honey
Honey Facts
Honey is the only food that never spoils. In fact, honey was found in the tomb of King Tut and was still edible!
Honey is the only food that contains all the substances necessary to sustain life, including water.
Honey can be consumed in many different forms: cut comb or chunk honey, liquid honey and creamed or whipped honey.
The taste and color of honey are determined by the floral source from which the bees gather nectar.
Do not feed honey to infants less than one year of age. Infants less than one year have not developed a strong enough immune system to consume many foods, including honey.
Honey Storage
Honey may become crystallized (course or granulated) over time. Crystallization is the natural process in which liquid honey becomes a solid. This is primarily a function of moisture in the honey. It is best to store honey at room temperature in a dry cupboard to avoid crystallization.
If honey begins to granulate, do not throw it away because it is perfectly fine. The glucose in honey and the moisture content in the air causes crystallization.
To make crystallized honey liquid again, place a microwave bowl full of water into the microwave. Heat the water for 3-5 minutes. Carefully take the bowl out of the microwave and place the container of honey into hot water. Leave the jar in the warm water and reheat as needed. Over time crystallized honey will return to the liquid state when warmed properly.
Cooking with Honey
Honey is an excellent sugar substitute in any recipe. Honey contains vitamins & antioxidants and is fat free, cholesterol free, and sodium free.
Because honey has a higher sweetening power than granulated sugar, you can use less honey than sugar to achieve the desired sweetness. Less honey translates into less calories too because 1 tablespoon of honey = 60 calories which is the same for sugar, only with honey you are actually using less honey to make things sweet!
When cooking with honey be sure to coat your measuring cup with non-stick cooking spray or vegetable oil before adding honey. This allows the honey to pour right out instead of sticking to the inside of the measuring cup. When substituting honey for sugar in any recipe: 3/4 cup of honey = 1 cup of sugar and generally 12 ounces of honey = 1 standard measuring cup.
When baking with honey reduce oven temperature by 25 degrees F to prevent over-browning. Add 1/2 teaspoon baking soda for each cup of honey used. Reduce liquid in recipe by 1/4 cup for each cup of honey used.
Honey Q & A
How do bees make honey?
Bees make honey when they ingest sweet nectar from flowers and mix it with their own natural enzymes inside their honey stomach. Those enzymes convert the sugar components of nectar into sweet honey. The bees then regurgitate the liquid into the honeycomb cells and fan the honey to reduce the water content so the honey becomes more like a syrup consistency.
Why does honey come in different flavors?
Honey can be in the form of different flavors and colors, depending on the location and kinds of flowers the bees visit. To label honey as Clover or Wildflower, 50% of the floral source or more must be identified. For example: clover honey is generally light in color and delicate in flavor. In order to call clover honey truly "clover honey", the bees must be using a nectar source of 50% or more from clover fields.
What are the health benefits of honey?
Honey contains many vitamins and antioxidants that our bodies need. Honey is free of sodium, cholesterol and fat. One tablespoon of honey contains 60 calories. Consuming local raw honey can build immunity to seasonal allergies, offer natural relief to respiratory aliments, improve your energy, and stamina.
How is honey beneficial in beauty products?
Honey is an excellent moisturizer and helps skin stay supple due to its thick texture and ability to absorb moisture from the air. Mature skin cells become thin and dry, using honey in beauty products helps hydrate and restore elasticity in the skin.
Can honey be used for first aid?
Honey has the ability to attract and absorb moisture, which makes it very soothing for minor burns. Honey reduces swelling and scarring during the healing process of burns. Honey has antibiotic properties that speeds up the healing time of open wounds and aids in combating infection. If a sore throat develops, mix honey, lemon juice and a pinch of salt in warm water and either gargle or sip to ease inflammation associated with a cold or flu. The honey may help relieve the sore throat and kill certain bacteria that's at the root of the infection.