Keep your honey between 50* and 70* and in a dark cupboard or pantry. Avoid storing honey anywhere that is too warm or cold as this advances crystallization or hardening of the honey. Leaving honey in direct sunlight can also cause honey to crystalize. Raw honey is bottled at less than 18% moisture content.
Prevent crystallization by sticking to tip #1. When you use honey, make sure to immediately recap or re-lid the container. Oxygen speeds up the crystallization process and leaving the cap open can cause the moisture content to increase potentially creating spoilage.
Using crystalized honey- Crystalized honey is just as edible as liquid honey. You can still add it to your tea or coffee and still spread it on toast. If you prefer it liquified, you can heat it up. We recommend putting the honey in a glass container if the bottle is plastic and heating it in a pot with a little water. The jury will likely never be out on the safety of microwaving and heating plastic. Even if the plastic does not contain BPA, it is still a petroleum product. Also, remember to recycle both glass and plastic containers once they’re emptied. A quick rinse in hot water is all they need.
Using honey medicinally- Honey has natural anti-bacterial and antioxidant properties that can be beneficial both eaten and used topically. It can be used for burns, help with digestive disorders (talk to your doctor before changing your diet), reduces inflammation and boosts your immune system. Honey is also a proven treatment for sore throats and coughs. For any medicinal use of honey, it is best to not heat it. Heating honey can destroy some of its most beneficial properties. It is worth noting that honey is a sugar, for those with sugar related illnesses such as diabetes, honey can cause a spike in blood sugar levels. In regard to eating honey for allergies, the concept is that by ingesting tiny amounts of pollen from local trees and plants, your body will create a sort of immunity to severe allergic reactions. Although the medical community has not confirmed this, many people who suffer from allergies feel honey helps reduce their symptoms. Whether this happens because of the known medicinal benefits of honey are also helping with allergies or the theory is correct, honey is definitely the tastiest elixir on the shelf!
Never give honey to a baby less than 2 years old- Though not always, honey can have minute traces of botulism which is harmless for anyone over a year old. Under a year however, babies can become sick from even the most microscopic amount.
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