is stored near aromatic products, the subtle natural odor is replaced. Therefore, you should choose closed compartments in the refrigerator or insulated cabinets. Even a short “neighborhood” with spices, garlic or onions leads to irreversible changes.

Humidity

Store honey at low humidity (no more than 18%). At higher rates, the product will remain liquid for a long time. And this leads to a decrease in shelf life.

Illumination

Honey is sensitive to light. Under the influence of UV rays, vitamins, enzymes and other substances in its composition are destroyed. Storing the product in light leads to a reduction in shelf life. Therefore, it is recommended to keep it in the dark.

About changes in the appearance of honey

During honey storage, it can change:

How and for how long can you store honey at home in honeycombs?

This product has a very long shelf life. At the moment, during excavations of the tombs of the pharaohs, honey was found in honeycombs, the properties of which have not deteriorated.

Features of honey in combs:

• Useful and helps get rid of a number of chronic ailments
• Helps get rid of allergies to many foods
• Improves immunity
• Quickly helps get rid of colds and ARVI
• Used as an external remedy for the treatment of bruises and joint diseases

How and for how long can you store honey at home in honeycombs?
As you can see, honey is an unpretentious product that can be easily stored at home. It is not necessary to store nectar in the cellar. It is enough to follow some rules.

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.

Home conditions are not conducive to storing honey at room temperature

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.