Honey is produced by bees as food for their own offspring. They produce liquid gold from flower nectar, honeydew or plant juices by enriching it with the body's own juices. When honey ferments, the water content is too high and spoils. Freezing is a good method to preserve valuable food.
How to properly freeze and thaw honey?
Honey can be frozen in the original, unsealed jar and in a resealable freezer bag. This allows it to last indefinitely without fermenting or losing its nutritional properties. To defrost, simply warm in a warm water bath or heat in the microwave.
What happens when honey is frozen?
- The low temperatures prevent crystallization and the thawed honey is even creamier.
- Honey with high water content cannot ferment.
- When taken out of the freezer, the honey is more viscous, but can still be removed and spread.
- The nutritional and antimicrobial properties of the food are not affected by freezing.
How to freeze honey?
- Leave the honey in the jar, which should be originally closed.
- This prevents moisture from penetrating the honey jar. Water that gets into the honey jar during storage in the freezer would lead to fermentation after thawing.
- Since honey absorbs the smells of other foods very quickly, place the container in a resealable freezer bag.
- Place the jar upright in the freezer. Since honey contains little water, it hardly expands during cold sleep. It is therefore unlikely that the vessel will burst.
- Make sure that the frozen honey is not exposed to large temperature fluctuations. Store it in a freezer, preferably in the back of the drawer, far down in the freezer.
Frozen honey can be stored indefinitely. This method of preservation is therefore suitable for households that only use very little honey. Pour the food into tightly fitting jars in portions and freeze.
Even if you want to preserve a large amount of honey, you can safely store it in the freezer.
How is the honey thawed again?
- Place the honey jar in a pot of warm water.
- Turn the stove on to medium heat.
- Open the jar and stir until the honey has liquefied.
Tip
You can also defrost honey in the microwave. Heat it on high for 30 seconds, stir well and put the container back in the device for 30 seconds.
