Preventing Crystallized Honey

[Aroc]

The past couple of years our honey crop has crystallized very quickly.  I do know it?s a product of the nectar source but it?s a bit frustrating.  We even had honey crystalize in some of the honey frames we pulled a couple weeks ago waiting to extract today.

I know how to get rid of it...warm it up...we have 12 gallons that has turned.  Last year we were able to warm it up and bottle it no problem.

Trying to find out what a good way of preventing this from happening in the first place.

[BeeMaster2]

Aroc,
As you said crystallization is mainly a factor of the sugars it is made from.
Commercially they heat the honey and force it through very small membranes to remove all pollen and particles. It is the particles that start the crystallization process. Even if you do this it can still crystallize.
The problem with heating the honey is that the heat destroys the medicinal properties of honey.
Jim Altmiller

[TheHoneyPump]

Best practice would be to harvest the honey off of the hive more frequently and perform the extraction process within 3 days of removing the frames from the hive.

The only prevention of crystallization is temperature. Warm or freeze.
- Keep frames of honey warm. Harvested honey boxes are usually stored in a -hot room- which is maintained at 100 degF. The frames are extracted and put into bottles/pails/barrels within a few days.
- Freeze. To prevent crystallization of honey in storage, it can be frozen. Once thawed the crystallization process tends to be more rapid.

In the bucket or barrel or bottle, crystallization is great as it is much easier to handle and deal with than drippy sticky liquid. This beekeeper prefers it.

[van from Arkansas]

Aroc, I do not have a solution, but I can tell you specific cause.  As already stated the nectars, specifically GLUCOSE, causes crystallization.  Honeys high in fructose, like Tupelo or Acacia rarely crystallize.

Idea: make honey butter and freeze, but for gallons, this idea is not so practical.  Your area is known for knapweed, I guess the locals are spraying the knapweed?  To bad as knapweed honey is a premium honey, soo light, mild and delicious.

Van

[paus]

While this thread is discussing nectar sources, I have LOTS of Smart weed that the ladies are working like crazy.  MY plan is, tomorrow  to remove all capped frames after I leave enough for winter, plus anticipated  fall flow.  I have never had any experience with Smart weed but I was told to leave it for winter and mark frames with SW if possible so no SW is harvested. Your advice please.

[van from Arkansas]

Smart weed is a prolific nectar and pollen source, bees adore it.  Grows best in the Arkansas delta, low wet ground.  Produces a strong Flavor honey that some like.
Van

[Troutdog]

Steiner suggests to spin the honey with a non magnetic spoon or wooden spatula. Clockwise and counterclockwise in no particular order but for about 15 mins total 5 g bucket is what I used. Worked really well when I do it. Have 10 yr old stuff never crystalized.
Of course it depends on crop as well in my opin.

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[Oldbeavo]

If you want to bring it back slowly you can use a old chest freezer as an insulated container, put a column oil type domestic heater in and run it to get 38-40 C. Most have a thermostat. You need a good thermometer. Depending on the size of your container it will take several days to come back.
I have been told there is very little to no degradation of the honey at this temp. remember inside the hive is 35C.

[Capitanbob]

I have had the same issue with this year?s first batch. In the process of slowly liquifying and will bottle with a starter dead of creamed honey. If it?s going to set, let it set into creamy goodness!


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[Acebird]

Trying to find out what a good way of preventing this from happening in the first place.

Besides what was said identify the sources of nectar that tend to crystallize and leave it for the bees.  Harvest the sources that don't crystallize so easily.  Either way it is work.  Personally I don't think of crystallized honey as a detriment.

[Oldbeavo]

Aroc, honey is a saturated solution of sugars, your are fighting science to try to prevent crystals forming.

[van from Arkansas]

Old Beavo, Sir, good afternoon to you.   My bees segregate my honey frames, keeping honey sources separate.  I have seen waxed capped honey frames that one could draw a line on of light honey from darker honey.  My bees keep the dark stuff separated from the light stuff.

When I extract honey, I always leave the dark honey for the bees and I only rob the light stuff.  I THINK this is what ACE is referring to although I can?t speak for Ace as he is older more wiser than I but not as pretty.

Van

[Acebird]

Just saying ... I brought crystallized honey to FL and now it is not.  If you already have it bottled and you don't like the crystals then you have to heat it and freeze it.  Keep in mind what Jim said about degrading it.  Life is a compromise.

[yes2matt]

Smart weed is a prolific nectar and pollen source, bees adore it.  Grows best in the Arkansas delta, low wet ground.  Produces a strong Flavor honey that some like.
Van

Spicy (the late, slow burn kind, great in a marinade) and good for you. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4009190/