Does honey expand?

[whynothot]

I have several boxes of last years honey in storage. When I checked on them recently, there was a very large puddle of honey underneath the boxes. The majority of the jars seemed to have leaked - although they were also jarred up carefully. No jars had tipped over and I don't how the honey has got out. Does it expand as it crystalises, as this is the only difference? The honey was liquid went jarred up and it well crystallised now. I moved and cleaned all the jars into new boxes, but the problem still seems to be occuring?

Any ideas why this is?

 

[Jimmy]

I have several boxes of last years honey in storage. When I checked on them recently, there was a very large puddle of honey underneath the boxes. The majority of the jars seemed to have leaked - although they were also jarred up carefully. No jars had tipped over and I don't how the honey has got out. Does it expand as it crystalises, as this is the only difference? The honey was liquid went jarred up and it well crystallised now. I moved and cleaned all the jars into new boxes, but the problem still seems to be occuring?

Any ideas why this is?

Sounds very much like fermentation. Are there small bubbles in the neck of each jar that weren't there when it was jarred? Does it smell alcoholic/not right?
I've had OSR honey at 17% ferment, the best explanation that I've seen was that as the sugar crystallises out of solution, the liquid left is high enough moisture content to allow fermentation.

 

[enrico]

I have several boxes of last years honey in storage. When I checked on them recently, there was a very large puddle of honey underneath the boxes. The majority of the jars seemed to have leaked - although they were also jarred up carefully. No jars had tipped over and I don't how the honey has got out. Does it expand as it crystalises, as this is the only difference? The honey was liquid went jarred up and it well crystallised now. I moved and cleaned all the jars into new boxes, but the problem still seems to be occuring?

Any ideas why this is?

Oh dear! It has fermented! Good for cooking! Check by opening lids, if they hiss as you open them then ......

 

[Ely]

Would it be good for mead? Or wrong type of bacteria?

 

[hemo]

Have to agree fermented honey, I have a small 15lbs bucket that has fermented from last year and noticed a small crack in the lid so it hasn't been sealed properly , reads 21% and is set honey with a small amount of wet on the top . I'm using it for my self in tea as the taste is still quite good and not fizzy on the tongue.

 

[enrico]

Have to agree fermented honey, I have a small 15lbs bucket that has fermented from last year and noticed a small crack in the lid so it hasn't been sealed properly , reads 21% and is set honey with a small amount of wet on the top . I'm using it for my self in tea as the taste is still quite good and not fizzy on the tongue.

Cook loads of honey cakes and freeze them!

 

[The Poot]

Through the heat of Summer, was it stored in a place that became very warm for some weeks? I found a number of Jars of my last years honey had “separated“ - the heavier honey sinking leaving runny honey above, which as @Jimmy said can lead to the honey in the top layer fermenting. I drained the runny stuff off into a container and made jars up from the “heavy stuff” as an experiment. The runny stuff fed the bees and as of today, the heavy stuff has remained stable - no sign of fermentation. Check what yours is doing and if it is fermenting, then the above advice is sound. You could make mead, but you may have to boil the honey and water mix to kill the wild yeasts before adding wine yeast later. Good luck - I hope you find a good use for it.

 

[pargyle]

Does Honey expand ? Try dropping a small jar of honey onto the kitchen floor and see how far that expands - At a flow rate that far exceeds anything when you are trying to jar the stuff up !

 

[Ian123]

Does Honey expand ? Try dropping a small jar of honey onto the kitchen floor and see how far that expands - At a flow rate that far exceeds anything when you are trying to jar the stuff up !

I can tell you how far a 30lb bucket will go on a new travertine floor I’d laid in the kitchen, the handle on a bucket freshly out the kochstar broke. I ended up sweeping it towards the untiled section waiting for the rest of the new units. Once re filtered it still made perfect gifts for the in-laws…….only joking

 

[Belgianbeekeeper]

Most likely y've swung your honey with a to high moist lvl and it fermented,we only swing under 18% and never have this happening,maibe can consider to try to make mede with it,there is a market for that stuff.Two advices,either only swing fully capted frames or get yourself a moist messurer.