What is the shelf life of honey at home?
Natural honey is a product that can be stored for a long time if all conditions are met.
This makes it possible to prepare it for future use.
Read the article about the shelf life of honey at home.
Content
What determines the shelf life?
The shelf life of flower nectar depends on a number of conditions. Particularly important are the temperature conditions and the type of container selected..
Temperature
For qualitatively mature honey, the recommended storage temperature is from 5 to 20°C. For an unripe product that was pumped out ahead of time - up to +10°C.
Tara
Choosing a container for storing sweet supplies is a very important point.. Traditionally, glass jars of various sizes are selected for them. Ceramics can also be used.
Food-grade plastic is also suitable, but beekeepers do not recommend keeping beekeeping products in it for a long time, a maximum of several months. This is due to a possible reaction between the contents and the material of the container.
For the same reason, you should not use an iron spoon to scoop out sweet contents from a jar, much less leave it in the jar after use.
Tightness
The product has the property of absorbing odors and moisture from the air. This can negatively affect its taste, aroma, and can even lead to product spoilage.
To avoid such problems, it is necessary to carefully close the container with the product. Increased moisture in honey can lead to fermentation.
Crystallization
Crystallization refers to the gradual solidification of a product. This happens while maintaining the beneficial qualities and characteristic aroma.
How many years can it be stored according to GOST?
Storage conditions for honey products and expiration dates are specified in the regulatory document GOST 19792-2017. Specifications are regulated for flower, mixed and honeydew products.
In a hermetically sealed container
Honey can be kept in a hermetically sealed container for up to two years from the date of packaging. These deadlines require full compliance with all storage and transportation conditions.
In the open
The shelf life after opening the sealed packaging is no more than one year. But no more than the shelf life indicated on the package.
How long in time?
After purchasing honey, the task is to organize its proper storage. Guided by the fact that the designated place should not be hot, dark and dry, You can consider several places that are used most often.
In a refrigerator
Since the best conditions for honey are at temperatures up to +20°C, the refrigerator meets this requirement. Since the door almost always remains closed, there is no danger of constant light shining on the product.
The humidity level requirement remains. The best choice is devices with the No Frost system. In such refrigerators the humidity level is low, which is suitable for honey reserves.
Other types of refrigerators have higher humidity levels that are not desirable for honey. In this case, if you plan to keep a supply of sweet treats in this particular place, it is very important to use an airtight lid, and under no circumstances put an open jar in the refrigerator.
Violation of this rule threatens that the honey will absorb foreign odors and become saturated with water. All this will disrupt the composition of the product and will most likely lead to fermentation.
In the freezer
Beekeepers do not recommend freezing flower nectar, but it can be done. When placed in the freezer, honey turns into a solid state. Its beneficial properties are preserved.
But there is a limitation - the temperature in the chamber should not be lower than 35°C. It is advisable that freezing be carried out at a temperature not lower than -20°C.
Containers for freezing must be airtight, designed to withstand very low temperatures, and harmless. For ease of use, it is better to package honey in small portions in advance. This will allow you to defrost as much of the product as you need for one use.
Also, small portions will avoid the need for re-freezing., for which the product is not designed. Honey can remain in the freezer for up to 2-3 years if there is no intermediate defrosting and subsequent re-freezing.
Do not use a glass container to place in the freezer as this container may crack.
In the room
Like for honey recommended temperature up to 20°C, then this condition must always be met.This is the limit value.
If the storage location is hotter, the nectar may not only change consistency, but also spoil.
Even in a city apartment, it is worth looking for a suitable place that is not too hot. If you decide to use kitchen cabinets, then it is better to place the jars on the lower shelves - they are cooler than under the ceiling.
If the house has a cellar or storage room, these should be considered as a possible location for storage. In the case when the reserves are large, it would be better to keep the main part, for example, in the cellar, and move the jar that will be used to a more convenient place.
In conditions up to +20°C, honey can be kept for a couple of years. At higher temperatures the shelf life is reduced.
Natural, in honeycombs
Honey can be stored directly in the honeycombs. The conditions are the same as for the product in liquid state.
The procedure for preparing is as follows:
- prepare clean and dry storage containers;
- cut the honeycombs into pieces so that they can be folded conveniently and compactly;
- distribute the pieces into containers;
- Additionally, the honeycomb can be filled with liquid honey;
- close the vessels with honeycombs;
- put into storage.
Organization of long-term preservation of the product
In order to prevent spoilage of the product and maximize its shelf life, you need to follow these tips:
For long-term storage, choose only ripened honey.- Store each type of honey stock in separate containers.
- Use only suitable utensils, paying particular attention to the material from which they are made.
- Store the workpiece only in a dark place.
- Do not use an iron spoon to scoop up the product.
- Close the lid of the container tightly.
- Do not mix the product unnecessarily, and do not pour it repeatedly from container to container.
- Do not overheat the product.
If only the first signs of fermentation appear, the honey can still be processed.
Conclusion
The shelf life of honey in most cases is 2 years. If the finished product is kept for a longer period of time, it may lose its unique beneficial substances, so it is recommended not to store it for years unless absolutely necessary.
