Note to those with a sweet tooth: does honey spoil due to long-term storage and how to avoid it?
Honey is one of those products that are prepared for future use and can be used for several years.
This is possible if you follow the rules for collecting, transporting and storing high-quality ripened products. But in some situations, honey supplies may spoil.
Whether honey spoils due to long-term storage, how to avoid it, whether it is possible to save a spoiled product, we will tell you in the article.
Content
Can it go bad?
Honey can really be stored for a very long time due to its unique composition. Over time, the consistency of the product and its shade change, but it cannot become moldy.
Qualities that contribute to long-term storage:
Low pH level. It ranges from 3 to 4.5. This indicator is one of the main obstacles to the development of bacteria in honey.- Low percentage of water content in the composition. This is protection against mold.
- The natural product contains hydrogen peroxide and organic gluconic acid in small quantities.
They are formed by bees processing flower nectar, which reacts with glucose oxidase (a special enzyme). Due to the presence of these substances, bacteria do not develop in the product.
The likelihood that sweet supplies will spoil is not great.But if the conditions for pumping honey are violated or the storage is improper, this option is also possible.
Under what conditions is damage possible?
In rare cases, spoilage of the honey product is possible. The reason may be either the inexperience or dishonesty of the beekeeper, or a violation of the conditions for keeping the finished nectar.
Unripe product
Honey for pumping is collected at a certain time, when it is ripe and ready for long-term storage. When unripe, it has a slightly different composition, with more water included., the percentage of which can reach 60%. This is much higher than required for long-term storage.
When ripe, the water content is about 20%. The more moisture there is in the product, the higher the likelihood that honey will begin to ferment, since a humid environment promotes the development of bacteria. Unripe honey contains a very small amount of useful substances and is practically valueless.
Falsified
An artificial product may look like honey and even smell like it. But there will be no useful, natural, natural substances in it, and no benefits should be expected from it.
Such a product may contain:
- starch,
- water,
- sugar,
- flour, etc.
The counterfeit product not only does not have the full range of useful substances, but can also easily spoil. It is advisable to purchase honey from trusted sellers, and even better from those who have been dealing with bees for years.
Water included
Moisture in a product may appear for various reasons. It could be:
- too early collection;
- storage at high air humidity;
- using wet dishes;
- using a wet spoon to stir or remove food from a container.
The more moisture in honey, the greater the likelihood of spoilage.
Incorrectly stored
Violation of storage rules is the most common reason that a product begins to disappear. The most common of them:
- unsuitable container material (for example, metal);
- the presence of remains of other honey in the container, including last year’s;
- storing the product at too high a temperature (+20°C and above);
- storage in conditions of constant temperature change;
- high humidity in the storage area;
- exposure to direct sunlight.
Dirty container
The container for honey must not only be correctly selected, but also must be clean. It is unacceptable to use wet or dirty containers. Containers with the remains of other honey, including last year’s, are prohibited.
The container for honey must first be thoroughly washed and dried., and only then use it to place the product in it.
Lack of cover
Having a lid on the honey container is a very important condition that cannot be ignored. It not only prevents dust from settling on the product and accidental ingress of foreign objects, but also protects the nectar from absorbing moisture and odors.
What to do if it foams?
In some cases, white foam can be seen on the surface of the product container.. This is a warning sign, as it often indicates the beginning of fermentation. But sometimes this is the norm and there is nothing to worry about.
Why is this happening?
There are several possible reasons. Some of them are a natural feature of the product.
Transfusion
The foam layer on a fairly thick mass of honey can have a different nature.
The safest option is this may be the result of repeatedly pouring the product from container to container or pouring from a great height.
When honey syrup is mixed with air, air bubbles are formed that look like foam.
The intensity of the foam is largely influenced by which plants the nectar was collected from. Fluffy foam may appear when pouring heather, buckwheat and some others.
Sugaring
When flower nectar undergoes crystallization, a white coating may form on top. This is actually not physically foam, but thickened sugars that separate from the bulk of the syrup and gradually harden.
At the same time, honey retains all its beneficial properties and can be used both in its pure form and for cooking.
Fermentation
This is the most unpleasant option. Honey that was pumped out improperly or stored incorrectly can ferment. The foam may not be thick and not rise up.
Poor filtration
Honey that goes on sale is pre-filtered. At this stage, all impurities are removed, including pieces of wax, bee bread, etc. If the filtration was carried out incorrectly, all excess particles will rise up, forming a so-called plaque.
The thickness of this layer depends on the number of inclusions remaining in the nectar. This does not affect the usefulness of the product. And such honey can be eaten without additional processing.
Fake
Fake honey can retain a bright aroma and have a pleasant taste, but at the same time it can change its consistency over time and begin to disappear. If the product is not natural, there are practically no useful natural components in it, and there is no point in trying to preserve what it has started even at the first signs of souring.
Moisture
Aged, matured quality honey contains very little moisture. This ensures long-term storage while maintaining all its properties and usefulness.
If the product was stored incorrectly or was prepared with obvious violations, its composition may no longer be as useful as we would like. A large volume of moisture deteriorates the quality of the product and changes its consistency. There are very few useful substances in it. In this case, the danger of starting the fermentation process is very high.
Prevention measures
To ensure that foam does not form on the honey, and that the product itself meets all quality requirements, It is necessary to pay attention to prevention methods:
- Send only mature product with a moisture level of up to 20% for long-term storage;
- keep the workpieces dry;
- Use only clean and dry dishes.
If honey initially has a moisture content greater than the recommended 20%, it should be kept at temperatures up to +10°C to avoid spoilage.
Is it possible to save a damaged one?
Natural honey is a valuable product for its properties, and not cheap. If he has just begun to disappear, you can partially try to save him.
Procedure:
- Assemble the top part with foam, plus a few centimeters that go further.
- Transfer the rest of the honey to a clean saucepan.
- Place this container with the rest of the product in a water bath.
- Heat the product at +60°C for 60 minutes.
- Cool to room temperature.
- Pour the heated product into the container in which it will be stored.
- Place in a cool place with a temperature of about +8 or +10°C.
A simple recipe for making honey cookies:
Conclusion
By purchasing a quality product from manufacturers who value their reputation, and strictly following all storage rules, honey can and should be harvested during the season for future use - at least until the next season.
The more clearly all requirements are met, the greater the likelihood that the sweet natural product will delight with its bright taste and pleasant aroma for a long period of time.
