Every person should know how to melt honey so that it does not lose its benefits. It is worth considering that the mass cannot be heated to high temperatures. Otherwise, bee nectar will lose valuable components. Everyone knows that after pumping out honey retains its beneficial properties for only a few months. After which the natural process of crystallization begins.
The main reasons for the hardening of the honey product
Honey is a bee product that contains a lot of sugars. When storing the mass at a temperature of +4-28 degrees, excess sugar becomes solid. This process is called crystallization.
Its flow is affected by the ratio of fructose and glucose in the product. An increased amount of fructose leads to the dissolution of glucose crystals in it. In such a situation, bee nectar is sugared more slowly. The predominance of glucose leads to faster crystallization. Excess of this substance falls out in the form of white layers.
Sugaring, which is accompanied by the formation of small crystals, is called lard-like. When larger elements are formed, we are talking about fine-grained crystallization. If large and coarse crystals form in the bee nectar, the sugaring is considered coarse.
Acacia, cherry, chestnut honey contains a lot of fructose. Therefore, these products remain liquid for a long time. At the same time, the predominant number of varieties are characterized by rapid sugaring. Rapeseed crystallizes within a week, and sunflower - in 14 days.
So, the rate of crystallization is influenced by the following factors:
- A place where bees collect nectar.
- Component products. The high pollen content significantly speeds up the sugaring process.
- Moisture contents. The more water is present in the product, the later crystallization occurs. At the same time, dense mature honey is candied much faster.
- Storage conditions. At elevated temperatures and frequent stirring, the crystallization process slows down.
To ensure that honey retains its properties for as long as possible and does not crystallize ahead of time, you should follow these rules:
- Keep the bee product at a low temperature – approximately +4 degrees.In this case, the crystallization process will be much slower.
- Stir the honey frequently. In this case, crystallization centers do not appear.
- Add water to the composition. This method may not be considered the best, but it is very effective.
- Buy varieties that contain a minimum of glucose.
It is also worth considering that the solid product is also tasty and healthy, and its crystallization is considered an important indicator of quality.
Basic heating rules
To obtain a liquid product, it is important to think about how to melt the candied mass and still retain its benefits. Experts advise adhering to the following rules:
- The easiest way is to melt honey in small portions. To do this, it is recommended to fill the jar with the required amount of honey. In this case, the remaining product should be put aside until next time.
- Dissolution of glucose crystals is observed at a temperature of +40 degrees. Therefore, honey needs to be heated to these parameters or slightly higher. However, it is impossible to exceed +50 degrees. This will lead to loss of beneficial properties and aromas. Heating honey to more than +60 degrees will cause loss of enzyme activity. At the same time, exceeding +80 degrees provokes the destruction of fructose.
- Honey is characterized by low thermal conductivity. To speed up the process, it is recommended to periodically stir the mass that is being heated.
- Don't try to achieve a clear texture or make the honey look like fresh honey. It is enough to soften it to such a consistency that you can pour it.
- After completing the process, it is recommended to immediately cool the container with the heated mass.
Methods for melting honey in a jar
Today there are quite a few ways to melt honey.In order for the product to retain maximum beneficial properties, you should strictly follow the instructions and not exceed the recommended temperature.
In a water bath
The easiest way to make honey liquid is in a water bath. To organize the process, you should take 2 pans of different diameters, water, and a thermometer. First, pour water into a larger container, and then place a second pan on top. It is important to ensure that they do not touch. After this, you need to pour water into the second container and place a jar of honey.
Using a thermometer, you need to control the water in a smaller container. It is important that it is no more than +55 degrees. After heating the water, turn off the stove for half an hour. If necessary, the procedure can be repeated. To melt 300 grams of honey, you will need to heat it for 40-50 minutes.
In the sun
To melt honey without losing its beneficial properties, it is recommended to leave the container in the sun. In this case, the mass may even be in a plastic container. To achieve the desired results, you should rotate the jar regularly. This will ensure that the contents heat evenly. The duration of such a procedure can take from 8 hours to several days - it all depends on temperature indicators.
The sun helps to heat the container to +45-50 degrees. However, this option is suitable only for those people who live in sunny areas and can leave the container for a long time in direct sunlight.
Near the battery
This method is considered the simplest. It is important to ensure sufficient free space between the can and the battery. This will require 10-40 centimeters. The distance depends on the battery temperature. The hotter it is, the further away the container with the product should be. In this case, you can melt honey even in a three-liter jar. To achieve faster results, it is recommended to transfer the product into a smaller container.
The advantage of this method is that it allows you to preserve the maximum number of useful properties. However, the disadvantage of the procedure is its lengthy nature.
In warm water
To restore the liquid consistency, it is recommended to fill any suitable container with hot water, immerse the jar in it and wait for the honey to melt. It is important to maintain optimal temperatures. This procedure is simple, but takes approximately 6-8 hours. From time to time it is worth adding hot water to increase the temperature.
In the microwave
To melt candied honey in the microwave, it is recommended to set the power of the device to 500-600 watts. Then you need to pour honey into a fireproof mold and put it in the oven. Every half a minute the container needs to be removed and the mass mixed. It is recommended to continue the process until it reaches the desired consistency.
In a slow cooker
To quickly and efficiently melt honey, you should use a slow cooker. It is important that the device has a multi-cook function with a processing temperature of no more than +40-50 degrees. The product will melt quite quickly. Therefore, it is worth monitoring the process every 1-2 minutes.
In the bath
You can also heat honey in a bathhouse.In such a room it is convenient to melt the mass in large cans. To do this, you need to heat the bathhouse and wait for a slight drop in temperature. Then you need to bring in the cans and leave them until the room cools down. You shouldn’t count on the mass completely melting. However, it will become much softer.
With lemon
If the honey has thickened, you can give it a liquid consistency with the help of lemon. To do this, add 1 slice of lemon per spoon to the jar. As a result, the honey will begin to melt and mix with the juice. The resulting composition is very useful. It can be used for colds. The mixture is also suitable for making smoothies, cocktails, and tea.
Using a decrystallizer
This is a special device that is designed to heat beekeeping products. Beekeepers buy this device to give the nectar a marketable appearance. The liquid mass looks more attractive. In addition, it is more convenient to pour. However, the device is usually not used at home.
A decrystallizer can melt a product and still retain maximum of its beneficial properties. The device has a continuous surface. Thanks to this, the nectar melts evenly. The device has a sensor that indicates the completion of the process. If you ignore the signal and further heat the product, bee nectar will lose its benefits.
If 3-4 months have passed since the honey was pumped out, and the product retains a liquid texture, it is worth asking what is causing this. This will help determine whether the product is natural and has lost its benefits. The fact is that to increase sales, unscrupulous sellers often use ordinary heating.
Heating honey in honeycombs
Sometimes there is a situation where bee nectar is candied directly in the honeycomb. In this case, getting it out of there can be quite problematic. To preserve maximum benefits, it is recommended to cut the honeycomb into small pieces and consume it instead of candy. Chewed honeycomb should be spat out or swallowed.
To melt the thickened product, it is recommended to place honeycombs with honey in warm water. In this case, its temperature should be +40 degrees. The honey will gradually melt and flow directly into the water. Of course, this option does not allow you to get the highest quality product. However, sweet water can be used in various culinary recipes.
What not to do
In order for honey to bring maximum benefits to the body, you should adhere to the following rules:
- It is not recommended to drink bee nectar with hot drinks - tea, milk, cocoa. Also, do not add honey to them. In this case, the drink will be completely useless or even harmful.
- It is not recommended to heat honey in the microwave. Despite the high speed of this method, there is a risk of losing the main part of the beneficial properties. This is due to structural changes in the composition of the product.
Today, a large number of effective methods for recrystallizing honey are known. Melting thickened nectar is easy. It is important to strictly adhere to the rules of the procedure. Thanks to this, the nectar will acquire a liquid form and pleasant viscousness without losing its beneficial properties.
