How long to absorb moisture in honey?

Started by bernsad, November 09, 2011, 08:02:16 AM

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bernsad

As the title suggests, how long would it take an open container or one with a loose seal to absorb moisture and start thinning out the honey? Days, weeks...?

Michael Bush

Assuming high humidity.  An open container?  Hours.  One with a loose seal?  Days.  Honey is VERY hydroscopic.
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bernsad

Thanks Michael, I didn't realise it was that quick, particularly when you read all the posts about how long it takes to dry it out a point or two. So you really need to process and bottle your honey pretty quickly once you've extracted?

FRAMEshift

Quote from: bernsad on November 09, 2011, 03:14:19 PM
particularly when you read all the posts about how long it takes to dry it out a point or two.

When the bees are drying the honey, they are moving it away from it's equilibrium value.  That takes effort by the bees and can only be done as fast as the bees can do it.  And while they are drying the honey, it is still absorbing more moisture from the air, which makes it take even longer.

When you expose honey to the air it is absorbing moisture and moving toward it's equilibrium water content.
"You never can tell with bees."  --  Winnie-the-Pooh

bernsad

Thanks FRAMEshift, I had about half a bucket sitting around while the cappings were sitting/dripping, when I bottled it it seemed a lot more runny than the first half of the batch. It might just be that we've had some warmer weather and it is a little more workable but I'm just a bit cautious. I have a refractometer on order so I will wait and test the last of the batch before I sell it off.