Best honey warmer

[BernardBlack]

Can someone explain the honey warming cabinet procedure?

When and why is it needed?

 

[Erichalfbee]

It's the electric fan oven in my kitchen. The reason for the external thermometer is because the one on the oven isn't accurate enough at low temperatures.

Planning to build a proper cabinet at some point to accommodate more buckets but TBH this works well and I don't need to worry about elecrical safety.

Sounds ideal to me.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Can someone explain the honey warming cabinet procedure?

When and why is it needed?

Extracted honey is usually stored in buckets till it’s needed. After a couple of months, (sooner for some honey) the honey will be crystallised and need melting to make it runny again.
40 degrees overnight will do it nicely. Then you can jar it.

 

[jeff33]

40 degrees overnight will do it nicely. Then you can jar it.

And at this point, you can't label it as raw anymore

 

[Erichalfbee]

And at this point, you can't label it as raw anymore

You have a point. I wonder if enrico warms his crystallised honey?

 

[Wilco]

And at this point, you can't label it as raw anymore

Bee internal temperature is around 35C and the nectar has been inside at least one before being warmed and fanned so presumably it could be considered pre-cooked anyway?

I'd presumed that the benefit of 'raw' is the enzymes, which should be ok to about 42C so theoretically raw still applies for those that use it.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

And at this point, you can't label it as raw anymore

you can't anyway - only a shyster would want to. But as the 'rules' are just made up to suit, does it matter?

 

[jeff33]

But as the 'rules' are just made up to suit, does it matter?

Not really but I thought that was the perfect opportunity to steer that discussion again

 

[Erichalfbee]

Not really but I thought that was the perfect opportunity to steer that discussion again

No! Really?

 

[BernardBlack]

Extracted honey is usually stored in buckets till it’s needed. After a couple of months, (sooner for some honey) the honey will be crystallised and need melting to make it runny again.
40 degrees overnight will do it nicely. Then you can jar it.

I thought you could jar it immediately after extraction

 

[Erichalfbee]

I thought you could jar it immediately after extraction

Of course you can, ( well after settling for a couple of days) It’s just if you have 500lb of it the logistics are a little fraught.

 

[elainemary]

Have you tried using it to render wax/old combs? Got a honey bucket full of wax and bits of comb, wondering if I could use it for that too.

I use mine for that too. I render first in a wax steamer then take the blocks and melt over water and ladel into a jug with j cloths over the top to final filter.

Also use it with a lid with holes in, available from Thornes, for dipping tubes to make hand dipped candles

Recently started to use it (after a thorough clean) for warming honey buckets in water, for final filtering and jarring up

So multiple uses from a v useful piece of kit - a v. effective warming ‘cabinet’, wax melter and candle dipping maker

 

[ics19]

So multiple uses from a v useful piece of kit - a v. effective warming ‘cabinet’, wax melter and candle dipping maker

You can also use them to pasteurise apple juice (v. useful this time of year) and also test car thermostats (but maybe that's going a little too far)

 

[KJB]

Really silly question time now.
The old fridge method with either the tubular heater or the light bulb. It heats the honey in say a 3 gallon bucket set in the bottom of the old fridge overnight or within 24 hours or so and no need to stir or for water for that matter?
I know where I can get my hands on an old small 3 to 4 feet high fridge and thinking I might just try my hand at making one of these.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Really silly question time now.
The old fridge method with either the tubular heater or the light bulb. It heats the honey in say a 3 gallon bucket set in the bottom of the old fridge overnight or within 24 hours or so and no need to stir or for water for that matter?
I know where I can get my hands on an old small 3 to 4 feet high fridge and thinking I might just try my hand at making one of these.

it's simple, but forget the lightbulb idea, just get a 12" tubular heater and an STC1000 heat controller

 

[Gilberdyke John]

it's simple, but forget the lightbulb idea, just get a 12" tubular heater and an STC1000 heat controller

Just be careful not to buy a tubular heater with an unfortunately low limit thermostat

 

[KJB]

Just be careful not to buy a tubular heater with an unfortunately low limit thermostat

Thanks John.
So, what limit would you suggest, I am clueless about this

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

the Hansen ones have a thermal cutout of about 60°C IIRC

 

[blackcloud]

https://www.toolstation.com/dimplex-thermostatic-tubular-heater-ipx4/p17033These are excellent too and they have adjustable tstats

 

[KJB]

Thanks everyone for your help with this.
I have an idea what to look for now.