Final word. Honey doesn’t go bad but a shelf life of two years is a good rule of thumb (since storage conditions can affect taste of honey). Remember, however, that in order to preserve the natural nutrients found in honey, overly hot temperatures should be avoided. I have also used this technique with success, when the honey hasn't completely crystallized. Don’t let honey crystals keep you away from a healthy reward for your sweet tooth. Quick Fix: You could also heat in the microwave for 30 seconds, stir well, allow to cool for 20 seconds then heat again for 30 seconds (if there are still granules needing to be dissolved). If you would like to crystallize your own honey, just place it in the refrigerator. You know honey has crystallized when it looks very thick and very grainy. It is only the spore forming microorganisms that can survive in honey at low temperature. Crystallized Honey fix- How can you Decrystallize honey. While quick and efficient, microwaving can easily destroy the beneficial enzymes by overheating them. But here's some good news: It's perfectly fine to eat crystallized honey and it can be undone. How To Decrystallize Honey- Make Honey Like New Again – YouTube. It will, however, crystallize (becoming thick and cloudy) over time. Are the granules edible? Reconstituting crystallized honey is very simple: Boil enough water in a small pan to cover about half of your honey jar. Plastic begins to warp at temperatures above 140 °F (60 °C), but thankfully most residential water heaters will not keep water this hot. Some people prefer it because of its ability to spread easily without dripping. Honey https://amzn.to/2KdylXW Don't throw it out, you can soften the honey again. Remove jars from heat when honey is once again smooth and runny. Make sure your honey is in a glass jar or jars (not plastic). If your honey is in a plastic container, pour it into another container first. For the consumer of honey, I think the problem is best solved by accepting crystallized honey for what it is. But this is totally unnecessary because crystallized honey is still perfectly fine to eat! In fact, my grocery store in London sells both ‘runny honey’ and ‘crystallized honey’ because some people prefer it that way! Place the open jar of crystallized honey into the boiled (hot) water and allow to sit. This means that the water in honey contains more sugar than it should naturally hold. Place the container of crystallized honey in a slow cooker. The overabundance of sugar makes honey unstable. There are many ways you can use it without subjecting it to extra rounds of heating and re-crystallizing. Place honey jars (sans lids) in pot and bring water to a hot but not boiling temperature. Store honey in glass jars instead of plastic. Crystallized honey doesn’t spread well and isn’t easy to measure out if you regularly use it in baking. How to Decrystallize Honey in a Plastic Container. Here are the ways to liquefy crystallized honey while it’s still in a plastic honey bottle. The honey melts and mixes into my tea. There are a couple of ways to fix your crystalized honey… Pour the hardened or crystallized honey in a preferable glass jar. Make sure to tightly seal and store at at a cool temperature between 50-70f or 10-21c. Crystallization occurs because of honey's high sugar content. I don’t want plastic leaching chemicals into my honey, which is why I usually store and heat my honey in glass jars. Most people know that you can re-liquify crystallized honey with warm water. I currently have no less than half a dozen jars of honey in my pantry. How to Decrystalize Honey. They’re all different varietals, from orange blossom to chestnut to even wild raspberry. [1] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source How To Fix Crystallized Honey. Step Two: Heat a pot of water up to a temperature between 95°F and 110°F. You have a few options once your honey has crystallized (throwing it out is not one! Can You Fix Crystallized Honey? Alternatively, a hairdryer can be used to warm the plastic and soften it. In fact, it’s recognized as the only food that doesn’t spoil. Using crystallized honey to sweeten my herbal tea is no big deal. Crystallized honey is by no means 'worse' than more viscous honey. If your honey crystallizes, simply place the honey jar in warm water and stir until the crystals dissolve. So don’t follow my example. I repeat the process until the honey has reached a liquid state or the consistency needed. Store raw honey in a glass jar since it is less porous than plastic; therefore, it will not allow moisture to seep in Avoid storing honey in the refrigerator since it will make the honey crystallize prematurely, and it is pointless since honey doesn’t go bad unless it encounters water. It is not necessary to refrigerate honey. Don’t store honey in a chilly basement or unheated mudroom. You should start to notice a more gooey consistency like non-crystallized honey. Store honey in glass jars instead of plastic. Or, place the honey in a microwave-safe container with the lid off and microwave, stirring every 30 seconds, until the crystals dissolve. Step I: Pour the crystallized honey in a plastic jar. Yes, you can. The plastic WILL soften and you will be able to shape it around a curved surface with some care. Actually, in some places, it is common to see crystallized honey sold in grocery stores (it is often referred to as "creamed honey" in this state). How do you fix crystallized honey in plastic? Creamed honey is a great way to embrace the crystallization process. The temperature of your honey container will get higher while getting some sunlight directly. You can actually still use honey it crystallized form, so long as you can get it out of the container. It is a totally natural thing for honey to start to crystallize when it is cooler than 70 degrees! You can easily de-crystallize honey on a stovetop using the following steps: Make sure your honey is in a glass jar or jars (not plastic). After about 10-15 minutes, take the jar out and stir it up. I boiled a kettle of water then I placed a bottle of honey into a bowl with the hot water. Crystallized honey is perfectly good to eat and preferable to many people. As it ages, particularly when not stored properly, it will also tend to darken and, of course, crystallize. 2. 2nd. The microwave will essentially destroy all of the beneficial enzymes and properties of the honey. A Different Type of Hot Water Bath. Step IV: Leave undisturbed for some time. Excess heat may dismantle and bend the plastic which is very bad for the honey inside it. If the honey is inside a plastic pot, you need to transfer it to a glass jar. ... Easy Way to Fix Crystallized Honey. There are several things you can do to Decrystallize honey. they are dormant and this is due to antibacterial activity of honey. Place the container of crystallized honey in a hot water bath. Step III: Dip the jar of honey in the warm water. You could use a water bath to get rid of honey grains in glass jars, but it is not very reliable for heating, so most people use plastic bowls. 4th. This gentle transfer of heat to the honey helps bring it back to liquid form without overheating the honey. It will soften and dissolve when added to a cup of hot tea just fine. Simply keep it in a cool location away from direct sunlight and in a tightly sealed container. After the honey reaches the liquid state, remove from pot or bowl. Comments. In case you lack the glass jar, a plastic alternative will do just fine. That’s not the only thing that can happen. Place the uncovered honey pot inside a pan with two fingers of water. So if you’ve got a jar of crystallized honey and want to restore it to its runny state, read on… Bring the pan over low heat. Heat some water in a pot, and put your honey container in the pot of hot water until the honey turns liquid. But yeah, plastic isn’t great, especially when it’s heated. I have both kinds in my cupboard. Or, place the honey in a microwave-safe container with the lid off and microwave, stirring every 30 seconds, until the crystals dissolve. Place the open jar of crystallized honey into the boiled (hot) water and allow to sit. Gently stir honey every few minutes to help break up crystals. Does crystallized honey mean it’s expired or is it still safe to eat? Judy on December 25, 2017: How to decrystallize honey. If your honey crystallizes, simply place the honey jar in warm water and stir until the crystals dissolve. Step I: Pour the crystallized honey in a plastic jar. When glucose crystallizes, it separates from water and takes the form of tiny crystals. It will, however, crystallize (becoming thick and cloudy) over time. According to Kern Honey, truly raw honey usually crystallizes, but all honey is likely to crystallize at cool temperatures. How to Decrystallize Honey in a Plastic Bottle. Yes, some might call that a bit of an addiction, but that hasn’t stopped my collection from growing. If you want your honey to retain the benefits of “raw” honey, use the microwave with caution. No wonder our honey crystallized so fast this year! This is because the honey may contain Clostridium botulinum spores. Use a clean spoon to scoop honey out of a jar, keep the rim clean and dry, and seal it tightly in between uses. the depth of the smallest honey container (as you do not want to risk water getting into the honey). Ways To Decrystallize Honey Crystallized Honey You have to put the plastic bottle with crystallized honey in … If your honey crystallizes, simply place the honey jar in warm water and stir until the crystals dissolve. Accepting crystallized honey for what it is. Remember how too high temperatures can denature the compounds in your honey? Place jar in a pot of warm water, set heat to medium-low and stir until crystals dissolve. Honey can easily be de-crystallized in small batches through simple heating. It’s good for you regardless of the state it’s in. This process is the famous “Bath-maria”. For honey packed in plastic bottles, it is important to make sure that the applied heat from hot water is not too much for the plastic to handle. Air exposure allows moisture and particles into honey, speeding up crystallization. When you use the glass or plastic container, you should be careful with the sunlight. Steps to decrystallize honey. Putting a plastic bear or any plastic honey container in hot water may result in melting the bear. I just so happened to have a honey bear with crystallized honey, so I grabbed it and took a picture for this post. The hot water from your kitchen faucet usually isn’t hot enough to do any damage to your honey – or to a plastic honey jar. Be careful not to boil or scorch the honey. Place the container of crystalized honey in a microwave using medium power. It is also preferable to keep honey in glass jars instead of plastic ones to help keep moisture at bay. If for some reason your honey became contaminated or had lots of little fingers poked in it, keep it (and label it) for using in DIY beauty recipes. Hot water (not boiling, but hot enoughh that it makes your skin sting when you put your hand in it.). Thus, it is natural for honey to crystallize since it is an over-saturated sugar solution. NEVER use a microwave to decrystalize honey. You do not need to boil or microwave any water (this would melt the plastic); simply use the hottest setting your sink offers. I just scoop out some of the hardened honey on a spoon and stir into my warm cup of tea. Quick Fix: You could also heat in the microwave for 30 seconds, stir well, allow to cool for 20 seconds then heat again for 30 seconds (if there are still granules needing to be dissolved). I drizzle them on yogurt, stir them into cocktails, and bake with them. The higher the level of glucose versus fructose in your particular bottle of honey, the faster the honey will crystallize. Crystalizing the Honey 1. It can make the honey have a shorter shelf life. If your honey is in a plastic container, pour it into another container first. A lid is fine if it is not screwed down tight. Turn the crock pot/slow cooker to the lowest setting and you can use both glass and plastic containers of honey as long as the temperature does not exceed 140 degrees Fahrenheit (If the temperature reaches 140, the plastic may deform). Honey does not go bad. If you have honey in a glass jar, you can submerge it into a pot with hot water. But try spreading crystallized honey on a piece of bread- it’s impossible! Put thickened non-pourable honey in a glass jar. Remove the jar from pot and allow honey to cool or reach room temperature. See the step by step how to decrystallize honey: 1st. Remove the lid on the jar of crystallized honey. Yes, they’ll melt slowly in your mouth and in fact, some people prefer their honey crystallized a bit. How Do You Fix Crystallized Honey in Plastic? And, as we have already discussed the microwave is not a good option either. In fact, it’s recognized as the only food that doesn’t spoil. Turn the faucet(s) to full hot with no cold water being mixed in. Direct sunlight can make bacteria appear on honey. The microwave generates heat by essentially boiling and exploding whatever water molecules are in the item being heated/cooked. When the temperature of the honey dips below 50°F, the crystallization process will accelerate. Unfortunately it while natural it doesn’t make it very easy to use. Step One: Place glass jar of honey into a larger glass or ceramic bowl (if your honey comes in a plastic bottle spoon out crystallized honey into a sealable glass jar). In fact, it’s much easier to handle if you don’t because the cooler temperature will cause the honey to solidify. The natural sugars in honey (glucose and fructose) will bind together and begin to form little crystals, which can start making your honey harder. Honey is one of those foods that never goes off and you should never throw it away. Honey does not go bad. Place jar in a pot of warm water, set heat to medium-low and stir until crystals dissolve. A low glucose-to-water ratio speeds up the process of crystallization. I figured if warm water works, hot water will work better. It is possible to get honey back to a pourable state in the case where you may prefer it that way. On another somewhat related note, honey that won’t make you sick can make babies sick, possibly fatally so. It’s just as pure as the liquid but has been crystallized in a controlled environment, giving it a creamy texture. 3rd. If you have a crystallized plastic bear, you have a extra step to perform. Fill up a pot with hot water from your faucet. Crystallization occurs because of the natural qualities inside. Honey is one of the easiest things in your pantry to store.