Should I heat treat?

[Tomo]

Hi, I extracted my first honey crop on Thursday. Got 65 lbs from one hive which I am very pleased with, the other hive has had issues! It is medium dark/light (like the colour of dehydrated urine is the best way to describe it! Sorry, but you understand what I mean now) and runs well. I have read that the way to keep it in a liquid state is to heat to 49 degrees for 24hrs then 60 degrees for 4 hours. Shall I bother as it's my first year or should I just wait and see what happens to it in a few jars? What would you do? Thanks.

 

[REDWOOD]

Any idea the source of your honey?

 

[Tomo]

I live in a rural village surrounded by a 500 acre woodland trust area which has a newly ish (5-8 years) planted area of trees, there are young fruit trees about and there has been borage about 3-4 miles away. But I am guessing that most of the forage will be gardens and headlands. Pollen has been from dark plum colour to light beige colour. There is a lot of OSR early in the year, but all of this was removed well after any late flowering/before main summer flow.

 

[VEG]

I would wait and see if it sets then warm it. No point in heating it up if there is no need to.

 

[REDWOOD]

 

[Tomo]

How long would you wait?

 

[VEG]

It may never set, I have some honey from 2012 that has not set but another one has.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I have read that the way to keep it in a liquid state is to heat to 49 degrees for 24hrs then 60 degrees for 4 hours.

Good a way as any to wreck your honey I suppose

 

[enrico]

Please don't heat it unless your middle name is gales. Honey is what it is, that's what makes it special and sets our honey apart from the big suppliers! If it sets you can always warm it gently when you come to use it.... Or buy lime trees, that never seems to set!
E

 

[Tomo]

There are lots of lime trees/saplings here...but they are 5 years old max, and don't flower until their 8th year (I think). I got the info about heating from the National honey show website, I suppose this must be for best looking honey?

 

[Skyhook]

Heating as described will guarantee that it will stay looking the same for longer on tesco's shelves. No other benefits, and a likely reduction in flavour and enzyme activity.

Anyway, if it does set, it means you can get more on your toast!

 

[Arfermo]

Hi, I extracted my first honey crop on Thursday. Got 65 lbs from one hive which I am very pleased with, the other hive has had issues! It is medium dark/light (like the colour of dehydrated urine is the best way to describe it! Sorry, but you understand what I mean now) and runs well. I have read that the way to keep it in a liquid state is to heat to 49 degrees for 24hrs then 60 degrees for 4 hours. Shall I bother as it's my first year or should I just wait and see what happens to it in a few jars? What would you do? Thanks.

60 degrees is way too hot. Up to 50C and no more otherwise HMF level can make it unsaleable if you should want to. And best not to warm at all until you want to use it.

 

[Tomo]

OK thanks everyone. I will let it settle for a few days then jar it. It does look and taste great as it is. Shame to spoil it.