How to liquify crystalized honey

Tips about liquifying raw honey

Most all honey will crystalize over time.  Raw honey forms a looser crystal structure than heated honey. It reminds me of whipped honey, but more dense. (It is delicious to eat with a spoon!)  Heated honey forms crystals which are sharper and more of what you think about when honey "goes to sugar." That is an important way to tell the difference between raw and non-raw honey.  

I say that “most” honey will crystalize because there are a few nectar sources which yield honey that does not crystalize, at least not yet (5 years later).  But unless you encounter one of these rare varieties, here are a few ideas about how to “un-crystalize” your raw honey.  

  

To "un-crystalize" raw honey, gently heat it below about 100 degrees F, like in a hot water bath, in the sun, or back of the car. This will return it to a liquid state (for a while). Raw honey usually crystalizes faster than heated honey. You may have to repeat this process several times if you have a large container of honey.

You may not want to microwave raw honey because it will heat the honey, decreasing the nutrient value, and creating a melted plastic squeeze bear mess.  Some of the melted plastic may also get into the honey and then you will eat it accidentally.  Then your liver will have to work hard to eliminate it from your body.

The above photo was from Stan's Grandpa Arthur's honey operation. 

More than just sugar

Honey is more than just sugar. Here's why.

Honey contains 19 different sugars, many of which are produced during honey ripening by bees. Honey also contains water, at least 8 acids (pH 3.2-4.5), minerals (K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn, Ch, P, S, Si), 6 major live enzymes, 19 proteins, amino acids, and 6 vitamins (The Hive and The Honey Bee, 1992). 

When we heat honey, some of these nutrients are destroyed. That is why it is important to buy raw honey.  

When honey crystalizes, the best way we've found to liquify honey is to place the container in a car during a warm afternoon. Avoid heating honey above 100 F to preserve its nutritive value. 

St. George Iron Man

This weekend we sold honey at the Ironman Competition in St. George, Utah.  It was inspiring to see the athletes who swam 2.4 miles, biked 114 miles, and ran 26.3 miles cross the finish line!  We hope some of them used our Go Honey! to help them along their journey.

Setting up the Go Honey vendor booth.

 Honey booth setup.

Biking event. Athletes passed the vendor booths and spectators in the biking and running portions.

    

 Volunteers passed out water.

How to Test for Hygienic Behavior

How to test for hygienic behavior

This method is taken from “A sustainable approach to controlling honey beediseases and varroa mites” Availablehttp://www.sare.org/publications/factsheet/0305.htm May 20, 2008.

Materials

3 in. cylinder (PVC pipe)

10-15 oz liquid nitrogen (easily obtained from welding supplier)

Liquid nitrogen tank

Frame with more than 3 inches diameter sealed brood(Fewer than 30 unsealed brood in the circle)

Empty super

Thumbtack

Instructions

Lay frame across empty super. Twist cylinder into sealed brood untilit reaches midrib. Record the number of unsealed cells inside thecylinder. Pour 1.5 to 2.0 oz of the liquid nitrogen into the cylinder andwait for it to freeze the edges or evaporate. Then pour the remainder ofthe liquid nitrogen into the cylinder. Wait to remove the cylinder untilit thaws (3-5 minutes). Put a thumbtack on the top of the frame to markthe frame and the location of the test on the frame. Some hygienic colonies clean and repair the comb so quickly that it is hard to locatethe test when you return. Place the frame back in its box.

Remove the frame containing the frozen brood 48 hours later andrecord the number of sealed cells remaining within the circle.Bees are considered “hygienic” if they remove >95% of the brood ontwo consecutive tests. This trait is highly heritable and will help hivesbecome resistant to diseases and mites.