I found a plastic jar of generic brand honey in the house I inherited. Now my mother's been gone for over 5 years and who knows how long she had this before her passing. I opened it and it still had the foil over the opening, but it was crystallized solid and it was a very dark color - not the golden color seen in grocery store honey - it was dark like molasses. I heard that honey is the one food that never spoils, and one could liquify it by placing the container in warm water. I did and nothing happened. I kept turning up the heat until the water was boiling. I boiled it for an hour and it was still solid - like rock candy - although about a teaspoon had liquified. I tasted it and it didn't taste like honey - it was sweet, but it also had a musty taste and much more liquid that I expected honey to be. Should I just toss it or what can I do about it?
Posts: 544 | Location: upstate New York, USA | Registered: Mar 15, 2007
If you "boiled" it for an hour in the plastic jar, I'd just throw it out. The chemicals in the plastic could easily have given it an off taste. I wish honey was packaged in glass. When I buy a new bottle, I transfer it to glass; makes it much easier to heat after it crystallizes.
Many of our honey containers are made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), a clear plastic that allows the consumer to see the honey before purchase. One of its characteristics, however, is warping at near boiling temperatures. Also, some of our labels are a foil and paper material. The foil, like metal cooking utensils, does create excessive heat problems in a microwave.
Also, honey, being a thick, viscous liquid, does not heat evenly in a microwave. Hotspots may develop that may lead to a sudden boil that spatters the hot contents. Such hotspots are also hot enough to degrade the flavor and color of this premium honey.
Most of the "honey" found in grocery stores in recent years is not "really" honey. They filter it so that all the pollen in taken out and they mix honies from many different countries. Now days, if I don't buy it from a local source, I don't keep it over 1 yr., especially if it is in a plastic container.
The best honey is from a local beekeeper since it will contain pollens from your area & can help you build an imunity to pollens in your area that can cause you allergies.
I forgot to add...I'm not sure that Sue Bee honey does this mixing. That would take some research to find out. But I know that store brands & generics do...and most "off" brands.This message has been edited. Last edited by: ga.karen,
"The soil is the source of life, creativity, culture and real independence." David Ben-Gurion
Well okay then, ST. Thanks for the clarification, but I never heat honey in plastic in the microwave, and I don't heat it so long it boils. It takes mere seconds to re-liquefy crystallized honey, either in the MW or when the container (glass or ceramic only) is set into a pan of boiling water.
Toss it weakestlink. Saving the old honey is not worth the risk of eating something so old. With food, it is always better safe than sorry, in my book.
And Handi Ann - boy is your avatar big! I know several people are having trouble with their avatars being so huge lately. The thing I wanted to say though, is that with your avatar so big you can see the detail of the image. Very beautiful! Kinda glad I got to see it so big!
Back to the original post - weakestlink - TOSS IT! I know you would love to think it still has some value - it doesn't! Toss it now and don't look back...
The best honey is from a local beekeeper since it will contain pollens from your area & can help you build an immunity to pollens in your area that can cause you allergies.
Good to know...I didn't know that til now.
Posts: 4274 | Location: Minnesota | Registered: Dec 01, 2003
