Storing honey

"San" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello,

I wonder how others store their honey because if I keep it in the
fridge it is not handy to use because it gets so hard I can't get it
out of the jar. And, if I keep it out or in the cupboard it attracts
ants by the hundreds, or other little creatures. It may not be a
problem now but I've had such a problem in the past with insects that
I'm afraid to chance leaving it in the pantry anymore.

Thanks,
San.

Where do you live? Are ants a problem there all year long?

San said:

I wonder how others store their honey because if I keep it in the
fridge it is not handy to use because it gets so hard I can't get it
out of the jar. And, if I keep it out or in the cupboard it attracts
ants by the hundreds, or other little creatures. It may not be a
problem now but I've had such a problem in the past with insects
that I'm afraid to chance leaving it in the pantry anymore.

As a former beekeeper, I can assure you that honey
does not require refrigeration. Protection against
ants is simply a matter of packaging. The only way
honey can go bad is if it is left open to the atmosphere,
and consequently absorbs enough moisture (honey is
very hygroscopic) that yeast fermentation sets in.
Even then, honey is unlikely to become dangerous,
merely alcoholic.

One way to store honey while protecting against ants is to keep it in
the refrigerator. If it crystallizes, take the lid off and melt it in
the microwave for a few minutes. If you just need a spoonful for tea,
don't worry about the crystallization. Just put a spoon in.

Another way is to place the jar of honey in a bowl of water or a larger
jar filled with water. Place this in the cupboard, and keep filling
with water as it evaporates. The ants can't get to the honey without
drowning.

The method that you've probably tried is to clean the mouth of the jar
carefully and the lid of the jar carefully each time before you put the
jar in the cupboard. Then put a layer of plastic wrap between the lid
and the jar and squeeze shut. (The plastic makes it possible to unscrew
the lid.) In theory, this should work, but if you live in a place with
determined ants, it might not work. In my experience, ants are always
determined.

I go with the refrigerator method.

--Lia

"San" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello,

I wonder how others store their honey because if I keep it in the
fridge it is not handy to use because it gets so hard I can't get it
out of the jar. And, if I keep it out or in the cupboard it attracts
ants by the hundreds, or other little creatures. It may not be a
problem now but I've had such a problem in the past with insects that
I'm afraid to chance leaving it in the pantry anymore.

Thanks,
San.

Store the jar in a ziploc baggie.

"San" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello,

I wonder how others store their honey because if I keep it in the
fridge it is not handy to use because it gets so hard I can't get it
out of the jar. And, if I keep it out or in the cupboard it attracts
ants by the hundreds, or other little creatures. It may not be a
problem now but I've had such a problem in the past with insects that
I'm afraid to chance leaving it in the pantry anymore.

Thanks,
San.

Once opened, mine stays on the table 24/7.
Dee Dee

Dee.Dee said:

"San" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello,

I wonder how others store their honey because if I keep it in the
fridge it is not handy to use because it gets so hard I can't get it
out of the jar. And, if I keep it out or in the cupboard it attracts
ants by the hundreds, or other little creatures. It may not be a
problem now but I've had such a problem in the past with insects that
I'm afraid to chance leaving it in the pantry anymore.

Thanks,
San.

Once opened, mine stays on the table 24/7.
Dee Dee

I suspect that if you wash the jar very carefully after use, it might not
attract the insects

San said:

I wonder how others store their honey

The world's foremost authority on the proper storage of honey used to
post on rfc, but, tragically, no longer does. The authority in question
is, in addition to her many impressive credentials, a canonised Saint.
According to her, honey is to be kept refrigerated at all times if you
care about your health at all. You will infallibly get life-threatening
food poisoning otherwise.

To be safe, I would go even further and declare that honey is never to
be removed from the refrigerator at all. If you want to eat it, you
have to crawl inside and close the door behind you. As the rumours have
it, the saintly authority once did just that and still remains inside...

HTH,

Victor

San said:

Hello,

I wonder how others store their honey because if I keep it in the
fridge it is not handy to use because it gets so hard I can't get it
out of the jar. And, if I keep it out or in the cupboard it attracts
ants by the hundreds, or other little creatures. It may not be a
problem now but I've had such a problem in the past with insects that
I'm afraid to chance leaving it in the pantry anymore.

Sounds like you need a good pest control company. I keep honey in the
pantry and I don't have an ant problem. I do, however, have a pest control
company that sprays all around the property once a month.

Jill

jmcquown wrote on Sun, 9 Dec 2007 06:07:17 -0600:

j> San wrote:
??>> Hello,
??>>
??>> I wonder how others store their honey because if I keep it
??>> in the fridge it is not handy to use because it gets so
??>> hard I can't get it out of the jar. And, if I keep it
??>> out or in the cupboard it attracts ants by the hundreds,
??>> or other little creatures. It may not be a problem now but
??>> I've had such a problem in the past with insects that I'm
??>> afraid to chance leaving it in the pantry anymore.
??>>
j> Sounds like you need a good pest control company. I keep
j> honey in the pantry and I don't have an ant problem. I do,
j> however, have a pest control company that sprays all around
j> the property once a month.

I don't use honey all that often but I find that a plastic
squeeze bottle with a nozzle and a push-on cap keeps it quite
well on the condiment tray (fancy word for a large plate on the
breakfast table!) If the bottle gets at all sticky, it can be
quickly rinsed down without removing the contents.

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

"jmcquown" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

San said:

Hello,

I wonder how others store their honey because if I keep it in the
fridge it is not handy to use because it gets so hard I can't get it
out of the jar. And, if I keep it out or in the cupboard it attracts
ants by the hundreds, or other little creatures. It may not be a
problem now but I've had such a problem in the past with insects that
I'm afraid to chance leaving it in the pantry anymore.

Sounds like you need a good pest control company. I keep honey in the
pantry and I don't have an ant problem. I do, however, have a pest
control
company that sprays all around the property once a month.

Jill

Ahhhhhhh. SO you're inhaling all those poisonous fumes every day, and
eating the residue on your food, plates and silverware. That explains a
lot.

In article said:

San said:

I wonder how others store their honey

The world's foremost authority on the proper storage of honey used to
post on rfc, but, tragically, no longer does. The authority in question
is, in addition to her many impressive credentials, a canonised Saint.
According to her, honey is to be kept refrigerated at all times if you
care about your health at all. You will infallibly get life-threatening
food poisoning otherwise.

To be safe, I would go even further and declare that honey is never to
be removed from the refrigerator at all. If you want to eat it, you
have to crawl inside and close the door behind you. As the rumours have
it, the saintly authority once did just that and still remains inside...

Remains still inside?

Cheers, Phred.

--
[email hidden]

"Mike" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"jmcquown" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

San said:

Hello,

I wonder how others store their honey because if I keep it in the
fridge it is not handy to use because it gets so hard I can't get it
out of the jar. And, if I keep it out or in the cupboard it attracts
ants by the hundreds, or other little creatures. It may not be a
problem now but I've had such a problem in the past with insects that
I'm afraid to chance leaving it in the pantry anymore.

Sounds like you need a good pest control company. I keep honey in the
pantry and I don't have an ant problem. I do, however, have a pest
control
company that sprays all around the property once a month.

Jill

Ahhhhhhh. SO you're inhaling all those poisonous fumes every day, and
eating the residue on your food, plates and silverware. That explains a
lot.

A lot, but not enough. Sigh.

"Mike" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"jmcquown" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

San said:

Hello,

I wonder how others store their honey because if I keep it in the
fridge it is not handy to use because it gets so hard I can't get it
out of the jar. And, if I keep it out or in the cupboard it attracts
ants by the hundreds, or other little creatures. It may not be a
problem now but I've had such a problem in the past with insects that
I'm afraid to chance leaving it in the pantry anymore.

Sounds like you need a good pest control company. I keep honey in the
pantry and I don't have an ant problem. I do, however, have a pest
control
company that sprays all around the property once a month.

Jill

Ahhhhhhh. SO you're inhaling all those poisonous fumes every day, and
eating the residue on your food, plates and silverware. That explains a
lot.

A lot, but not enough. Sigh.

"jmcquown" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

San said:

Hello,

I wonder how others store their honey because if I keep it in the
fridge it is not handy to use because it gets so hard I can't get it
out of the jar. And, if I keep it out or in the cupboard it attracts
ants by the hundreds, or other little creatures. It may not be a
problem now but I've had such a problem in the past with insects that
I'm afraid to chance leaving it in the pantry anymore.

Quoted message said:

Sounds like you need a good pest control company. I keep honey in the
pantry and I don't have an ant problem. I do, however, have a pest
control
company that sprays all around the property once a month.

Jill

Without knowing where the OP lives, you really can't come to that
conclusion, Jill.

"jmcquown" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

San said:

Hello,

I wonder how others store their honey because if I keep it in the
fridge it is not handy to use because it gets so hard I can't get it
out of the jar. And, if I keep it out or in the cupboard it attracts
ants by the hundreds, or other little creatures. It may not be a
problem now but I've had such a problem in the past with insects that
I'm afraid to chance leaving it in the pantry anymore.

Quoted message said:

Sounds like you need a good pest control company. I keep honey in the
pantry and I don't have an ant problem. I do, however, have a pest
control
company that sprays all around the property once a month.

Jill

Without knowing where the OP lives, you really can't come to that
conclusion, Jill.

San said:

Hello,

I wonder how others store their honey because if I keep it in the
fridge it is not handy to use because it gets so hard I can't get it
out of the jar. And, if I keep it out or in the cupboard it attracts
ants by the hundreds, or other little creatures. It may not be a
problem now but I've had such a problem in the past with insects that
I'm afraid to chance leaving it in the pantry anymore.

From mid fall to mid spring I leave it in a honey pot on the counter. In
the spring I leave it in a sealed container. As long as the container is
wiped clean with a wet cloth to remove and spillage the ants don't even
know it's there.

San said:

Hello,

I wonder how others store their honey because if I keep it in the
fridge it is not handy to use because it gets so hard I can't get it
out of the jar. And, if I keep it out or in the cupboard it attracts
ants by the hundreds, or other little creatures. It may not be a
problem now but I've had such a problem in the past with insects that
I'm afraid to chance leaving it in the pantry anymore.

From mid fall to mid spring I leave it in a honey pot on the counter. In
the spring I leave it in a sealed container. As long as the container is
wiped clean with a wet cloth to remove and spillage the ants don't even
know it's there.

On Sun, 9 Dec 2007 12:06:58 +0100, [email hidden] (Victor Sack)

Quoted message said:

San said:

I wonder how others store their honey

The world's foremost authority on the proper storage of honey used to
post on rfc, but, tragically, no longer does. The authority in question
is, in addition to her many impressive credentials, a canonised Saint.
According to her, honey is to be kept refrigerated at all times if you
care about your health at all. You will infallibly get life-threatening
food poisoning otherwise.

To be safe, I would go even further and declare that honey is never to
be removed from the refrigerator at all. If you want to eat it, you
have to crawl inside and close the door behind you. As the rumours have
it, the saintly authority once did just that and still remains inside...

HTH,

Victor

to be absolutely safe, you should leave the honey in the bee.

your pal,
blake

blake murphy said:

to be absolutely safe, you should leave the honey in the bee.

The honey doesn't stay in the bees because the bees regurgitate it after
partially digesting it and deposit it in the cells for their brood.

Bee friendly.... Eat your honey.