In spite of it’s almost eternal shelf life, there may be situations where you seek a long term storage that preserves all of honey’s wonderful properties. Hence, the question, “Can you freeze honey?”. Yes, my friends, freezing honey is quite easy and an good way to take care of this gift from the beehive.
In most situations, you will not need to put your honey in the freezer. The absolute best method of storing honey is in an airtight container in a warm cabinet. But, the freezer is an option for long term storage. Beekeepers often do this with extra frames of honey that they later plan to use.
Once you enter the temperature range between -4 and -60 degrees Fahrenheit, the honey enters into a glassy transitional stage where it is neither fully solid nor fully liquid. Once you get down to -60 degrees, the honey finally becomes an amorphous solid that resembles glass. Enough with the science talk.
Why Honey Does Not Freeze Solid
The reason honey remains “semi-solid” has to do with the way it is made. The two main components of honey are water and sugars.
Honey bees collect plant nectar and make it into honey. During this conversion process, most of the water is removed.
Nectar with an average moisture content of 80% becomes ripe honey with a water content below 20%. With a moisture content that low, honey will not freeze into a solid mass like some materials.
Water freezes at 32° F but some of the sugars in honey act as natural antifreeze – preventing the small amount of water from crystallizing into ice.
This low water content is also one reason why honey doesn’t go bad – as long as it is protected from moisture.
The Science Behind Freezing Honey
Whenever we put a liquid in the freezer, we expect a “rock-hard” result – think ice, right? But, honey has a very different composition than water.
When you put liquid honey in the freezer, it becomes a very thick slurry. Perhaps too thick to really pour from the jar but certainly not a solid.
Does pure honey Crystallise?
FAQ
Is it OK for honey to freeze?
Does real honey freeze in winter?
Can 100% honey freeze?
What is the freezing point of honey in Fahrenheit?
What temperature does honey freeze?
The freezing point of honey is an approximate temperature of-41°C. As with most substances, three phases occur when honey reaches its freezing point: solidification, supercooling and crystallization, every stage can be returned to honey with a normal viscosity or runniness so it doesn’t need to cause concern. Does honey freeze in winter?
What is the shelf life for raw honey made in Germany?
Raw honey is one of the few foods that has this ability to remain edible years after you bring it home. In fact, honey that was produced thousands of years old has been found to have tasted just as fresh and sweet as it did when it was first made. Honey is a sugar product. Sugar is hygroscopic that contains very little water in its natural state. A hygroscopic product can also soak in water if not sealed. Honey in its natural form has very low moisture, very few bacteria or microorganisms can survive in an environment like that. This is a very important feature in raw honey’s longevity. This inhospitable environment means that organisms can’t survive long enough within the jar of honey to have the chance to spoil.
Can you freeze honey?
Although honey is known for its longevity, freezing honey can prolong its life even further. Freezing honey at the correct temperature will eliminate bacterial growth and reduce the chances of crystallization, which tends to spoil honey. As you can see, you’re able to freeze honey without encountering any problems. However, should you be doing it?
Does honey freeze in winter?
Unless you live in an extremely cold climate where winter temperatures regularly drop below -41°C, you’re unlikely to see any stored honey reach the honey freezing point. Does pure honey freeze? No, honey won’t freeze like water. Instead of turning into ice, it will simply get thicker and thicker as the temperature drops.