Recently, honey in combs has become more and more popular, due to the higher concentration of nutrients in the composition and the lack of the ability to counterfeit it. It is impossible to buy a fresh product all year round, so you need to stock up on high-quality and natural honey for a year in advance. Next, we will talk about how to store honey in combs so that it does not lose its healing properties and how long it can be done.

Storage conditions for honeycombs: basic rules and recommendations

You can preserve the beneficial properties of honey if you follow all the rules and recommendations for its storage. You should not take a large amount of beekeeping product that the family will not eat in the current six months or a year. It is more troublesome to store such a product than liquid honey, which is familiar to many. However, all conditions can be met at home.

  • The wax contained in the comb is hygroscopic and therefore does not like moisture. Excess moisture penetrates through the holes (caps) and is absorbed by the honey. As a result, the product begins to sour. A prerequisite for storage is a dry room with good ventilation.
  • The quality of the product is negatively affected by sharp temperature changes. Honeycombs should be stored in a room with a stable temperature, the permissible fluctuation amplitude is no more than 10 degrees.
  • The beneficial properties of the beekeeping product can be preserved if they are not influenced by direct sunlight. Ideal storage conditions are when sunlight does not enter the room at all. From exposure to sunlight, wax loses its properties, in addition, it transmits light through itself, which affects the concentration of vitamins, minerals, organic acids, macro- and microelements in the composition.
  • Do not store at low temperatures (in the refrigerator, in the freezer), especially with negative values. This is due to the fact that from low temperatures the wax becomes brittle and brittle, this often leads to cracking of the honeycomb and the product simply flows out.
  • High temperatures also have a detrimental effect on quality. This is due to the fact that the wax softens as a result of thermal exposure, some of the beneficial properties evaporate.

Storage of honey in combs

The optimal conditions for storing honey within the framework are: a dry room with a permissible temperature of 8 to 30 degrees above zero. The vibration amplitude should not exceed 10 units, otherwise it will negatively affect the quality. If the beekeeping product is stored in an enclosed space, it should be inspected regularly for the presence of wax moths that could harm the product.

Interesting: during the excavation of the Egyptian pyramids, honey was discovered in a frame, which has not lost its useful and taste qualities for millennia, it was even suitable for consumption.

How much honey is stored in combs

How to store honey at home in an apartment

How long can honey be kept in combs in an apartment so that it does not lose its useful and tasteful properties? If you observe the permissible temperature regime, the shelf life of the product is quite long. Beekeepers with great experience claim that if the storage rules are observed, natural honey can be stored for years, decades and even centuries.But it is better not to abuse this, since it has been scientifically proven that the composition loses its antibacterial properties after one year by about 16%.

It is recommended to keep the honey product at home for no more than 2-3 years. If a person is not sure of the correct approach to storage, then it is better not to keep the combs for more than 1 year, it is better to eat them during the fall and winter. At room temperature, the storage time of the frames is halved.

Store honey for no more than 2-3 years

How to store honey in combs at home

Is it possible to store honey in a plastic container

The most useful honey is the one that was harvested in the spring, but the storage conditions are more demanding. The optimal storage temperature is + 3-10 degrees. Temperatures above the established indicators have a detrimental effect on the composition, the chemical composition is poorer.

Important: the frames are like a sponge that absorbs all the smells of the environment, so there should be no products with a pungent smell nearby.

What utensils are best to use

Our ancestors used earthenware to store beekeeping products within the framework, which is practically absent today. The most affordable option is glass. This material is neutral, does not emit toxic and toxic substances, does not react with the contents. Its main drawback is transparency, which has a detrimental effect on the framework.

Frames are often sold in the markets in plastic containers. This option is only suitable for sales and short-term storage. This is due to the fact that under the influence of sunlight, plastic begins to emit toxic substances. It is strictly forbidden to store honey frames in plastic containers for a long time!

It is forbidden to store honey in plastic containers!

Metal products are quite controversial. Many beekeepers use stainless steel cans to transport large quantities of bee products. It is worth noting that during prolonged storage in such containers, it oxidizes and deteriorates. Moisture in beekeeping products leads to oxidation.

A worthy alternative to glass is wood. This is due to the naturalness of the product, lack of transparency, as well as the fact that the product takes on the aroma and flavor of wood. But it is worth refraining from using wooden dishes made from coniferous trees. They contain a high concentration of essential oils that will be released during the operation of the cookware.

What can spoil the product

The environment is aggressive, so there are factors that can hopelessly ruin the product:

  • Mold affects honey if the room humidity is too low. In this case, it is almost impossible to revive honey, some will have to be thrown into the urn, and the rest will be heat treated.
  • Insects. If damaged by wax moths, the frames can be destroyed in less than a week. To prevent it, it is necessary to constantly ventilate the contents of the containers, the air temperature in the room should not exceed +10 degrees. In such conditions, the insect cannot live and develop, the moth dies.
  • The enemy of any beekeeping product is the sun's rays, they destroy all healing properties. Storing honey in direct sunlight is prohibited.
  • Humidity can also play a cruel joke; at a high level of humidity, honey begins to ferment and sour. It's not for nothing that bees pay special attention to the arrangement of ventilation in their hive. Thanks to ventilation, an optimal level of humidity is achieved.

Important: products of natural origin can provoke an allergic reaction, for this reason, samples must be taken before use.

Framed honey is a unique beekeeping product that combines a high concentration of nutrients, excellent taste and the ability to store the product for a long time.It is not a problem to buy it, and the probability of acquiring a fake is excluded, it is simply impossible.