Honey

[peacoops]

When we extracted our (first ever) honey I drew off 4 jars of lovely clear honey to give to a couple of friends. I am now ready to put the rest into jars, got one of those double sieves just to strain through the bits, trouble is the rest of the honey is too gloopy to go through the fine one, why is this so different?

 

[GaryB]

Have you tried warming it?

 

[masterBK]

Probably starting to granulate which increases the viscosity. Warm the honey and try again. Suggest 40 - 45 C for 24 hours should do the trick

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Bit late now, but should have strained it straight out from the extractor then into the settling tank.

 

[REDWOOD]

Unfortunately you have done it the wrong way around but not all is lost, put everything back into your settling tank and as said you need to heat it whether it's heated in an airing cupboard bath or warming cabinet. Then run it through your filters into a clean bucket and then back into your clean settling tank ready for filling your jars

 

[peacoops]

I did strain it at the time but decided I needed a finer one, i probably didnt explain it was gloopy after the first few jars when we first extracted it. We waited until the woodburner was lit to get the ambient temperature up. I thought heating it was a problem.

 

[For want of a better word]

It is drying out so add some water.

Nos da

 

[Millet]

It is drying out so add some water.

Nos da

Please do not listen to that Original Poster. it was not even funny Puppet.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

If it's been in the settling tank for a while - all the crud will have risen to the top. Just get a piece of clingfilm, settle it on the surface, then with thumb and forefinger, get hold of the middle of the cling film with a bowl or plate held in the other hand - lift up quickly and when the cling film is above the level of the honey pop the bowl under the lot, the suction of the film will gather up all the crud and if you are quick it will run into the bowl not back into the honey.

 

[Swarm]

My extractor has a coarse filter and from the holding tank below, I pour the honey through a double sieve into buckets. It is then jarred as required, I gave up on 200 micron filters years ago, double sieve is plenty IMO.

Edit: Good tip from JBM.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I did strain it at the time but decided I needed a finer one, i probably didnt explain it was gloopy after the first few jars when we first extracted it.

Got any heather near you?

 

[Millet]

I did strain it at the time but decided I needed a finer one, i probably didnt explain it was gloopy after the first few jars when we first extracted it. We waited until the woodburner was lit to get the ambient temperature up. I thought heating it was a problem.

I have found as soon as it cools down below 39C it starts to get thicker, my first spring honey granulated after around 3wk's from extraction even in warm weather.
However my summer honey has not granulated at all (no **** etc), i have some in a air tight bucket and it takes ages to fill a small jar with it when it is cold, when i want the bucket empty i will warm it up and it will flow lovely.

 

[For want of a better word]

Please do not listen to that Original Poster. it was not even funny Puppet.

Anothe humorless off season approaches.... booking my ticket to the Antipodes

 

[Millet]

Anothe humorless off season approaches.... booking my ticket to the Antipodes

I can take the piss with the best of you lot, however that advice about adding H2o was not funny and some folk may try it and ruin there hard earned first crop.

 

[peacoops]

Its not granulating its just not clear like the first few jars,
there may be some heather a few miles away possibly in range

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Its not granulating its just not clear like the first few jars,

Honey getting a bit cloudy is the first stage of granulation.
A little bit of heather in the honey won't be noticed during extration as it will still come out of the comb but it can make the honey more 'gloopy' and reluctant to go through a fine filter.

 

[Swarm]

Its not granulating its just not clear like the first few jars,
there may be some heather a few miles away possibly in range

It is in the early stages. From clear it will go cloudy or hazy but still runny, it will eventually take on a thick consistency.
Gentle heat will restore it.

 

[peacoops]

Ok will try the clingfilm trick , then put it in jars and just enjoy it, tastes scrummy whatever. Anything I can do next year to improve things?

 

[Swarm]

What's to improve? It's proper honey send me a jar and I'll test it for you

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Ok will try the clingfilm trick , then put it in jars and just enjoy it, tastes scrummy whatever. Anything I can do next year to improve things?

I reckon the initial straining you gave was sufficient - the cloudiness you're sweeing has nothing to do with impurities and won't improve much with further straining.
Next year, pass it through the double strainer straight from the extractor into the settling tank - give it a good few days to settle, then do the cling film trick and job's done.