Simple honey storage techniques for preppers
Table of Contents
Introduction
We will delve into correct honey storage methods that will maintain the integrity of our honey. Together with honey storage we will briefly look at the numerous honey benefits making it an important food item for preppers to store. We’ll also touch on some interesting facts about the importance of storing honey for SHTP or just for the love of honey. By the end of the article you will appreciate the merit of honey as a food source and for it’s long term storage benefits.
Summary of how bees make honey
To appreciate honey it helps to learn what goes into making this beautiful food source. The process begins for bees in spring and summer when the weather is fine and the flowers are blooming. The idea is to work hard when the food is plentiful and store it for the winter when food is scarce. Worker bees go searching for flowers to suck up the nectar using their proboscis. When they have reached their limit the worker bee returns to drop off the nectar.
The house bees job is to reduce the water content of the nectar from around 70% to about 20%. They do this by passing the nectar between themselves and using their wings to fan the nectar. Once the honey is created it is placed in the honeycombs and covered with beeswax which is used to make candles.
The color and taste of the honey depends greatly by the plants the bees extract the nectar from.
For a more detailed explanation of how honey is created read more at honeybee.org
Summary of honey health benefits
- Assist with the healing of wounds
- High in antioxidants, we know how good they are
- Soothe sore throat
- Antibacterial
- Antifungal
- Used in 19th century to cure asthmatic attacks
- Great alternative to sugar
Honey Storage – How to store honey
The main purpose for storing honey correctly is to maintain it’s integrity. If stored in a cool dark place in a sealed jar honey will last years and years. This makes it a good food source to store away for a rainy day. Because of that when you do have the opportunity to buy raw honey buy several jars. Another trick to consider is not to transfer honey from it’s original container. Honey has a tendency to crystallize which happens when it’s not commercially processed. Natural raw honey bought from the local manufacturer is most likely to crystallize. When this happens rest assured that the honey still tastes great and it’s integrity is not harmed in any way. If crystallization does occur simply remove the amount you need for use and warm it up. This will return it to it’s original state.
If your fastidious about maintaining the taste and texture of your honey as I am. I don’t for example use the same knife to spread my honey that I just used to spread the butter. It’s a little thing but I like to keep my honey clean in the container.
Can you freeze honey
Freezing honey will speed up crystallization, there’s really no need to refrigerate honey in my opinion. It’s tastes best at room temperature anyway. Frozen or not the honey will keep fresh either way and taste should not differ.
Final thoughts
Before researching more about honey I didn’t realize that honey never expires or goes off. My love for honey elevated after learning that fact. Now, when I come across someone selling fresh honey I buy 5 or 6 jars instead of 1 or 2. Knowing that I can store it until next I get a chance to get to the local market. I’ll close this article with something interesting I read somewhere about honey. “In ancient times a jar of honey was considered a sign of wealth”.
