Honey is one of the most useful products, which is effective in the treatment of not only colds, but also many other ailments. In addition, their beneficial features it keeps for a long period of time. That is why there are stocks of a sweet golden bee product in almost every home. Nevertheless, not everyone knows how to properly store honey in an apartment. As a result, its quality may deteriorate significantly.

Storage period

Before you figure out how to properly store honey in an apartment, you should designate the allowable periods. There is an opinion among the people that stocks should be used up within a year, otherwise there will be no benefit from this product. Moreover, many argue that after 12 months, honey ceases to be a medicine, but can be harmful to health.

In fact, this is nothing more than a myth. Of course, after a year, the color, texture and aroma will change. However, if you know how to properly store honey in an apartment, even after 2 or more years, it will retain its properties. This can be confirmed by the fact that during one of the archaeological excavations an ancient vessel with a viscous golden liquid was found. After appropriate analyzes, it turned out that this was honey, which, after several centuries, was still usable.

Thus, the most important thing is to know how to store honey properly at home. The shelf life of the product will be practically unlimited if you strictly follow the rules.

Temperature regime

When answering the question of how to properly store honey in an apartment, it is important to determine the maximum allowable temperature. It is 40 degrees. Then chemical processes and reactions can begin, which are accompanied by the release of toxic substances.

It is clear that a city apartment does not warm up to such critical temperatures, but the standard 20-30 degrees does not provide the product with long-term preservation. Within a few months, honey will begin to exfoliate and lose a significant part of its beneficial properties.

The optimal temperature regime ranges from 6 degrees below zero to +10. Under these conditions, honey practically does not change its physical and chemical properties. With a strong drop in temperature, the product may harden, which is also not very good.

Choice of location: private house

To understand how to properly store honey in a house and a city apartment, it is important to know the optimal characteristics of the room. With temperature, everything is already clear. Also, direct sunlight should not penetrate into it, and the humidity should be at a minimum level (if the container is hermetically sealed, then the last characteristic can be ignored).

Those who are lucky enough to live in their own home most often have to store food in the cellar. In terms of light and temperature conditions, this is just an ideal place. Nevertheless, high humidity makes it necessary to look for ways to seal the container. If the house has an unheated veranda, honey can be stored here in the winter. It is enough to protect it with a thick cloth from the sun's rays.

Location choice: city apartment

When wondering how to properly store honey at home, immediately exclude the kitchen, where the temperature is high at any time of the year. In winter, heated residential premises are not recommended.

The layout of many city apartments (the so-called Khrushchevs) provides for storage rooms. In small rooms without windows and batteries, sometimes the conditions are ideal to store honey for a long time.

If you don't have a pantry, the fridge is the perfect place to store your honey. Here the product is not afraid of temperature changes, humidity or sunlight. It is better to take the lower shelves for honey (away from the freezer).

As for the balcony or loggia, this is perhaps the most vulnerable place in the apartment (even if there is glazing). Too hot in summer and too cold in winter. In addition, when the seasonal rains begin, the level of humidity rises sharply.

How to store honey and what should it contain?

Properly chosen container is the most important condition for long-term storage of honey with the preservation of its beneficial properties and taste. So, the following options are allowed:

  • for short-term storage (up to 3 months), a plastic container with a tight-fitting lid is suitable;
  • glass jars are perfect option, because the material does not enter into any chemical reactions with the product itself (it is recommended to sterilize the container before use, and also take care of sealing);
  • wooden or clay barrels will help preserve the properties of honey and give it an unusual aroma (the main thing is that the material is not treated with aggressive chemicals).

Never store honey in copper or galvanized containers. After a short time, the product and the metal enter into a chemical reaction, as a result of which toxic substances are released. Even when buying honey, be careful if it is poured from a metal container (ask what alloy it is made of).

in honeycombs

Buying a frame with fresh honey is a real success, because in this way you can be 100% sure of the freshness and high quality of the product. Many people pour honey into jars on their own, but some people prefer to keep it in its original form. This is not an easy task.

The whole frame must be wrapped with polyethylene, and on top with an opaque cloth. But be careful not to get moths. In addition, you need to carefully monitor because if there is a product with a pungent odor next to the frame, then the wax will absorb it.

The ideal option is to separate the honeycombs from the frame and store them in a tightly closed container. So you save the maximum of useful properties and save yourself from unnecessary trouble.

Benefits of storing honey in combs

There are many opinions about how to store honey at home correctly. The methods are quite numerous. But any beekeeper will tell you that the best way to store honey is in combs. There are several reasons:

  • a large amount of vitamins are retained, which can be neutralized during the pumping process;
  • wax itself contains a lot useful substances;
  • sealed honeycombs are absolutely sterile, and therefore you can be completely sure that there are no bacteria and microbes (by the way, thanks to this, honey is stored longer);
  • foundation can be chewed periodically, thereby beneficially affecting the health of the oral cavity, as well as the gastrointestinal tract.

How to avoid sugaring?

How to store honey at home so that it does not get candied? Such a method, perhaps, has not yet been invented. Considering how much sugar is contained in honey, after a while crystals will begin to form in it. However, if you want it to stay liquid for as long as possible, buy the product in honeycomb. Cut them up, arrange them in jars and enjoy fresh honey.

The rate of sugaring of honey largely depends on the conditions of its storage. If all requirements are met and the temperature remains constant, you will be able to enjoy a transparent and liquid bee product for a long time. However, this way you can only delay sugaring, but not avoid it.

You can periodically heat jars of honey. Best suited for this water bath(the main thing is that the surface of the container should not have direct contact with fire). In this case, the temperature of honey should not exceed 35-40 degrees. In addition, heat treatment significantly reduces useful properties.

Common Problems

Honey is important to store properly. However, even compliance with all conditions does not guarantee that after a while the product will not have problems. So, the most common of them is stratification. If you see that the thick part of the honey has settled, and the liquid part has remained at the top, this does not mean that the reason is in the temperature regime. Most likely, honey was pumped out of the honeycombs without waiting for it to ripen. But for taste and medicinal properties the product will not be affected in any way. Feel free to mix honey and eat.

A much more serious problem is the appearance of white foam on the surface of honey. If such a nuisance occurred shortly after the purchase of honey, then most likely it was not filtered thoroughly enough. This product does not pose any health hazard. What's more, this alert-raising foam is incredibly healthy.

The situation is completely different with honey, which is stored for a long period of time. Most likely, you did not close the container tightly enough, and moisture got into it. In this case, the foam indicates fermentation, and therefore it is forbidden to eat such a product. However, in order not to throw it away, you can use such honey to add a pleasant aroma to baked goods.

conclusions

Honey is delicious and healthy. No wonder people want to always have a supply of this delicacy at home. Nevertheless, not everyone knows how to properly store honey in an apartment. The tips are so numerous that you can get lost in them. Based on the foregoing, the following theses can be distinguished:

  • the optimal storage temperature of this product ranges from -6 to +10 degrees;
  • in a city apartment, honey is best stored on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator or in the pantry, and if we are talking about a private house - in the cellar;
  • ideal containers are clean sterile glass jars tightly closed with a lid;
  • to avoid quick sugaring, it is recommended to store honey in combs (this can be a whole frame or fragments of wax, laid out in jars).

Honey is a rather capricious product in storage. Violation of the norms and rules of storage can lead not only to the loss of taste and useful qualities, but even to the production of toxic substances. Therefore, if you are not sure about your knowledge of how to properly store honey at home, purchase it in small quantities that will be used up quickly.

Honey has long been famous for its properties, since ancient times people have used it in cooking, in the treatment of diseases, in cosmetology. This product has established itself as an effective, environmentally friendly natural remedy that works in several ways: it improves immunity, protects the body from various microbes, and enriches cells with vitamins and minerals. Its uniqueness lies in the complete assimilation by the body.

The benefits of honey are invaluable to humans. In order for all the useful properties to be preserved for a long time, it must be properly stored - choose a place, container and temperature and humidity conditions.


Peculiarities

Numerous programs, films, scientific publications, articles in newspapers and magazines are devoted to Honey. Nobody disputes its usefulness. It has long been scientifically proven that this delicacy has a positive effect on health. Natural honey can be called liquid gold. A valuable product has very important features.

  • Variety of varieties and species. It can be flower, meadow, field, taiga, mountain, forest, honeydew - and this is only a small part of the species palette. Each variety is unique in composition, color, aroma, benefits.
  • Taste. The taste properties of honey depend on honey plants - plants from which it was collected by hardworking bees. They are all united by a pleasant sweetness, sometimes a refreshing sourness breaks through, and you can often feel a noble bitterness. The main taste point is sweetness. Two factors influence its level - the amount of sugars and their origin. It is difficult to distinguish the taste of natural honey from falsified and diluted.
  • Lots of use cases. Honey is widely used in medicine, cooking, cosmetology, as well as for massages. Beekeeping products have found their application in various fields, giving people health and beauty.




  • The color range is extensive. Honey can be clear to brown in color. Correctly determine the color will help natural daylight. Color may vary depending on season. The spring product is lighter, yellowish, lemony. Autumn pumping has dark tones. Immediately after pumping, the honey will be lighter, after standing, it will darken, crystallize, and again acquire a light shade.
  • The nutritional value is approximately 320 kcal per 100 g. Honey is not a dietary product, but it is healthier, less caloric compared to sugar or a chocolate bar. There are unscrupulous beekeepers who are cunning and pump out all the honey from the hives before wintering. You can’t do this, because in the cold season the bees must eat their own product, and they begin to feed them sugar syrup, which degrades the properties of honey, making it useless. Extraneous flavors in honey are not allowed. Acid appears when fermentation begins.

A caramel flavor or moldy tint will be present if the honey is cooked. A metallic taste appears when honey is stored in metal containers after oxidation.


  • Honey has an interesting process of transformation of consistency - it is crystallization. From a liquid state, it turns into a dense version. This indicator indicates the high quality of the product. Honey, which retains a liquid appearance for a long time, should arouse suspicion. Most likely, it is falsified, which means it is dangerous to health and not to be consumed.
  • Aroma. Real, high-quality honey is fragrant, its smell is pleasant and light. The aromatic component is determined by its constituent components - volatile aromatic substances, essential oils, organic compounds, free acids. The smell can be characterized by different adjectives - it can be strong, weak, subtle, barely perceptible, fragrant, tart, sharp. With proper storage, the aroma is present for a long time, and disappears only when exposed to heat or when foreign odors are absorbed.



  • Viscosity- This is the main indicator of quality and naturalness. It depends on the variety, humidity, storage temperature. This indicator can be easily determined with a spoon. If the honey drips off the spoon quickly and in frequent small drops, it is an immature product with a high water content. If it flows down from a spoon in a thin stream, it easily wraps onto a spoon - this is a viscous consistency, a high-quality delicacy.
  • Density indicates the quality of honey. The higher it is, the better. Many beekeepers assign a central place to this indicator and determine the quality by it. For example, if buying liter jar honey, its mass is 1.4–1.5 kg, then this is natural honey without impurities. If the density is lower, it means that there is a lot of water in the composition, it was incorrectly stored or underexposed in the hive.

High-quality honey is a sweet, pleasant-smelling, viscous, dense, high-calorie product, the preservation of valuable medicinal and nutritional properties of which depends on storage conditions.


Can it get damaged?

Natural honey is the greatest "invention" of nature. It has everything necessary for the human body. The nectar processed by bees contains potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, zinc. These and other elements ensure the normal functioning of all organs, saturating the cells with important minerals. Someone appreciates it as a healthy delicacy, a replacement for harmful desserts, others use it in medicine, others create culinary masterpieces.

In order for useful trace elements to retain their effect as long as possible, honey must be stored correctly. Nature has provided for most of it - honey contains bactericidal substances that prevent it from spoiling. The rest is up to the individual. Under natural conditions or in honeycombs, honey retains its properties for a long time. But as soon as the pumping starts, and the nectar is removed from the hives, light, oxygen enters the honey, and external factors will affect it. This moment is the starting point for counting the retention period.

Legislatively, the storage period is established by the state standard. It is prescribed that the product is stored from eight months to one year. When creating special conditions - in a sealed container - the period increases to two years.

Now honey with various additives (berries, dried fruits, nuts, spices) is popular. Such a delicacy is stored quite a bit - no more than two months.


When buying honey in a store, you need to carefully read the label. If the expiration date is declared for more than a year, then this should already be regarded as a violation of consumer rights. It is recommended to report the facts of dishonesty of the manufacturer to the relevant authorities. One year is not always a restrictive period. Honey may not go bad, but some of the usefulness will disappear over time.

Honey, without losing its properties, must be stored taking into account several factors.

  • Temperature. It is easy to create the necessary conditions in the apartment with the help of an air conditioner or a refrigerator. Temperature stability is the key to long-term storage.
  • Sunlight exclusion. The storage place is dark, the dishes are darkened or opaque.
  • The tightness of the container. Foreign odors are quickly absorbed by honey.
  • Humidity regime. The amount of moisture in the air is minimal.



If the storage conditions are violated, the product will turn sour. This will be affected by unwashed dishes, containers, containers and room temperature.

Despite precautions and ideal storage conditions, there is a high chance of product spoilage. Fermentation is caused by a high moisture content in the composition, which indicates the dishonesty of the seller. And also honey sours due to early pumping, when it is still immature.

Honeycombs are the best place for honey, where it will not lose its beneficial properties. Their feature is hermetically sealed cells. Through the walls of wax, the path of oxygen is difficult, the processes of fermentation and oxidation are completely excluded. Honeycombs are natural packaging. She will help keep healing properties honey for the maximum period due to the bactericidal action of wax, zabrus and propolis. Properly storing honey is to increase its shelf life, to preserve its healing properties. This product is so valuable and unique that it deserves special attention.



Choice of dishes

Fans of bee products, especially honey, after the purchase, the question arises - in what dishes, containers, containers to store this most useful delicacy. Experts recommend following a few general rules.

  • The tightness of dishes. Moisture, dust, foreign odors should not get into it. No cracks, creases, chips, the lid is tightly pressed to the dishes.
  • Cleanliness and dryness of the container. The container is thoroughly washed without the use of household chemicals. Better to use baking soda mustard powder. The container is rinsed several times and dried naturally indoors. Wipe with a towel or napkin is not necessary to avoid getting villi.

You can not mix fresh honey with the harvest of past collections. The already stale product will react with the fresh one, and fermentation will occur. Each pumping should be stored in a separate container. Now we should take a closer look at what material the dishes will become an ideal storage.



  • Clay. Earthenware has served man for many centuries. Our ancestors discovered unique properties dishes made of clay and began to store honey in it. The pots were filled with wax, so the contents were preserved, as it were. Ecological cleanliness, strength, opacity - the combination of these properties determines the ability to store honey for a long time without losing its benefits. Today it is difficult to find pottery, so the price for it is quite high.
  • Glass. Glassware is very popular due to its low cost and huge assortment. The housewives fell in love with glass for its neutrality, the absence of harmful substances and toxins in the composition. The only drawback of the material is the transmission of sunlight. Manufacturers found a way out here too - they made the glass darkened, which made it possible to exclude light from entering.



  • Plastic- This is a popular, practical, affordable material. Store shelves are littered with plastic utensils - plates, containers, cups. Plastic is cheap, which determines its popularity. Scientists constantly warn that plastic utensils are unsafe, they release toxic substances that will spoil stored food. After buying honey in plastic container it is better to immediately transfer it to other containers.
  • Wood is a natural, natural, pure material. Wooden utensils are expensive, but durable and safe. Honey connoisseurs are sure that the tree adds a special aroma to honey, prolongs the life of useful properties. Not all wood is suitable - conifers emit essential oils having a pungent odour.



  • Metal. Metal cans and stainless steel barrels are popular among beekeepers. From the point of view of chemistry, metal is an unsafe material for humans; it oxidizes over time and releases oxides that provoke poisoning. It is necessary to carefully choose metal containers without copper, zinc and lead impurities.
  • honeycombs is a special way of storing honey. It is recommended to store honeycombs in sterilized glass jars. Honeycombs are cut into portioned pieces, stacked on top of each other, the jar is tightly closed with a lid. Such a delicacy will be stored for a little more than a year. To increase the period (up to 10 years), the honeycombs are filled with honey, the jar is sealed with melted wax for tightness. Glassware is the optimal container option in terms of price, quality, and properties. In it, honey will retain its beneficial properties much longer.



We select the ideal place

After choosing the dishes, the next question remains to be solved - in what place the honey will retain its original properties and will not lose its benefits. When choosing a place, attention is drawn to several criteria.

  • Opacity. Sun and light are the enemies of honey. Ultraviolet radiation kills medicinal substances, destroys vitamins and microelements. The sun turns honey into a simple carbohydrate, similar to sugar.
  • No moisture. High humidity leads to souring of honey. Because of this, its value as a storehouse of useful elements is reduced. Permissible humidity - from 60 to 75%.
  • Absence of sharp, specific smells. Food, fragrant items (varnishes, paints, perfumes) will quickly give their smell to honey. Beekeeping products are distinguished by their lightning-fast ability to absorb foreign odors.
  • No high temperatures. In the apartment for storing goodies, you need to find a cool place.


After analyzing the criteria, it should be concluded that honey will feel good in several rooms.

  • Kitchen- This is a familiar place for housewives. There are many lockers, shelves, racks, cupboards. The place for honey should be closed from light, removed from radiators, stoves, air conditioners, convectors.
  • Pantry. Some apartments have a so-called dark room - this is a small room adapted by residents for a warehouse of useful or unnecessary things. Honey will feel comfortable in it. The main thing is that there are no strongly smelling objects there.
  • Loggia- this is a possible place for dislocation of containers with honey, but undesirable. Temperature fluctuations, sunlight - all this needs to be monitored and regulated.
  • Fridge- This is the best and most useful item in housing. For honey, it is the best place. Temperature control, the presence of dry freezing, excluding high humidity, the inability to get light - these are the undeniable advantages of the refrigerator. The main nuance is that the container with the product must be tightly and hermetically sealed, otherwise the product will absorb all the smells of food.
  • Cellar- This is another nice place in the house. Pickles, jams are stored there, and honey will feel good along with them. A number of conditions must be observed in the cellar - cleanliness, lack of moisture and odors. Honey in the cellar is stored in wooden barrels treated with wax from the inside.

Temperature regime and other indicators

Experienced beekeepers assure that the most reliable place to store honey is beehives. They were made for him ideal conditions. In summer, due to the vital activity of mobile bees (ventilation with wings), ideal conditions are achieved there - the temperature varies from 5 to 15 degrees Celsius, the absence of moisture and light. In winter, the conditions are also maintained by warming the bee "houses". It is important to create approximate indicators at home. The minimum storage temperature should be +5ºС, the maximum - +45ºС. From these figures we derive the average value - from +5 to +20 degrees.

When overheated, the product acquires a dark color, sweetness is replaced by unpleasant bitterness. The result is the destruction of useful vitamins and minerals, the formation of toxic substances. Such honey can no longer be consumed. With a cold, honey should not be added to hot milk or tea, it is better to eat it as a bite. Low temperature also adversely affects the quality.

Cold contributes to a change in consistency, structure and color. At minus values, it brightens and hardens. Although frost does not affect the loss of useful properties. Humidity is another indicator that affects shelf life. Do not store the product in damp areas.

In lockers, refrigerator, cellar, loggia should be dry. The maximum allowable humidity value is 75%.


Honey is the most valuable product, which is both sweet and medicinal. It is easily digestible, contains many useful elements, vitamins, and is used in cosmetology. Its merits are endless. Beekeepers are usually willing to talk about the miraculous properties of honey, share their tips and tricks for assessing the quality of the product. Below are some beekeeper recommendations.

  • Many people like moderately thick honey, which flows smoothly from a spoon. Rarely is it possible to keep it in this state for a long time. After a certain period of time, it thickens and candied - this is a normal process. Most experts are unanimous in their opinion - there is no need to be afraid of sugaring and fight it. Useful substances in it does not become less. And there is even a plus - a thick consistency prevents fermentation. Beekeepers advise buyers who do not like candied, thick honey to pay attention to the product from acacia, clover, chestnut.
  • The second category of consumers are lovers of a thick product. Beekeepers, in order for the consistency to thicken, are advised to mix it; violate the temperature regime of storage (put in a cool place with a temperature below +5 degrees).
  • Often foam appears on the surface. Honey foams due to improper filtration, repeated pouring from container to container, fermentation, pumping out of the unripe product. Experts advise to refrain from buying honey with foam, as it is harmful and inedible. If the foaming substance was formed later, it must be removed. If foam reappears, the product should be discarded.
  • Sometimes honey exfoliates. This phenomenon looks like this - a liquid layer is formed on the surface, and a thick one below. A large amount of water, improper storage, immaturity - these are the main causes of delamination. If honey exfoliates, it is recommended to try upper layer. In case of a sour taste, the product should not be consumed due to fermentation processes.



You will learn a few more tips about storing honey in the next video.

Honey is one of those products that are able to retain their beneficial properties for a long time. But for this it must be kept in appropriate home conditions. As for what they should be, opinions differ somewhat. Let's see how best to store honey.

Of course, we do not have the conditions at home that are provided for the storage of beekeeping products in the apiary. But we do not buy it in buckets or barrels. Therefore, it is quite possible to ensure the storage of honey at home.

It really shouldn't be taken lightly. It is not only the dishes that need to be chosen correctly. The location is also of great importance in the first place in terms of ensuring a suitable temperature.

There is an opinion that the shelf life of honey is only one year. Its supporters argue that after this period, all useful properties lose their power. Moreover, they say that harmful substances can form in it.

However, at right conditions a good natural product can remain useful much longer. During the first year of storage, fermentation processes continue in it, as a result of which the properties may change somewhat. It becomes less aromatic and may darken. But at the same time it acquires additional useful properties.

There is a known case when honey found during excavations in Egypt was suitable for consumption. So, subject to all conditions, this product can be stored almost as long as you like.

Optimal storage temperature

On the question of how to properly store honey, the most important place takes the temperature. If it exceeds 40 degrees, then the loss of useful properties occurs, the formation of harmful substances becomes possible. However, such heat usually only occurs in tropical climates.

But long-term storage room temperature more than 20 degrees will not benefit. It is better if it does not exceed even ten. Otherwise, the sweetness may exfoliate and lose some of the vitamins. Negative temperatures are not terrible, but be prepared for the fact that the bee product will harden with them. Ideally, the frost should be at least 6 degrees.

Thus, the best preservation will be ensured by a temperature ranging from -6 to +10 degrees. However, it is best to keep it constant. And when you have to choose between a warm room or too cold, the latter will be better.

Where to store?

Generally speaking, the storage conditions for honey should be chosen taking into account two main parameters: temperature and air humidity. The first was mentioned in the previous paragraph, but what about the second?

In general, if the container is hermetically sealed, then it does not matter. However, they are often used, for example, jars with a polyethylene lid, which is not correctly considered as such. In this case, of all rooms, choose the one with the lowest humidity. And of course, the container must be hidden from sunlight, otherwise the shelf life will be significantly reduced.

Storage space in the apartment

In a city apartment there are many places where you can store food. This is a refrigerator, kitchen cabinets, a pantry, a balcony or a glazed loggia. And everywhere different temperature and humidity will be provided.

As a rule, room conditions are not very suitable for storing honey. In addition, one should not forget that in cabinets located near the stove, it can be even higher. And therefore to keep healthy sweetness in closets, pantries, or just under the bed is not the most the best option. But if you rarely have more than 20 degrees in your room, say in winter, then you are welcome.

When there are no other options, find the coolest place in the apartment and leave the main supply there. In the kitchen, settle a small jar, replenishing the stock as it decreases.

And what about the refrigerator?

The answer to the question, is it possible to store honey in the refrigerator - yes, you can. The temperature here is almost ideal and remains the same regardless of external differences. The humidity inside is also not high, which means that this requirement is also met.

On summer days at home, this is the most suitable place. Neither the sun's rays nor the destructive heat will get here. But the container should be well closed due to the abundance of foreign odors.

Maybe a balcony or a loggia?

A balcony for storing honey is not very suitable and winter frosts are not the worst thing. In summer, it can be difficult to find a corner that is well protected from the sun. There are constant temperature fluctuations here. And during the autumn rains there is constantly high humidity.

A glazed balcony or loggia is a completely different matter, especially in the cold season. It is usually cooler than in the apartment, but not as cold as outside. And the temperature fluctuations are not so noticeable.

Cellar storage

In private houses, almost all products are stored in the cellar. The temperature here is quite suitable and fairly stable. However, do not forget that it usually has high humidity. And therefore, leaving honey for storage in the cellar, try to close it hermetically. So, this will help not only extend the shelf life, but also protect the product from odors.

Where can the product be stored?

Tara, like location, is important. Moreover, the shelf life of honey is affected not only by the material from which it is made. As mentioned above, what matters is how well it closes. Ideally, the dishes should be hermetically sealed.

Plastic container

You can store such a product in plastic packaging. Of course, provided that it is made of food grade plastic. But, of course, this is not the best option and should not be used for long-term storage.

Glass containers

The ideal option is a hermetically sealed glass container. It perfectly preserves the product, and chemically neutral glass does not react with it. The only thing that this packaging does not protect against is the sun's rays. Therefore, it must be placed in a dark place, or covered with an opaque material.

Containers from other materials

Along with glass, willow kegs are considered a good material for honey packaging. But in everyday life, such packaging is rare. Enamelled and processed earthenware is also suitable.

Where honey should never be stored is in galvanized or copper containers. They are even worse than plastic ones. The active ingredients contained in the product react with these metals and form toxic substances. As for wooden barrels, oak and coniferous ones are absolutely not suitable here.

What about product storage in combs?

This bee product in its natural packaging is known to have particularly beneficial properties. What is the best way to store?

As for temperature and humidity, then all the rules are valid here, as for ordinary honey. If you have a whole honeycomb frame at your disposal, you can try to save it entirely by wrapping it with an opaque material. To prevent moths from getting on them, it is recommended to keep the frames in the refrigerator.

However, it will be more convenient to cut the honeycombs into pieces, put them in glass jars and close them well. They must be stored in accordance with all the above rules. The refrigerator is perfect for this.

How to store the product so that it does not become sugary?

Honey does not crystallize for the longest time, remaining in its natural packaging - honeycombs. However, this process occurs with any natural product, and the speed depends mainly on the variety. Therefore, questions about how to store honey so that it does not become candied do not have a clear answer. This will still happen if the honey is of high quality.

Temperature fluctuations affect how long this process takes. True, if you keep honey at a constant, crystallization will not linger for a significant period. Under such conditions, it will simply run more evenly.

Video "Honey storage"

From our video, learn about all the rules for storing honey.

It is no coincidence that this unique natural product is called the "gift of bees" - amazing with pleasant taste and countless vitamins and minerals. We are talking about honey, the irreplaceable and healing properties of which have been known since ancient times. He strengthens immune system helping the body to cope with various infections and diseases. To get the maximum benefit from it, you must follow a certain regimen. In the article, we will analyze in detail and learn the secrets, consider the basic rules for storing natural honey.

Requirements and storage conditions for honey

All varieties, even those with the optimal composition, retain all their nutritional characteristics, but are still prone to inactivation of biological components. In such a case, aging occurs at an accelerated rate, especially when a suitable regimen is not observed. In order to preserve the useful characteristics, it is desirable to ensure that the storage of honey at a constant temperature (for example, in the refrigerator).

Honey should be stored in a dry, dark place. Ideal for this purpose are closed cabinets or a cardboard box. Being hygroscopic, it has the ability to absorb moisture and absorb odors from the environment. It is important to pay attention to the drawer locking system. Do not leave it near strong-smelling food or building materials. This option is suitable for residents of cottages. Residents of megacities can choose a balcony or window sill as a place to store honey (only, of course, not in the light!), The optimum humidity is about 60-80%.

The room for storing honey, you need to choose one where the climate is cold and stable. For these purposes, a pantry or a wooden cabinet in the kitchen is suitable. The temperature should be around ten to twenty degrees Celsius. When a treat is subjected to regime changes, it can darken and lose flavor. If the degree of the environment briefly reaches a high value - above 20C, it should be understood that such drops are not dangerous for sweetness. However, this can contribute to the rapid decay process, loss or deterioration of color, flavor and rare ingredients important for human health. With any change in the weather, it is still recommended to place it in the refrigerator.

Hygroscopicity of honey

When storing purchased honey, it should be remembered: it has some hygroscopicity, as a result, it easily absorbs various odors and moisture from the outside and retains them. Honey is easily fermented, and this process may be accompanied by the appearance of bubbles. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully close the jar with a lid. The fermentation of sugars and the subsequent appearance of spherical formations is a sign of the beginning of the loss of honey taste and its unique quality characteristics.

Even in the old days, attention was paid to the hygroscopicity of honey. It has been observed that honey should never be stored in barrels made of fresh raw wood. Due to its hygroscopicity, honey dried out (taken away moisture), after which significant cracks appeared in the walls. With the appearance of cracks, the question of the tightness of such barrels was no longer an issue - honey simply flowed out of them.

How to choose the right storage container for honey

  • Clay pots or any other utensils are great for long storage honey. A distinctive advantage - does not let the sun's rays through, prevents the penetration of third-party aromas and moisture. It is no coincidence that our ancestors chose and preferred clay utensils for these purposes.

  • Plastic box. Most manufacturers choose plastic only because of its lightness and ease of transportation. However, if it has an unpleasant odor, it is better to refuse to use it in everyday life. The container must be marked with special signs: PP, PP or "5", which confirm their safety and stability.
  • glass jars convenient and safe for keeping fresh honey. By itself, the glass material does not react with the substances contained in them, therefore it does not emit unpleasant and dangerous substances and toxins. The only negative is the ability to let in sunlight. A dark container will do. The disadvantage of such dishes is fragility, high cost.
  • wooden utensils- can affect the organoleptic properties, give it a truly excellent flavor, while retaining all the trace elements and features. However, you need to carefully look at the choice of capacity. The best option is dishes made of birch, linden, beech. You should not take containers made of wood species that emit essential oils (coniferous, for example).
  • metal container- not quite a suitable alternative. The thing is that the metal oxidizes over time, which negatively affects the properties, and after eating it, the health and well-being of people who can get poisoned. In this case, you need to choose the right metal utensils. Great option- containers that do not contain zinc, copper and lead.

Rules for storing comb honey at home

If you managed to buy this amazing product, you will have to comply with certain storage conditions.

  • The first is the humidity level, we recommend no higher than 60%. In this case, the room must be ventilated. Residents of megacities can put it in the refrigerator.
  • The second is the storage temperature of honey is about 3-10 °C.
  • The third is a dark closet. Do not leave nearby vegetables, fruits that have a pronounced spicy aroma. We do not recommend leaving them in close proximity to comb honey.

To do this, the honeycombs are cut into pieces and placed side by side in clean containers. Close tightly with lids. Please note that not all of them may be suitable for this purpose. You should not choose metal - from copper, lead, zinc. When coming into contact with a treat, substances are formed that can cause serious poisoning. It's best to choose glass jar or ceramic pot.

Shelf life of honey

Under the influence of external factors, the organoleptic characteristics of honey change. Healing characteristics can be lost even if a number of recommendations are followed. Therefore, it is recommended to keep it at home for no more than two years. Under the influence of light and humidity, beneficial qualities can quickly evaporate. It begins to darken, crystallize and thicken already a couple of weeks after pumping out of the frames.

In an apartment, when the degree constantly reaches more than 22C, damage can occur much faster. At high temperatures, within six to nine months, honey begins to deteriorate and darken.

Basic rules for storing honey at home

In order for healthy food to last as long as possible, it is necessary to comply with the established standards:

  • Ideal ambient temperature - no more than 20 °C. Keep in a cool, dry place. The container should be tightly closed.
  • Away from the world. Excess sunlight can adversely affect its quality. In particular, this leads to the transformation and activation of negative factors, especially to the enzyme that responds to antibiotic activity.
  • A pantry or cellar is an ideal place to store quality honey, which will help preserve the taste and unique properties of sweetness. However, you need to make sure that these places are far enough from the oven, stove, boilers and heating lines of the house.

Without exaggeration, honey can be called "bee's gold" given to man by Mother Nature herself. After all, it contains a huge amount of useful substances: vitamins, organic acids, antibiotics, minerals, many microelements necessary for people. Like any other product, honey can deteriorate, so you need to know the conditions for its storage.

Storage conditions for honey

The duration of its medicinal qualities depends on the correct storage of honey. In ancient times, nectar was treated with care, with great respect. Honey performed not only medicinal functions, but also had a wider application than today. From it, for example, various drinks and desserts were made. The preservation of a vital product for the people of that time was a difficult task.

For these purposes, they used limes. These are barrels made of linden, having a different volume. They contained from 20 to 100 kg of nectar. Such a container allowed the delicacy to be preserved for several years. A lot of time has passed since then, but even today you can still find such barrels in apiaries. Most often they are used to ripen the pumped product.

rubbing can maximize the usefulness of this wonderful product.

The effect of the value of the "golden product" can be increased up to 3 years if the following rules are observed:

  1. Temperature regime. The optimum temperature is not lower than +6 degrees and not higher than 10 degrees Celsius. The temperature must remain stable throughout the storage period of honey. Frequent temperature changes lead to uneven crystallization.
  2. Humidity should not exceed 80%, the minimum threshold is 60%. A room that is too damp contributes to the souring of nectar due to the formation of an increased presence of water in it.
  3. The room should be absolutely clean, without foreign odors, as honey tends to absorb any aromas.
  4. The sun's rays should not fall into the storage places of the product, under the influence of which all valuable substances are destroyed, only sweet sugar remains. A dark room is best.

Storage of honey should be treated responsibly. Honey is best stored in a cold room. There are state standards for honey storage. According to the standard, the product has a shelf life of 12 months:

  • GOST 19792–2001
  • GOST 52451–2005

It is believed that after a certain period the bee product loses its beneficial properties, candied, but it can be used as sweet dessert or alternative sugar replacement for 10 years.

There is an opinion that honey does not have an expiration date at all, due to the preservative properties of a natural product. So, during excavations in Egypt, archaeologists discovered a jar of honey that had lain underground for more than one century. Scientists claim that it is suitable for consumption.

True connoisseurs of the "golden product" believe that with long-term storage of honey, its taste does not get worse, but only improves, and the aroma becomes stronger every year. The ancient monks preferred a ripened two to three year old product.

Where and in what can honey be stored at home?

Pantry, cellar are considered the best rooms for storing honey. For a jar of treats in the apartment fit:

  • kitchen cabinets, which should be away from heat sources;
  • balcony or loggia, equipped with closed shelves, cabinet;
  • refrigerator, provided that the appropriate temperature, humidity, and the absence of unpleasant odors are maintained there.

The balcony or loggia where you are going to store honey must be glazed. Otherwise, the temperature difference: severe frosts, high humidity, extreme heat - will not allow the valuable properties of nectar to survive.

A room storage option for honey is not the best solution for accommodating a large amount of dessert. Therefore, if there is no suitable place in the room where the temperature would not exceed 20 degrees, do not stock up on a lot of goodies.

On hot summer days, honey should be stored in an ordinary refrigerator, because sunlight does not penetrate there, there are no sharp temperature changes. The temperature in it should not be less than 5 degrees. A wonderful option is a refrigerator equipped with dry freezing, it has optimal humidity.

What the delicacy is stored in is also an important component in extending the healing qualities of the nectar. The best container for this substance is:

  • glass;
  • porcelain;
  • wooden.

Glass is a great option. It is non-toxic, does not react with anything, and is durable. Choose an opaque container, dark is better. If the jar is transparent, you can wrap it with thick material or paper.

Porcelain does not let in sunlight. The beneficial properties of honey are preserved for a long time when in such a dish. The tree must be well dried. Barrels made of willow, linden, birch, beech, aspen are best suited. It is better not to use untreated conifers because of the release of essential oils from them.

The following capacity is suitable for short-term storage:

  • clay;
  • enamelled;
  • plastic;
  • iron.

When placing nectar in ceramic dishes, one must remember that the clay must be processed, otherwise it will begin to absorb moisture. Plastic should only be intended for food products. Over time, and it breaks up, can be dangerous.

Choose high-quality stainless steel for your iron cookware. Over time, iron oxidizes, reacting with some components of the nectar. There is a risk of getting poisoned. Never store dessert in zinc containers, dishes made of copper, lead. If metal comes into contact with the product, it will not only deteriorate, but may also become poisonous.

Whatever sweet nectar is stored in, an important condition is the tightness of the container. In other words, the dishes where you are going to put honey should be tightly closed with a lid.

Do not neglect this rule, because if the container is ajar, the nectar, having absorbed excess moisture from the surrounding space, may ferment and become unusable, and since it is also sensitive to various odors, the taste and aroma will change.

Features of storing honey in combs

Wild bees keep nectar in hives for years. In natural packaging, honey retains its beneficial properties much longer. It is better to cut the whole frame into small pieces, place in glass resealable jars, put in the refrigerator or where it is cool.

It is important to know that the wax must be natural, bees, paraffin is not suitable for these purposes.

When storing this dessert, it is necessary to observe the same temperature and humidity as for a liquid treat. If the humidity level reaches 60%, moths or mold may appear.
Nectar in honeycombs reacts to any smells. Fruits, vegetables, especially various chemicals should be kept away from the product.

What happens when honey is stored incorrectly?

If violate optimal conditions storage of honey, the following happens:

  • vitamins and healing trace elements are destroyed;
  • when contained in a metal container, for example, from zinc, lead, poison is formed, you can visually see greenish-blue or bright reddish stains on the product that appear during oxidation;
  • a long stay in plastic dishes can lead to poisoning due to the content of toxic substances during the decay of artificial material;
  • at high temperature, strong heating, all the medicinal components of the nectar are destroyed, only sugar remains (at very high temperatures and heating, the product releases toxic substances);
  • in a warm room, nectar candied faster;
  • a humid room can cause the dessert to delaminate, while it acquires a dark shade;
  • the nectar foamed and fermented - which means that the optimal indicators of temperature and humidity are violated;
  • continuous exposure to sunlight for about 2 days leads to the destruction of enzymes with antimicrobial properties.

With proper storage, honey will heal you for 2-3 years, and after the specified period, you can enjoy tea drinking with a sweet treat for at least another 10 years. If you are not sure that you can follow all the rules, get only the benefits of using and taking a natural product for a long period of time, do not purchase it in large quantities.