Help! Honey problem

[Eman]

I extracted and jarred my honey from last year in brand new pint jars. I did notice some clear crystallization on the top of the honey I've been using. I have about a case of honey left and went to get another jar the other day. All of the jars were pure white! The honey itself had turned white, not clear but white. It is stored in the garage with other canned goods and the garage is heated to just above freezing. We put a jar of the white honey in the microwave and it went back to it's original golden color. Has anyone seen this before? Is it possibly due to the bees having stored sugar water along with the honey?

[Michael Bush]

I can't say if they stored sugar water or not, but if you were feeding it they would.

If you weren't, I'd guess it's just the color of that honey when it's crystalized. Sugar water is usually pretty much water white when liquid and yours does not sound like that color.

[Brandon Shaw]

You should not store your honey in the garage at that tempature. It should either be kept frozen or stored in a warmer area, unless you don't mind your honey crystalizing at an accelerated rate.

[This message has been edited by Brandon Shaw (edited February 05, 2004).]

[Michael Bush]

True, just above freezing is a perfect temperature to make it crystalize. Gauranteed to crystalize anything but Tupelo.

[Ian]

>> All of the jars were pure white! The honey itself had turned white, not clear but white.
>>We put a jar of the white honey in the microwave and it went back to it's original golden color. Has anyone seen this before?

Relax, your honey has just naturally crystalized. A simple heating will reliquify the honey, the secret is to heat it slowly. If you heat honey up to fast, meaning too hot, it will start to change chemicaly carmilizing. You will lose its pure fresh taste. I never use the microwave for this. Use a pot of warmish hot water on the stove, and let it sit til it is liquid.

Ian

[Ian]

>>You should not store your honey in the garage at that tempature

The garage is a good place to store your honey. It really makes no difference where you store honey, as long as it is sealed and out of the sun. It will keep indefinatly

Ian

[Hillbillynursery]

Ian should have added in enough time most honeys will crystalize or cream naturally. I had some honey given to me that is 6 years old. It has some crystals in it but it is not totally crystalized. The bee keeper said his wife was cleaning out the cabnets and came across the 3 jars behind some dishes. It has a very strong flavor which I have not been use to. I have missed the wild flower honey since dad quit keeping bees years ago. I am looking forward to getting me some honey from my hives this year.