Honey is a natural wonder. Because of its low moisture amount and high acidic pH, honey is the only food from nature that does not spoil. In fact, clay jars of edible honey have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs. Honey is a natural source of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and amino acids. In fact, due to honey’s strong antioxidant properties, it has been used to aid in healing wounds, prevent infections, and sooth painful burns. Because honey inhibits the growth of bacteria, yeast, and molds, it can be used as a preservative for long-term storage of other foods. Honey is available in a wide variety of different flavors and colors. Depending on the flowers and plants the honey bees use as a source for nectar collection, honey can have different flavors. And finally, honey is a food source that is universally eaten by humans, and animals alike.
Everyone loves honey! As a marketable product, you just can’t go wrong
Raw vs Filtered Honey - According to USDA Grading Standards for extracted honey, filtered honey has been filtered so that all or most of the naturally occurring fine particles, pollen grains, air bubbles, and other materials commonly found suspended in honey have been removed. Filtering also makes honey more consistent in clarity and color. None of which effects TASTE. But the average customer tends to gravitate towards filtered honey. Erroneously perceiving filtered honey as being more "pure".
There is Ultrafiltration honey, which involves adding water to honey, and filtering under high pressure at the molecular level, then removing the water. But this practically removes everything that everyone loves about honey. And is generally only good for producing a colorless sweetener.
In the end. Filtering honey makes it look pretty, golden and smooths out the texture, and can help to delay crystallization. But if you are the type of person who prefers chunky peanut butter and bread with tasty grains, you will most likely prefer unfiltered, or lightly filtered Honey.
What Causes Crystallization? - While honey does not spoil. It can undergo a change called crystallization. Crystallization happens when the natural sugars in the honey absorb moisture from the air. Raw, or “unfiltered” honey, with high pollen content will crystallize faster than the filtered and processed honey you will find in most grocery stores. Also, cold temperatures can cause honey to crystalize.
However, crystalized honey is not spoiled. It’s perfectly fine to eat, and many people love the crunchy texture of crystalized honey. Think of it like creamy vs crunchy peanut butter. Both are different in texture, yet both are essentially peanut butter.
All honey will crystalize at some point.
If you don’t LIKE crystalized honey. You can easily change it back to its original smooth, syrupy form by placing said jar of crystalized honey into a container of hot water. Stirring the honey till the crystals have dissolved. You can also microwave the honey, but many people don’t like how microwaving alters the taste of the honey. Be careful when microwaving honey in a plastic container as it could melt the container.
Temperature - Avoid extreme temperatures and temperature fluctuations. Keep honey away from heat sources like stoves and don't refrigerate it, as this can thicken its texture.
Light - UV light can speed up crystallization and impair honey quality, avoid exposure to direct sunlight.
Container - Use an airtight container to keep your honey in its liquid state longer and prevent the hygroscopic sugars in honey from absorbing moisture and crystalizing.
Most people will tell you not to store honey in plastic containers because plastic is permeable. Which is true. However, what they either don't understand, or fail to mention, is that ALL materials are permeable to some degree. Yes.. even glass.
Perhaps a more accurate question would be. “Can I store Honey in plastic containers long enough to meet FDA storage suggestion of two years?” The answer is YES, you can safely store honey in plastic containers for years, provided you choose FDA compliant plastic containers and lids.
Glass is perfectly acceptable for storing honey. But glass is more expensive, breaks easily, and cannot be squeezed to get those last delicious drops out.
We Have a Variety of Honey Packaging Options - We at Aaron Packaging have a large collection of containers specifically designed for storing and preserving honey products. From sturdy glass jars, to squeezable plastic beehive jugs, to cute little plastic honey bears to large capacity, handled jugs. We should have what you need.
Test Your Products and Packaging - Here at Aaron Packaging Inc, we want you to succeed. We advise that you request samples of the packaging products you plan to use. And perform tests with your product for compatibility before you place any large orders.
Questions? Contact Our Sales Team! - If you are struggling finding the right container for your honey, give us a call! Our support team will help you with advice and finding a dependable solution to your problem. Please contact our customer service team
