I can speak to the flexibility of honey in the kitchen as someone who has been using it as a natural sweetener for ages. The options with honey are infinite, from sweetening my daily cup of tea to utilising it as a vital element in baking. But one thing I’ve constantly questioned is if it can be kept in the freezer.
In this article, I’ll tell you all I know about freezing honey, including if it’s feasible, how to do it correctly, and how to keep the honey’s quality throughout storage.
Can you freeze honey?
The short answer is yes, you can freeze honey, trust a honey connoisseur like myself. It’s crucial to remember, though, that freezing honey might alter its texture and consistency. The water in honey can separate from the sugar and create crystallisation if you freeze it.
When this happens, honey can become more viscous and difficult to work with in the kitchen. Honey’s colour and flavour can be altered by being frozen. To decide whether or not freezing honey is the best option for you, you should be aware of these potential modifications and measure them against your needs.
Pros and Cons of freezing honey:
First of all, honey does not freeze at typical freezer temperatures (-4C or 25F), but instead it will solidify and crystallize. Honey is a viscous liquid, but its viscosity can change due to crystallization.
Freezing honey can be a great way for me to preserve it for future use and save space in my pantry or kitchen. However, as I’ve discovered, repeatedly freezing and thawing honey can further deteriorate its quality. Additionally, it’s crucial for me to keep in mind the potential changes in consistency and texture, as well as the impact on the color and flavor of the honey when making the decision to freeze it.
Pros
🍯 Honey can be frozen to extend its shelf life and maintain its quality for a longer period of time.
🍯 Freezing honey makes it more solid and less viscous, making it easier to handle and measure.
🍯 Freezing honey might make removing crystallised honey from the container easier.
Cons:
🐝 When honey is frozen, it expands and may split or damage the container it is stored in.
🐝 Honey can lose part of its sweetness and scent when frozen.
🐝 When honey is frozen, its texture changes, becoming gritty and difficult to spread.
🐝 Honey can get discoloured due to freezing.
Do you need to refrigerate honey?
Do you need to refrigerate honey? The answer is no. Honey doesn’t spoil, and you may have heard about jars of honey found in the pyramids of Egypt with edible honey. So, does raw honey go bad? As long as it is covered and kept away from light, heat, or moisture, pure raw honey will be fresh and edible.
What is pure honey? Pure honey is 100% honey, with no added ingredients, like coloring, corn syrup, sugar, or water. On the other hand, raw is simply the honey collected from beehives without any chemical processing. The honey is just filtered to remove impurities.
This gives the honey a richer color and improved flavor. But how long does raw honey last? When stored right, raw honey can last up to two years, but you can definitely stretch it longer than that.
Does pure honey crystallize? All kinds of honey will crystallize, but the rate of crystallization depends on the temperature, storage method, and other factors.
How to Freeze Honey
If you want to freeze honey, you should wait until it’s at room temperature. When honey is kept in the fridge, it can crystallise. Follow the steps is the best practices:
Step 1: Make sure the honey you’re using hasn’t been pasteurised first. You shouldn’t heat honey since it speeds up the crystallisation process.
Step 2: To strain the honey to get rid of any wax or honeycomb particles. Once frozen, these can alter the honey’s consistency and flavour.
Step 3: The moment has come to put your honey away. Put everything in a container or bag that can’t be opened easily and date it.
Step 4: Put the honey in the freezer.
Tips for storing frozen honey
🐝 Keep the honey frozen at all times. Once thawed, it will start to crystallize and spoil faster.
🐝 Avoid storing frozen honey near strong-smelling foods, as it can absorb odors.
🐝 If the honey crystallizes after being frozen, you can place the container in warm water to soften the honey and return it to its liquid state.
What to do if your honey crystallises when frozen?
You shouldn’t subject honey to frequent freezing and thawing as doing so can diminish its quality.
Having the honey at room temperature before putting it in the freezer will keep it from crystallising.
Always use a secure lid and leave some extra room for expansion to avoid freezer burn.
Thawing Frozen Honey
Honey will solidify in the freezer and become thick and solid. Why does honey get hard? The natural sugars in honey bind together and start forming little crystals, which harden the honey.
To thaw the frozen honey, take it out and leave it on the counter to warm up slowly. Do not apply direct heat to the honey, as this will destroy its nutrients and antimicrobial properties. To speed up the process, you can put the jar of honey in a bowl of warm water.
Do not refreeze thawed honey as this can also destroy all the goodness in it. It can also change the color and taste of the honey. How long can you keep honey? Thawed honey also lasts indefinitely, so you may not even need to put it back in the freezer.
Freezing Honey-Based Foods
People often wonder how this applies to foods with lots of honey in them. This can refer to honey-glazed wings, Russian honey cakes, and honey-based solid dressings.
Can you freeze honey-baked ham? And if so, how long can you freeze a honey-baked ham?
These kinds of foods can be frozen, and meats need to be wrapped in cling film or aluminum foil, and then placed in a sealable freezer bag. They will stay fresh and safe to eat for up to 6 weeks. You can learn more about honey and its substitutes here.
Still Got Questions?
Below you will find answers to questions people have about freezing honey.
How Long Does It Take for Honey to Crystallize in the Fridge?
Honey crystallizes slowly and the whole process can take anywhere from 12-48 hours. Different blends crystallize at a different rate, so there is no hard and fast rule with it.
How to Store Raw Honey?
Honey just needs to be stored in an airtight container and kept away from direct sunlight and moisture.
Why Does Honey Turn to Sugar?
The sugars in the honey bond together to form crystals at lower temperatures. This makes them look like sugar crystals.
How to Eat Comb Honey?
You can pour the honey into the comb and allow it to drain into a bowl or jar. You can also chew on the honeycomb itself to eat this honey.
Does Honey Need to Be Refrigerated after Opening?
As long as you store the honey in a clean and airtight container away from heat, direct sunlight, and moisture, there is no need to refrigerate the honey.
To Conclude
The answer to ‘can you freeze honey’ is a resounding yes, but at the end of the day, there isn’t really a need to do so. However, if you want a long-term storage solution, freezing honey is the way to go. You can buy it in bulk, and freeze it in small jars, giving a lifetime’s supply of sweet liquid gold.
