Hello,

I wonder how others store their honey because if I keep it in the
fridge it is not handy to use because it gets so hard I can't get it
out of the jar. And, if I keep it out or in the cupboard it attracts
ants by the hundreds, or other little creatures. It may not be a
problem now but I've had such a problem in the past with insects that
I'm afraid to chance leaving it in the pantry anymore.

Thanks,
San.

"San" > wrote in message
...
> Hello,
>
> I wonder how others store their honey because if I keep it in the
> fridge it is not handy to use because it gets so hard I can't get it
> out of the jar. And, if I keep it out or in the cupboard it attracts
> ants by the hundreds, or other little creatures. It may not be a
> problem now but I've had such a problem in the past with insects that
> I'm afraid to chance leaving it in the pantry anymore.
>
> Thanks,
> San.


Where do you live? Are ants a problem there all year long?

San wrote:
>
> I wonder how others store their honey because if I keep it in the
> fridge it is not handy to use because it gets so hard I can't get it
> out of the jar. And, if I keep it out or in the cupboard it attracts
> ants by the hundreds, or other little creatures. It may not be a
> problem now but I've had such a problem in the past with insects
> that I'm afraid to chance leaving it in the pantry anymore.

As a former beekeeper, I can assure you that honey
does not require refrigeration. Protection against
ants is simply a matter of packaging. The only way
honey can go bad is if it is left open to the atmosphere,
and consequently absorbs enough moisture (honey is
very hygroscopic) that yeast fermentation sets in.
Even then, honey is unlikely to become dangerous,
merely alcoholic.

One way to store honey while protecting against ants is to keep it in
the refrigerator. If it crystallizes, take the lid off and melt it in
the microwave for a few minutes. If you just need a spoonful for tea,
don't worry about the crystallization. Just put a spoon in.


Another way is to place the jar of honey in a bowl of water or a larger
jar filled with water. Place this in the cupboard, and keep filling
with water as it evaporates. The ants can't get to the honey without
drowning.


The method that you've probably tried is to clean the mouth of the jar
carefully and the lid of the jar carefully each time before you put the
jar in the cupboard. Then put a layer of plastic wrap between the lid
and the jar and squeeze shut. (The plastic makes it possible to unscrew
the lid.) In theory, this should work, but if you live in a place with
determined ants, it might not work. In my experience, ants are always
determined.


I go with the refrigerator method.


--Lia

"San" > wrote in message
...
> Hello,
>
> I wonder how others store their honey because if I keep it in the
> fridge it is not handy to use because it gets so hard I can't get it
> out of the jar. And, if I keep it out or in the cupboard it attracts
> ants by the hundreds, or other little creatures. It may not be a
> problem now but I've had such a problem in the past with insects that
> I'm afraid to chance leaving it in the pantry anymore.
>
> Thanks,
> San.

Store the jar in a ziploc baggie.

"San" > wrote in message
...
> Hello,
>
> I wonder how others store their honey because if I keep it in the
> fridge it is not handy to use because it gets so hard I can't get it
> out of the jar. And, if I keep it out or in the cupboard it attracts
> ants by the hundreds, or other little creatures. It may not be a
> problem now but I've had such a problem in the past with insects that
> I'm afraid to chance leaving it in the pantry anymore.
>
> Thanks,
> San.

Once opened, mine stays on the table 24/7.
Dee Dee

Dee.Dee wrote:
> "San" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Hello,
>>
>> I wonder how others store their honey because if I keep it in the
>> fridge it is not handy to use because it gets so hard I can't get it
>> out of the jar. And, if I keep it out or in the cupboard it attracts
>> ants by the hundreds, or other little creatures. It may not be a
>> problem now but I've had such a problem in the past with insects that
>> I'm afraid to chance leaving it in the pantry anymore.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> San.
>
> Once opened, mine stays on the table 24/7.
> Dee Dee

I suspect that if you wash the jar very carefully after use, it might not
attract the insects

San > wrote:

> I wonder how others store their honey

The world's foremost authority on the proper storage of honey used to
post on rfc, but, tragically, no longer does. The authority in question
is, in addition to her many impressive credentials, a canonised Saint.
According to her, honey is to be kept refrigerated at all times if you
care about your health at all. You will infallibly get life-threatening
food poisoning otherwise.

To be safe, I would go even further and declare that honey is never to
be removed from the refrigerator at all. If you want to eat it, you
have to crawl inside and close the door behind you. As the rumours have
it, the saintly authority once did just that and still remains inside...

HTH,

Victor

San wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I wonder how others store their honey because if I keep it in the
> fridge it is not handy to use because it gets so hard I can't get it
> out of the jar. And, if I keep it out or in the cupboard it attracts
> ants by the hundreds, or other little creatures. It may not be a
> problem now but I've had such a problem in the past with insects that
> I'm afraid to chance leaving it in the pantry anymore.
>
Sounds like you need a good pest control company. I keep honey in the
pantry and I don't have an ant problem. I do, however, have a pest control
company that sprays all around the property once a month.

Jill

jmcquown wrote on Sun, 9 Dec 2007 06:07:17 -0600:

j> San wrote:
??>> Hello,
??>>
??>> I wonder how others store their honey because if I keep it
??>> in the fridge it is not handy to use because it gets so
??>> hard I can't get it out of the jar. And, if I keep it
??>> out or in the cupboard it attracts ants by the hundreds,
??>> or other little creatures. It may not be a problem now but
??>> I've had such a problem in the past with insects that I'm
??>> afraid to chance leaving it in the pantry anymore.
??>>
j> Sounds like you need a good pest control company. I keep
j> honey in the pantry and I don't have an ant problem. I do,
j> however, have a pest control company that sprays all around
j> the property once a month.

I don't use honey all that often but I find that a plastic
squeeze bottle with a nozzle and a push-on cap keeps it quite
well on the condiment tray (fancy word for a large plate on the
breakfast table!) If the bottle gets at all sticky, it can be
quickly rinsed down without removing the contents.

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

"jmcquown" > wrote in message
...
> San wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> I wonder how others store their honey because if I keep it in the
>> fridge it is not handy to use because it gets so hard I can't get it
>> out of the jar. And, if I keep it out or in the cupboard it attracts
>> ants by the hundreds, or other little creatures. It may not be a
>> problem now but I've had such a problem in the past with insects that
>> I'm afraid to chance leaving it in the pantry anymore.
>>
> Sounds like you need a good pest control company. I keep honey in the
> pantry and I don't have an ant problem. I do, however, have a pest
> control
> company that sprays all around the property once a month.
>
> Jill
>

Ahhhhhhh. SO you're inhaling all those poisonous fumes every day, and
eating the residue on your food, plates and silverware. That explains a
lot.

In article >, (Victor Sack) wrote:
>San > wrote:
>
>> I wonder how others store their honey
>
>The world's foremost authority on the proper storage of honey used to
>post on rfc, but, tragically, no longer does. The authority in question
>is, in addition to her many impressive credentials, a canonised Saint.
>According to her, honey is to be kept refrigerated at all times if you
>care about your health at all. You will infallibly get life-threatening
>food poisoning otherwise.
>
>To be safe, I would go even further and declare that honey is never to
>be removed from the refrigerator at all. If you want to eat it, you
>have to crawl inside and close the door behind you. As the rumours have
>it, the saintly authority once did just that and still remains inside...

Remains still inside?

Cheers, Phred.

--
LID

"Mike" > wrote in message
...
>
> "jmcquown" > wrote in message
> ...
>> San wrote:
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> I wonder how others store their honey because if I keep it in the
>>> fridge it is not handy to use because it gets so hard I can't get it
>>> out of the jar. And, if I keep it out or in the cupboard it attracts
>>> ants by the hundreds, or other little creatures. It may not be a
>>> problem now but I've had such a problem in the past with insects that
>>> I'm afraid to chance leaving it in the pantry anymore.
>>>
>> Sounds like you need a good pest control company. I keep honey in the
>> pantry and I don't have an ant problem. I do, however, have a pest
>> control
>> company that sprays all around the property once a month.
>>
>> Jill
>>
>
> Ahhhhhhh. SO you're inhaling all those poisonous fumes every day, and
> eating the residue on your food, plates and silverware. That explains a
> lot.
>

A lot, but not enough. Sigh.

"jmcquown" > wrote in message
...
> San wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> I wonder how others store their honey because if I keep it in the
>> fridge it is not handy to use because it gets so hard I can't get it
>> out of the jar. And, if I keep it out or in the cupboard it attracts
>> ants by the hundreds, or other little creatures. It may not be a
>> problem now but I've had such a problem in the past with insects that
>> I'm afraid to chance leaving it in the pantry anymore.
>>

> Sounds like you need a good pest control company. I keep honey in the
> pantry and I don't have an ant problem. I do, however, have a pest
> control
> company that sprays all around the property once a month.
>
> Jill


Without knowing where the OP lives, you really can't come to that
conclusion, Jill.

San wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> I wonder how others store their honey because if I keep it in the
> fridge it is not handy to use because it gets so hard I can't get it
> out of the jar. And, if I keep it out or in the cupboard it attracts
> ants by the hundreds, or other little creatures. It may not be a
> problem now but I've had such a problem in the past with insects that
> I'm afraid to chance leaving it in the pantry anymore.


From mid fall to mid spring I leave it in a honey pot on the counter. In
the spring I leave it in a sealed container. As long as the container is
wiped clean with a wet cloth to remove and spillage the ants don't even
know it's there.

On Sun, 9 Dec 2007 12:06:58 +0100, (Victor Sack)
wrote:

>San > wrote:
>
>> I wonder how others store their honey
>
>The world's foremost authority on the proper storage of honey used to
>post on rfc, but, tragically, no longer does. The authority in question
>is, in addition to her many impressive credentials, a canonised Saint.
>According to her, honey is to be kept refrigerated at all times if you
>care about your health at all. You will infallibly get life-threatening
>food poisoning otherwise.
>
>To be safe, I would go even further and declare that honey is never to
>be removed from the refrigerator at all. If you want to eat it, you
>have to crawl inside and close the door behind you. As the rumours have
>it, the saintly authority once did just that and still remains inside...
>
>HTH,
>
>Victor

to be absolutely safe, you should leave the honey in the bee.

your pal,
blake

blake murphy wrote:
>
>
>
> to be absolutely safe, you should leave the honey in the bee.

The honey doesn't stay in the bees because the bees regurgitate it after
partially digesting it and deposit it in the cells for their brood.


Bee friendly.... Eat your honey.

"blake murphy" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 9 Dec 2007 12:06:58 +0100, (Victor Sack)
> wrote:
>
>>San > wrote:
>>
>>> I wonder how others store their honey
>>
>>The world's foremost authority on the proper storage of honey used to
>>post on rfc, but, tragically, no longer does. The authority in question
>>is, in addition to her many impressive credentials, a canonised Saint.
>>According to her, honey is to be kept refrigerated at all times if you
>>care about your health at all. You will infallibly get life-threatening
>>food poisoning otherwise.
>>
>>To be safe, I would go even further and declare that honey is never to
>>be removed from the refrigerator at all. If you want to eat it, you
>>have to crawl inside and close the door behind you. As the rumours have
>>it, the saintly authority once did just that and still remains inside...
>>
>>HTH,
>>
>>Victor
>
> to be absolutely safe, you should leave the honey in the bee.
>
> your pal,
> blake


I've read several places that honey found in the Pyramids was still edible
because of it being preserved. I assume that there was oxygen in there.

Wonder if that is true?

Dee Dee

Un-San wrote:
>
> I wonder how others store their honey because if I keep it in the
> fridge it is not handy to use because it gets so hard I can't get it
> out of the jar. And, if I keep it out or in the cupboard it attracts
> ants by the hundreds, or other little creatures. It may not be a
> problem now but I've had such a problem in the past with insects that
> I'm afraid to chance leaving it in the pantry anymore.

There's no reason for any honey to be on the exterior of the jar...
only the slovenly have honey jars that attract vermin. Either buy a
honey dispensor or learn how to serve honey from the jar without
making a mess. I can only imagine your disgusting mayo jar... I'm
glad I never have to look inside your fridge... San-itary you're not!
LOL

Sheldon

In article >,
"Dee.Dee" > wrote:

> I've read several places that honey found in the Pyramids was still edible
> because of it being preserved. I assume that there was oxygen in there.
>
> Wonder if that is true?

It is true. The honey was crystallised (hell, after 5000 years in a
pyramid, I'd be crystallised too!), but perfectly edible.

Miche

--
Electricians do it in three phases

Miche wrote:
>
> In article >,
> "Dee.Dee" > wrote:
>
> > I've read several places that honey found in the Pyramids was still edible
> > because of it being preserved. I assume that there was oxygen in there.
> >
> > Wonder if that is true?
>
> It is true. The honey was crystallised (hell, after 5000 years in a
> pyramid, I'd be crystallised too!), but perfectly edible.

And just exactly how was that discovered?

"Hey, Ahmed, try some of this 5,000-year-old honey
and tell me if it's any good!"

"No, Sayeed, you try it!"

"Someone has to remain to write up the paper."

"It was your idea, you eat the honey!"

On 2007-12-09, James Silverton wrote:

> I don't use honey all that often but I find that a plastic
> squeeze bottle with a nozzle and a push-on cap keeps it quite
> well on the condiment tray (fancy word for a large plate on the
> breakfast table!) If the bottle gets at all sticky, it can be
> quickly rinsed down without removing the contents.

> Potomac, Maryland

Head down the Blue Ridge Parkway and you can get honey in bear-shaped
squeeze-bottles.

Unfortunately, they're not dishwasher-safe and they aren't durable
enough to be refilled too many times. But they are cute.


--
A: Maybe because some people are too annoyed by top-posting.
Q: Why do I not get an answer to my question(s)?
A: Because it messes up the order in which people normally read text.
Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>
> "jmcquown" > wrote in message
> ...
>
> > Sounds like you need a good pest control company. I keep honey in the
> > pantry and I don't have an ant problem. I do, however, have a pest
> > control
> > company that sprays all around the property once a month.
>
> Without knowing where the OP lives, you really can't come to that
> conclusion, Jill.

I've heard that in Florida, the cockroaches will get
inside a sealed Mason jar. :-)

In article >,
Mark Thorson > wrote:

> Miche wrote:
> >
> > In article >,
> > "Dee.Dee" > wrote:
> >
> > > I've read several places that honey found in the Pyramids was still edible
> > > because of it being preserved. I assume that there was oxygen in there.
> > >
> > > Wonder if that is true?
> >
> > It is true. The honey was crystallised (hell, after 5000 years in a
> > pyramid, I'd be crystallised too!), but perfectly edible.
>
> And just exactly how was that discovered?

I dunno; I'm an electrician, not a food scientist.

Miche

--
Electricians do it in three phases

San wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I wonder how others store their honey because if I keep it in the
> fridge it is not handy to use because it gets so hard I can't get it
> out of the jar. And, if I keep it out or in the cupboard it attracts
> ants by the hundreds, or other little creatures. It may not be a
> problem now but I've had such a problem in the past with insects that
> I'm afraid to chance leaving it in the pantry anymore.
>
> Thanks,
> San.

I'm not sure if this will help, but after I accidentally spilled ground
cinnamon in a kitchen cupboard of an old house I once had, the ants I
had been occasionally finding in there went away.

Mark Thorson wrote:
> Miche wrote:
>>
>> In article >,
>> "Dee.Dee" > wrote:
>>
>>> I've read several places that honey found in the Pyramids was still
>>> edible because of it being preserved. I assume that there was
>>> oxygen in there.
>>>
>>> Wonder if that is true?
>>
>> It is true. The honey was crystallised (hell, after 5000 years in a
>> pyramid, I'd be crystallised too!), but perfectly edible.
>
> And just exactly how was that discovered?
>
> "Hey, Ahmed, try some of this 5,000-year-old honey
> and tell me if it's any good!"
>
> "No, Sayeed, you try it!"
>
> "Someone has to remain to write up the paper."
>
> "It was your idea, you eat the honey!"

<G>

On Sun, 09 Dec 2007 14:08:25 -0800, Mark Thorson >
wrote:

>I've heard that in Florida, the cockroaches will get
>inside a sealed Mason jar. :-)

Yeah, they just bust in through the side of the jar.

--
Zilbandy

Adam wrote on Sun, 9 Dec 2007 21:59:27 +0000:

??>> I don't use honey all that often but I find that a plastic
??>> squeeze bottle with a nozzle and a push-on cap keeps it
??>> quite well on the condiment tray (fancy word for a large
??>> plate on the breakfast table!) If the bottle gets at all
??>> sticky, it can be quickly rinsed down without removing the
??>> contents.

??>> Potomac, Maryland

AF> Head down the Blue Ridge Parkway and you can get honey in
AF> bear-shaped squeeze-bottles.

AF> Unfortunately, they're not dishwasher-safe and they aren't
AF> durable enough to be refilled too many times. But they are
AF> cute.

The local food nut coop charges 25 cents for bear bottles if you
don't bring your own and buy honey from bulk but capped plastic
squeeze bottles, as from the Container Store, work much more
cleanly, seem to be dishwasher safe and don't cost a lot.

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

On 2007-12-13, James Silverton wrote:

> AF> Head down the Blue Ridge Parkway and you can get honey in
> AF> bear-shaped squeeze-bottles.
>
> AF> Unfortunately, they're not dishwasher-safe and they aren't
> AF> durable enough to be refilled too many times. But they are
> AF> cute.
>
> The local food nut coop charges 25 cents for bear bottles if you
> don't bring your own and buy honey from bulk but capped plastic
> squeeze bottles, as from the Container Store, work much more
> cleanly, seem to be dishwasher safe and don't cost a lot.

I'll try to remember that next time I'm back in the old country.

(But I'm sure the bear-squeeze-bottles were more durable when I was a
kid.)

--
Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms.
[Josey Wales]