Many people know about the healing properties of honey. This delicious natural medicine is simply a "gold reserve" of nutrients and microelements. In addition, honey is able to maintain its properties for a long time, the main thing is to store this product correctly.
How long can honey be stored
Surprisingly, honey has no expiration date. This is confirmed by scientists who discovered an ancient vessel with honey in one of the archaeological expeditions. Despite the fact that the product was over a hundred years old, it retained all its qualities and was edible.
Over time, honey can change its shape and from a liquid state to a solid, i.e. it will be sugared. However, this does not in any way impair its miraculous properties.
The main "secret of longevity" of this product is the correct storage conditions.
We store honey correctly
The optimum storage temperature for honey is from 6 to 15 ° C. It is better to remove the product in a dark and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Do not put things and products with a strong smell next to honey.
The maximum allowable storage temperature for honey is + 40 ° C. At higher rates, chemical reactions begin that lead to product spoilage.
Typical 20-30 degrees above zero do not spoil honey, but significantly reduce its shelf life.
A pantry, basement or dry cellar is well suited for storing honey.
The situation with storing this sweetness in an ordinary city apartment is more complicated.
First of all, eliminate the kitchen as a honey storage room. It is too hot and humid here, the taste of the food may deteriorate.
Older apartments have storage rooms that can "shelter" your honey supplies.
If you don't have a pantry, a refrigerator is a great place to store honey. Here he is not afraid of temperature drops, humidity, or the sun's rays. Place honey on the lower shelves (as far away from the freezer as possible).
If we talk about the balcony, then this is far from the best place to store honey. Even on glazed and insulated balconies, it will not stand for a long time.
After standing on a well-lit balcony for several hot weeks, healing honey will turn into a useless sweet mass. There will be no harm from it, but also no benefit.
It is too hot on the balcony in summer and quite cold in winter. And in the off-season, the level of humidity rises sharply, which also negatively affects the quality of the product.
What is the best way to store honey
To keep honey as long as possible without compromising its taste and medicinal qualities, it is important to choose the right container "for wintering".
For short-term storage of 2-3 months, simple plastic containers with a tight lid are fine.
For long-term storage, choose glass, ceramic or wooden containers made of linden, beech or birch. A good option is stainless steel containers, but the steel should be of very high quality.
But the best container for long-term storage of honey is considered to be tinted glass. Make sure the lid is tightly closed, this is important.
It is forbidden to keep honey in copper, aluminum and galvanized containers. Kegs made of wood saturated with essential oils are also best avoided.
Before filling, the container must be cleaned with baking soda, washed and dried well.
There are those who like to keep honey in its original form - in combs. This is a difficult task, the frame needs to be wrapped with cling film, and on top - with a dark cloth and make sure that the moth does not choose your stocks. A great way is to separate the honeycomb from the frame and place it in a glass container.
