One of the best things about summer is that you can stock up on local honey. And you’d think one of the best ways to store your local honey is by freezing it.
We’ll walk you through everything you need to know about freezing your favourite sweet treat and how it affects its taste and texture.
Yes, freezing honey is a great way of extending shelf life. When done correctly, it won’t lose any flavour or nutrients, and it’ll be safe from any bacterial growth.
Honey is a supersaturated sugar solution produced by bees, which means its sugar content is higher than the water content.
It has a lower freezing point than other sugars due to its high viscosity and low water content.
At this point, the crystallization process begins slowly but gives honey an ‘ice-like’ appearance. This then accelerates once temperatures drop below -52°C, causing the honey to freeze into a single solid lump.
Yes, you can store honey in the freezer. But raw honey doesn’t quite “freeze” like water because of its low water content. As honey gets colder, it gets thicker and more viscous, meaning it flows less easily. If you put it in your freezer, it will solidify and keep — but it won’t become rock-solid like an ice cube.
Is Freezing Honey A Great Summer Treat?
Honey or more specifically frozen honey has had its time to shine recently. With a recent upsurge in awareness around bees and bee products, a new trend on TikTok (a video-sharing app) has got participants turning honey into ice poles to consume.
While this might seem like the perfect alternative to a Mr Whippy it can lead to some rather unpleasant side effects. Participants reported nausea, stomach pain, cramps and even diarrhoea.
Whether this new trend is here to stay is yet to be seen but it’s safe to say you should avoid eating honey in its frozen form in large amounts.
Preparing Your Honey For Freezing
Before you start freezing your jars of honey there are a few simple steps to go through to ensure the process is a success.
- Clean the jar. Wash it thoroughly and let it dry completely before starting.
- Fill the jar close to the top, and leave some room for expansion once the honey freezes.
- Seal the jar and label it with an expiration date so you know when to eat it to avoid any spoilage or contamination issues (pass it on to friends and family if you’re not going to get through it).
- Freeze your jar of delicious sweet goodness until ready to enjoy!
To defrost, it is best to leave it in its jar and place the sealed container in warm water. Avoid using water that’s too hot and could damage the container or honey inside. Lukewarm is fine.
Avoid using your microwave for this process, it heats unevenly, resulting in scalding hot spots that aren’t good for the honey and could burn your mouth.
If you’re unsure whether or not your honey has gone bad after freezing it, there are a few things you can check.
- An unpleasant odour or appearance (like lumps of crystallized sugar),
- Mould growth on the surface of your jar/bottle/container
- A cloudy liquid inside your jar that does not appear to be honey
When it comes to your health caution is always advised so if you’re unsure if your honey has gone bad it’s normally better not to take the risk.
Can You Freeze Honey? | Busy Beekeeping
FAQ
Is honey still good if it freezes?
Is it safe to eat Frozen honey?
Can you unfreeze frozen honey?
Can you freeze honey to make it last longer?
Does Honey go bad if it freezes?
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. If you have the space, there are several benefits of freezing honey:
How much honey does one have to take to get sick? Does honey go bad if it is dark?
The indicated dose for honey consumption is 25 grams per day, that is, one tablespoon. If you consume more it can trigger intestinal problems, diabetes and other health problems. Honey depending on its origin has a naturally different color, it can be light or dark. But if you bought honey and it changed color, it’s better not to consume it.
Does freezing honey destroy nutrients?
Freezing honey does not destroy nutrients. You should freeze honey in a freezer with a constant temperature. Despite not losing nutrients when frozen, honey may lose other properties with improper freezing. When freezing honey, use glass containers.
What happens if you put liquid honey in the freezer?
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. 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.