How long and at what temperature should honey be stored in a glass jar, containers made of wood, clay, plastic, or metal?
When planning to organize honey storage for a long time, you should take care of a suitable place and prepare containers.
The condition of the product, the timing of its maintenance and quality will depend on compliance with all conditions.
We will tell you further in what container is best to store honey.
Content
Packaging requirements
The shelf life of the product largely depends on how well the storage is organized. The choice of container plays an important role here.
The main requirements for choosing packaging include the following:
- Neutrality towards the product.
- Environmental friendliness.
- Cover tightness.
In glass
Glass jars for honey are chosen quite often. Glass is neutral in relation to the contents and does not emit harmful substances.
In addition, through it you can always see what condition the product is in and how much of it remains.
The shelf life of nectar sweetness in glass is 1-2 years taking into account the conditions and condition of the product. When kept with violations, it is advisable to use honey in the near future, without leaving it for later.
The recommended temperature for honey content is from +5 to +20 degrees.Freezing honey is not recommended. But if it is still planned, it is recommended to transfer the contents to a food-grade plastic container, since the glass may burst in the cold.
In most cases, the choice falls on transparent jars. It should be remembered that such material transmits light well and does not protect honey from sunlight and overheating. Another drawback is the fragility of the container material, which is why cans must be handled very carefully.
Honey in a glass jar must be stored in a closed cabinet, pantry or other room protected from light.
Can it be kept in a wooden barrel?
Containers made from natural wood can be used for honey if it meets all the requirements. Among the main ones is tightness. The inside of the wooden barrel will be in contact with the product, so it should be neutral in relation to the content.
If a coating is to be used, it must be suitable for contact with food.
Depending on how suitable the wooden container is for storing honey, the timing is determined. Maximum period – up to a year.
Among the disadvantages of using wooden packaging is its high cost and not always reliable sealing. It is also problematic without special knowledge to choose a barrel that is exactly suitable for containing honey.
A wooden container has an important advantage - it provides protection from light entering the product. But there is no protection against overheating.Therefore, it is not allowed to keep products at temperatures above +20 degrees and expose them to light.
If there are doubts about the container that you plan to use for honey, it is advisable to transfer the product to a vessel more suitable for long-term storage.
In a plastic container
A food-grade plastic container is an affordable and convenient container for storing honey supplies. If the container is certified, it can be used. However, it is not advisable to keep the product in it for a long time.
Products containing honey should not be kept in plastic for years. If possible, it is better to pour honey into glass or ceramic containers.
The storage temperature of honey reserves in a food-grade plastic container is up to 20°C. The material of such packaging heats up well and easily transmits sunlight. Therefore, supplies should be immediately put away in a place protected from light.
It is not recommended to freeze honey. But if this storage option is chosen, it is advisable to use plastic packaging for the freezer.
What metal container is suitable?
The possibility of storing honey products in metal packaging depends on the type of metal. For these purposes, only very high quality stainless steel can be used. 18/10 and more. The inner surface must not be damaged.
Another possible option is enamel cookware. It is neutral towards honey and does not react with it either. But the enamel can chip, cracks and scratches may appear on it. If there is such damage, even in a minimal amount, such utensils should not be used, especially for long-term storage.
Clay
Using kitchen utensils made of clay and ceramics for storing honey - unusual now, but a good decision. Clay has the property of blocking sunlight and maintaining a stable temperature inside the vessel.
The only difficulty that can arise is finding suitable vessels, since nowadays they have ceased to be popular and are practically not used in everyday life. Glazed ceramics are easier to clean, but do not regulate humidity.
Special jars with spoon included
On sale you can find special containers with a special spoon intended exclusively for honey. The device that is designed to collect sweet nectar bears little resemblance to a standard spoon.
This is most often a wooden or glass rod with a thickening at one end and notches along its diameter. This design of the spoon allows you to collect honey most conveniently.
Models of jars with spoons can be of very different shapes. Very often the spoon is built directly into the lid. In this case, it does not need to be washed after each use, and it is constantly present in the jar. In this case, the lid fits tightly to the neck of the vessel, and does not allow dust, crumbs and insects to penetrate inside.
If the honey container is designed in such a way that there is a gap where the spoon is located, such a jar is not suitable. Even if it looks very beautiful, it does not provide airtightness, which makes it unsuitable for storing honey reserves.
The best spoon that can be included with the container is bamboo. Mold does not live on bamboo, as it naturally copes with bacteria and germs and, in addition, is not afraid of moisture.
What is not allowed?
For storing honey The following containers are prohibited:
- from any metal (except stainless steel);
- made of non-food plastic;
- having damage of any kind;
- reacting with honey;
- without sealed lid;
- dirty or wet.
Any violation in the choice of containers can lead to damage to the product and other unpleasant consequences.
What will result from improper storage?
Storing honey in a container that does not meet the requirements can lead to the following consequences:
product delamination;- color change;
- change in smell;
- fermentation;
- loss of useful qualities;
- acquisition of an unpleasant odor;
- when choosing the wrong vessel material, toxic substances can penetrate into the honey from the container, which makes it unsafe.
Conclusion
Storing honey reserves requires a particularly careful approach to the selection of containers. It is also important to provide the product with the necessary conditions and choose the most suitable place for keeping it.
No matter how carefully the storage is organized, it is necessary to remember that when left in the product for a long time, the amount of nutrients gradually decreases. Therefore, it is advisable not to store honey for future use for many years, but to regularly replenish your sweet reserves during the season.
