What if my honey crystalizes?

If you are like me before I became a beekeeper I had no idea some of the incredible facts about honey. First of all, honey never spoils, so even if it crystalizes it's still good.

Also, it is a natural preservative, so it does not need to be put in the refrigerator. In fact the average temperature in the beehive is 95-98 degrees so while most of us don't keep our homes quite that warm it is best to store your honey in the warmest spot possible, free of drafts.

However even in the warmest spot your honey may still crystalize. Every honey is a bit different and this process happens in different timeframes (and sometimes never) due to the sugar content present in the honey.

Some people love the honey when it crystalizes and becomes crunchy but if you prefer it liquid here is what to do if your honey should begin to sugar.

For starters, watch the bottom of the bottle of honey, if you see signs of crystalization, take action immediately before the entire bottle crystalizes. It's easier and quicker if you de-crystalize it as soon as possible.

One method is to use mother nature, the sun does a great job of gently warming your honey, you can place it in a sunny south facing window.

You can also boil a pot of water, turn it off, place your honey in. Repeat as needed it will slowly liquify.

Finally, you do not want to heat honey over 115 degrees or you kill the beneficial bacteria. And never microwave honey, it flash heats and destroys it.