How to Store Honey?

[itself]

I recently purchased a 32oz jar at Whole foods, in a glass jar. The honey crystallized. I store it in my pantry.

Can someone tell me why it crystallized and how I should store it?

[Blueberry]

Store at room temp. Honey naturally goes that. Warm the jar gently (as in, put it in a jar of gently simmering water) and it will go back to "normal." No harm done. Some honey forms crystals more quickly than others.

[Koronin]

Thanks, I've wondered about that myself.

[Tri Girl]

I've been wondering that, too.
I have local honey in plastic bottle that I bought at the farmer's market. Can I put that in warm water to get it back to a normal consistency, too? I threw out my old almost-empty bottle of honey because it was hard as a rock and I couldn't get it out (didn't think about putting it in warm water, tho).

Thanks for the tips!

[malkin]

Honey and plastic in warm water is fine too. I'd caution against the microwave, because the honey could get unevenly hot and then deform the plastic.

[bmccasland]

If you put your jar of honey in a pot of simmering water... um, make certain you check the water levels periodically, and add more water when the level gets too low. Not that I ever did such a thing.

A highly crystallized jar of honey will take a while to reliquify.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

All honey will crystallize- it's normal. Depending on the honey moisture content %, and the actual type of flower nectar it was made from, it will happen sooner or happen later.

You should not heat honey jars in simmering water or in a double boiler- that high a heat will destroy some of the wonderful micro nutrients and enzymes you want to retain.
Instead, simply put the closed jar of honey in a pot or bowl of very warm water from the tap and change the water a few times until the honey has become liquid again. Another way is to place the honey in your closed oven (oven NOT turned on of course) with the light bulb on for a day or so- if your oven has a light that can be left on with the door closed (my oven does, it has a window in the oven door and a separate light switch).
Honey will slowly re-liquify at about 90-110 degrees F. Never microwave honey to liquify it.
Just leave the closed jar in a bowl or pot of hot tap water and change the water a few times to keep it warm.
Once you've re-liquified the honey it should stay that way for a while. Hopefully you'll eat it soon anyway, since it's good for you!

No need to ever store honey in the fridge- real pure honey does not spoil. Besides, cold honey gets too thick to pour. Honey has been found intact and edible in the Egyptian tombs, several thousand years old!
I keep honeybees.