Melting Crystallized Honey with Solar Heat?

[misfyredOhio]

I have about 2 gallons of crystallized honey in a white plastic bucket from last year. It has been in the 90s here in Ohio. Is it ok to take the bucket outside and use solar heat to liqueify the honey? Will it get too hot? Thanks.

[bassman1977]

I know they have heater bands that you can put around the bucket to heat the honey, but my concern would be plastic molecules getting into the honey and making it taste...well...like plastic (I have seen this happen with full spring water jugs left out in the sun).  I would be interested in others' thoughts.

[Michael Bush]

Better yet, put it in your car with the windows rolled up...

[Brian D. Bray]

Better yet, put it in your car with the windows rolled up...

On a warm day it can reach 120+ degrees F--enough to kill a child.

[Dick Allen]

Better yet, put it in your car with the windows rolled up...

which in the end, of course, is actually solar heat anyway. solar heat is a good way to preheat, soften, and partially melt crystallized honey. if it was my honey and i was using the sun for reliquifying it, i'd probably finish up on a stove over a double boiler where the heat can be more easily controlled.

(i use one of those electric heat bands mentioned when i need to reliquify a bucket of crystallized honey. there has never been an issue of plastic contamination that i'm aware of. the honey tastes great.)   

[Ross]

I use the car method as well

[bassman1977]

(i use one of those electric heat bands mentioned when i need to reliquify a bucket of crystallized honey. there has never been an issue of plastic contamination that i'm aware of. the honey tastes great.)   

I didn't suspect any plastic contamination using the bands, but was more curious if this would happen if left in the sun for long periods.  I suspect that if left out for days at a time, it would cause an issue, but if only for 1 day, it would be fine.