The Right Way to Store Organic Honey, According to Beekeepers

It is among the easiest products that you could consume daily. You could place it in tea, pour it onto toast, use it in a breakfast bowl, blend in a smoothie, or go with the pancakes and desserts.

However, after having brought the honey home, there will be one question raised concerning it:

How to Store Organic Honey Properly?

Most people tend to store their honey next to the cooker, keep it in the fridge, loosen the cap, or even use a damp spoon. Though those practices might seem insignificant to the consumer, they actually influence the texture, taste, and overall quality of the product.

As explained by the beekeepers, the honey requires to be stored properly as it represents the product of flowers, bees, seasonal processes, and natural sourcing. Being a part of Hunter Bee company, we make sure that the honey undergoes special treatment related to its origin, taste, and production process.

Find out more about how to store honey properly at home.

Why Honey Storage Matters

Although honey looks very basic, it is very sensitive to moisture, heat, and air exposure.

If honey is stored properly, organic honey can keep its taste, smell, and texture for a very long period of time. But if stored improperly, it can turn out to be too liquid, too thick, granulated, or lose some of its natural taste.

Correct storage of honey ensures:

• Natural taste

• Smell

• Texture

• Color

• Freshness

• Usability in everyday life

For variants like sundarban forest honey, proper storage helps maintain its deeper taste, texture, and natural character. 

As honey is extracted from flowers naturally, each type of honey is different in nature. Acacia Honey is delicate and floral, Sundarban honey is rich and deep, and Junglee Honey is strong and earthy. Correct storage ensures that all the types of honey retain their natural essence.

1. Keep Honey in a Cool, Dry Place

Honey should always be stored in a cool and dry environment.

A cabinet in your kitchen or a shelf in the pantry is perfect. The container must not be exposed to sunlight, steam, moisture, or excessive heat.

It is advisable not to store honey near:

• A gas burner

• Oven

• Window through which sunlight comes

• Sink

• Areas where there is high humidity

• Water that is boiling or steam

High temperatures can affect the natural properties of honey, including its texture and taste. Moisture can also alter its properties. That is why beekeepers always advise storing honey in a dry environment with moderate room temperature.

2. Do Not Refrigerate Honey

However, many believe that honey needs to be stored in the refrigerator once it is opened.

But honey does not require refrigeration.

On the contrary, storing honey in the refrigerator makes honey thicker and promotes crystallization of honey. Though this doesn’t indicate that honey has gone bad, it only becomes hard to use or pour.

It is better to store organic honey in the normal room temperature and in an area where there is no moisture or heat. It is better not to keep the organic honey in the refrigerator, but in a kitchen cabinet.

3. Always Keep the Lid Tightly Closed

One of the top tips regarding storing honey is very basic:

Always ensure that the lid is properly closed after opening.

Moisture can easily seep into honey if the lid is not sealed properly or is left open.

It is recommended to clean the rim and then seal the honey bottle tightly after opening.

This will protect the honey from:

• Moisture

• Dust

• Air contact

• Kitchens smells

• Contamination

It is best to keep honey in a sealed bottle.

4. Use a Clean and Dry Spoon

This is one of the most frequent errors that people commit.

Do not use a wet spoon to scoop honey from the container.

The presence of any moisture affects the taste of honey. This is always emphasized by beekeepers who recommend using a clean and dry spoon or a dipping stick.

Do not use:

• Wet spoons

• Spoon with previous use

• Spoons containing tea, milk, or food residues

• Bread or fruits dipped straight into the bottle

In case you need to sweeten your tea, extract honey in a dry spoon and mix it in your cup.

This will maintain cleanliness of the bottle and preserve its contents.

5. Keep Honey Away From Direct Sunlight

The color, texture, and taste of honey may be affected by sunlight.

This is the reason for keeping honey away from direct exposure to sunlight when stored in the container. Storing it inside a cupboard or shelf will be a good option for its storage.

Keeping sundarban forest honey away from sunlight helps protect its rich taste and natural profile for everyday use. 

Honey has many variations each having a unique profile. Acacia honey has a light floral profile while Sundarban honey has a forest-like taste. Junglee honey has a strong profile.

6. What If Honey Crystallizes?

Crystallization is one of the largest causes of concern when it comes to honey.

However, crystallized honey is not fake honey.

It is a natural process that may take place due to the flower variety, natural composition of sugars, temperature, and storage.

Some honeys crystallize quicker while others remain runny. Such variations do not imply that the honey is of poor quality.

If your honey crystallizes, you can continue using it. Many people like to spread the crystallized honey on bread, pancakes or other meals during breakfast since the substance becomes easy to spread.

If you would like to have the honey in its liquid state again, immerse the tightly sealed bottle into the water at room temperature for some time.

7. Should Honey Be Transferred to Another Container?

In case your honey is packed in a high-quality bottle or jar, then you can store it in the same container.

However, if you are moving your honey to another container, the container must be:

• Clean

• Totally dry

• Sealed

• Food-safe

• Easy to seal

Glass jars are usually used at homes; however, the key point here is that the container must be dry and sealed well.

Do not move honey into a moist container.

Best Storage Tips for Hunter Bee Honey

Here is a simple guide to store organic honey at home:

These simple steps can help your honey stay enjoyable for everyday use.

How to Use Stored Honey Every Day

Honey is very easy to use once it is stored correctly.

You may consume Acacia honey in green tea, on toast, in fruit salads, in smoothies, and also in lighter breakfast recipes.

On the other hand, Hunter Bee honey may be consumed with pancakes, in beverages, in desserts, and in richer recipes.

In addition to this, you may consume it in chai, milk tea, and in traditional recipes and regular kitchen consumption.

The Hunter Bee Difference

Honey produced by Hunter Bee is obtained by taking into account the origin, taste, and proper treatment of the honey.

Hunter Bee honey is:

Properly sourced from natural regions

Associated with 3000+ beekeepers

Not overheated

Available in various variants

Used daily

Being produced without changing much of the natural characteristics of honey, Hunter Bee honey requires proper storage in order to preserve the taste of each individual variant.

Good honey requires proper storage.

Conclusion

It’s quite easy to store your organic honey.

• Store it cold.

• Store it dry.

• Store it closed.

• Keep it away from the heat and light.

• Use a clean and dry spoon.

Your honey doesn’t require any refrigeration, and crystallization doesn’t indicate any kind of deception. It is a natural process that may occur at some point.

With proper storing, honey will always be ready to be used with your tea, porridge, smoothies, desserts, and in everyday dishes.

Hunter Bee bottles always contain the flavor of their origins, and proper storing allows protecting it.

FAQs

1. How should you store honey?

Honey should be stored in a cool and dry place, avoiding exposure to sun, heat, or moisture. The lid should always remain closed after every usage.

2. Should you store honey in the refrigerator?

No, there is no need to store honey in the refrigerator as it will only cause it to thicken. 

3. Can I use a wet spoon while using honey?

It is advisable not to use a wet spoon while handling honey, since moisture can affect the honey in the bottle.

4. Is crystallized honey considered bad?

No, crystallization is a natural process which does not indicate that honey is spoiled or counterfeit. 

5. How do I make crystallized honey liquid again?

Place the sealed bottle in a container with warm water.