liquefying set honey

[sahtlinurk]

i used a plastic water bowl and fish tank heater ( temp goes up to 31 c ) to liquefy couple of jars of set honey and after 2 days i had half the jar of runny honey and bottom half still granulated.Why is that so?

Cheers,
lauri

 

[madasafish]

i used a plastic water bowl and fish tank heater ( temp goes up to 31 c ) to liquefy couple of jars of set honey and after 2 days i had half the jar of runny honey and bottom half still granulated.Why is that so?

Cheers,
lauri

hot fluid rises...

 

[Millet]

What about a little fish tank air pump in the bowl of water to get the hot water circulated, ? .

 

[Finman]

Glucose and fructose is separated on the jar. Fructose is allways as liquid.

I use 45 C water bath when I melt crystallized honey in water bath.

Hive has 36C temp and that does not melt crystals in combs.

In the temp of 50C honey gets some aroma of melted wax.

I melt 25 kg in one time when I do it. IT sucks quite much heat from the water.

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[Gilberdyke John]

What about a little fish tank air pump in the bowl of water to get the hot water circulated, ? .

LOL how about a few high temperature tolerant fish swimming about in the bowl?

 

[Finman]

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Is is better to try different temperatures.

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[kighill]

Did you try stirring the honey whilst warming?

 

[Finman]

Did you try stirring the honey whilst warming?

Perhaps once to brake the central block.
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You must give more time if it does not succeed. Melting takes 24 hours/25 kg.

 

[drex]

Have just liquefied 2x30lb buckets of honey in my warming cabinet ( which does have a fan). 24 hours at 47 degrees and stirred twice. Poured it all through stainless sieve. Enough crystals left to virtually block the sieve. Wedmore talks of 50+ degrees to totally liquefy, but I am not happy going up that high.

 

[psafloyd]

i used a plastic water bowl and fish tank heater ( temp goes up to 31 c ) to liquefy couple of jars of set honey and after 2 days i had half the jar of runny honey and bottom half still granulated.Why is that so?

Cheers,
lauri

I always used to use my oven set low, but it;s a small oven and since they changed the bucket size, they're slightly too tall.

Now I generally use my Burco boiler which I warm up and then set at between 1 and 2 which makes the water around 40ºC.

Takes several hours, and needs regular stirring or you'll never break those crystallised bits up in a 30lb bucket.

You could do the same with a water bath.

 

[Eyeman]

70lb solid bucket of honey takes 3-5 days at 40 degrees in a warming cabinet & 60 watt bulb. Mine takes a couple of days to get up to temperature.

 

[Finman]

70lb solid bucket of honey takes 3-5 days at 40 degrees in a warming cabinet & 60 watt bulb. Mine takes a couple of days to get up to temperature.

Buy a small oil filled heater with thermostat. Under £20. And then an air ventilator £15. It keeps exactly the temp even.


2000 w heat blower is one solution, but more dangerous than above.

 

[pargyle]

In an emergency you can liquify honey from solid in the microwave - you need one that has power settings and it needs to be set on 30% power or defrost cycle. You need to check regularly that it is not getting too warm and only do small batches of not more than about 3 or 4 lbs. I use a microwave safe plastic jug ... doing it in jars works but I find that the glass heats up and the honey can get too warm. It does not seem to affect the taste of the honey and it's certainly quick but I prefer the slower gentler heat of the warming cabinet as a normal method but .. if you have a need for runny honey and a customer waiting ... it works.

 

[Finman]

if you have a need for runny honey and a customer waiting ... it works.

But it crystallizes back on few days, and it will not be soft set.

You really cannot do that to your customers....
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[pargyle]

But it crystallizes back on few days, and it will not be soft set.

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No .. it does not crystallize any faster than the rest of the honey .. and I always explain that honey will crystallize over a period of time. If I offer soft set to my customers then it is proper soft set - not jar crystallised.

Surprisingly some people do prefer 'set' honey and ask for it .. but as I said originally - a slow, gentle heating in the warming cabinet is always the best way.

 

[Finman]

No .. it does not crystallize any faster than the rest of the honey .. and I always explain that honey will crystallize over a period of time. If I offer soft set to my customers then it is proper soft set - not jar crystallised.

Surprisingly some people do prefer 'set' honey and ask for it .. but as I said originally - a slow, gentle heating in the warming cabinet is always the best way.

Only my 54 years experinence against your "emergency" customer. You should be ashamed..

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[pargyle]

Only my 54 years experinence against your "emergency" customer. You should be ashamed..

.

And 15 degrees ... don't forget the degrees ... pour yourself another drink and go back into hibernation ...

 

[Finman]

And 15 degrees ... don't forget the degrees ... pour yourself another drink and go back into hibernation ...

They are 23 just now.

What is hibernation?



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