Fragrant natural honey is considered to be one of the most useful products. This is mainly due to its unique complex composition: honey is rich in glucose and fructose, it contains a large number of vitamins and minerals.
Natural honey has a very rich taste, tart and a little sugary. The aroma of this delicacy is simply impossible to compare with anything. Different varieties of honey smell differently, but it is always an invigorating aroma of floral freshness.
In order to take full advantage of all the beneficial qualities of honey, it is important not only to choose a tasty and healthy product, but also to know how to properly store it. It depends on whether the honey can deteriorate and how quickly it will happen.
Ware for honey
When storing honey at home, it is very important in which dishes it will be. Experts do not recommend keeping honey in a metal or wooden container for a long time: metal oxidizes over time and spoils the taste, and wood can add bitterness to honey.
It is optimal to store natural honey in a ceramic or glass container with a tight-fitting lid. Then it is not saturated with extraneous odors and additional moisture.
Whether honey can deteriorate over time will also depend on the cleanliness of the storage utensils. Banks should be sterilized or at least thoroughly washed. It is unacceptable to mix the new with the remnants of the old, this will lead to quick spoilage of the product.
If it is not possible to transfer the purchased honey into glass or ceramic containers, you can use a container made of food-grade plastic for storage. Only in this case, the product can be stored no longer than a year.
Optimal storage conditions
In addition to the dishes, the conditions under which honey will be stored are of great importance.
To the common question of whether honey can deteriorate at room temperature, there is a definite answer: of course. The maximum temperature for storage of this natural product should not exceed 20 degrees, at a higher temperature it can exfoliate and lose most of its useful properties.
One of the options for saving the quality of honey is to store it at a constant temperature in the refrigerator. And can honey spoil in this case? This depends on whether the refrigerator has a freeze function. If so, then everything is in order. Otherwise, excess moisture will quickly spoil this healthy treat.
Honey is a biologically active product, so it quickly absorbs odors. This must be taken into account when choosing the place where it will be stored.
Glass container
Glass containers are most often used by housewives to store food, including honey. There are several simple rules that will help to keep its taste properties unchanged for as long as possible.
Honey does not tolerate direct sunlight, so it is better to put a glass jar in a dark place. Also does not like honey and sudden changes in temperature. And often it is better kept in the cold. Even at a temperature of -20 degrees, honey can harden, but not lose its beneficial properties. But to check whether honey can deteriorate at high temperature is better not worth it. When exposed to heat and light, fermentation processes begin and the product is guaranteed to deteriorate.
The glass container in which honey will be stored is best closed with a tight-fitting plastic lid. The use of a metal cover is also acceptable, although the metal may oxidize, which will spoil the taste and quality of the product.
Honey comb
Natural honey in wax combs is not only a delicious delicacy, it is also very useful. After all, the wax from which the honeycombs are made is also saturated with honey. In addition, they contain a large amount of propolis, which is useful for strengthening immunity.
To prevent honey from leaking out, the honeycomb is first cut into pieces, and then placed in a selected storage container. It is optimal if it is a ceramic pot or a jar of dark glass.
Quite often doubts arise, can honey in honeycombs deteriorate? To prevent the prolonged preservation of honey in honeycombs can excess moisture. If the humidity is above 50%, then the honeycomb can deform and disintegrate. Mold may appear and the beneficial product will become unusable.
About the timing
In the apiary, natural honey is stored in the hives for many years and at the same time absolutely does not lose its unique qualities. But when stored at home, to find out whether honey deteriorates over time or not, is only possible by experience.
There are different opinions on how much honey can be stored. Many experts are sure that no more than 12 months, and then it loses useful properties. But beekeepers have a completely different opinion. They assure that even a two- and three-year-old product not only does not lose its qualities, but also becomes more useful.
Possible structural changes
During the long-term storage of honey, you can notice how its structure is gradually changing. Recently pumped out of the hive, it is quite fluid. After about three months, the sweet product gradually becomes thicker, it can even darken a little. This process is absolutely normal for natural honey. On the contrary, it should be alerted if a sweet treat remains in a liquid state for a long time. Possibly, extraneous additives were used in the manufacture. The exception is acacia honey - it has a high fructose content, so it may not thicken for a long time.
After about 9 months of storage, the process of crystallization begins. This is also a natural process that does not affect the taste or the usefulness of this product. Also, a slight discoloration of honey over time or a decrease in its transparency should not be alarming.
Whether honey will deteriorate over time and under what conditions often depends not only on storage conditions. Factors such as the time of collecting honey, the varieties of plants from which it was collected, even transportation - everything can affect the shelf life.
The benefits of consuming natural honey can hardly be overestimated. However, it should be remembered that honey is a fairly strong allergen. Also, this product should not be given to small children.