Honey has to be stored properly to maintain quality.  Always store honey in a closed container, in a dry location, at room temperature–about 70-75 degrees.  Honey tends to absorb moisture, which can lower its quality.  The higher the temperature at which honey is stored, the more likely it is to be damaged.

During storage, honey gradually becomes a darker color and changes flavor and composition. Differences can be seen in less than one year.   For longer-term storage, freeze honey in the freezer.  Freezing stops such changes almost completely and preserves all the natural goodness of the honey.

Do not store honey in the refrigerator. Refrigerator temperatures cause honey to crystallize very quickly.  If the honey crystallizes, remove the lid and place the jar in warm water until the crystals dissolve.  You can also dissolve the crystals by heating the honey in the microwave.  Be careful not to burn or scorch the honey.

Source: The University of Illinois Extension Service

Click here to see the printable version of this article.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *