Runny honey/crystallisation

[Do224]

I’m always curious when I see local honey for sale in the village shops etc. around here. There’s always, without fail, a runny honey which never seems to crystallise…even at this time of year when it is clearly last season’s. My honey from last year has all crystallised.

As an experiment, I warmed a jar in the microwave about a week ago and it reverted to being clear and runny. I’m curious to know if (a) it will now stay runny permanently? (b) if sellers are routinely warming their honey prior to sale to keep it runny?…seems unlikely

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

sellers are routinely warming their honey prior to sale to keep it runny?…seems unlikely

a lot depends on turnover - if the shop has a regular trade in honey, they must be topping up their stocks from their supplier, even small scale sellers/suppliers are familiar with honey warming cabinets now, so they top up their stocks by taking a 30lb bucket from their stores, warming it through to liquefy it, then bottling it up to supply their retailers.

 

[Swarm]

Stored in buckets and warmed to jar prior to sale, pretty normal practice.

 

[Do224]

And will it stay runny indefinitely after it’s been warmed?

 

[pargyle]

And will it stay runny indefinitely after it’s been warmed?

Not usually - although some batches will crystallise faster than others. I Include one of these small labels on the back of all the jars of honey I sell ... never had a problem with any coming back.

https://www.thorne.co.uk/labels/granulation-labels/granulation-combi-labels-2500.html

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

And will it stay runny indefinitely after it’s been warmed?

no - unless you cook the buggery out of it

 

[Swarm]

And will it stay runny indefinitely after it’s been warmed?

Supply in smaller batches and it's usually sold and off the shelves long before it begins to granulate. A granulation label like Phil has mentioned gives explanation for any customer who is not aware.

 

[Sutty]

I do exactly this: warm a couple of buckets gently to 40C (warmer temp) then jar up. I've only once had a retailer say some has granulated pre-sale, I took it back and put it back in the warmer.