Honey naturally crystallizes over time due to the interaction that occurs between water and glucose. If you want to obtain crystallized honey, it is possible to intervene in several ways to speed up the procedure. To start, be sure to use unfiltered honey stored in a plastic container. Secondly, store it at a lower temperature and add some water. Once crystallized, you can spread it on bread, use it to glaze meat or sweeten drinks such as coffee and tea.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Creating the Right Conditions
Step 1. Buy unfiltered honey
Regardless of the storage time and temperature, honey that has been processed or altered does not crystallize; this process takes place only with the raw and unfiltered one. Make sure you buy pure honey.
- Unfiltered honey will cost even more, but it is the only one that crystallizes.
- It may be easier to find unfiltered honey in a health food store or the organic food department of the supermarket.
Step 2. Store the honey in a plastic jar
Exposure to air can make it crystallize earlier. Plastic containers are generally more porous than other containers. If the honey is not being sold directly in a plastic jar, transfer it to a container of this material to speed up the crystallization process.
Step 3. When you go to buy honey, ask which one tends to crystallize first
If you buy it from a local producer, for example at the fruit and vegetable market, ask the supplier which is the one that crystallizes the fastest. Types flavored with ingredients such as rose petals can crystallize earlier than other types of honey.
Part 2 of 3: Crystallizing the Honey
Step 1. Add water
A low proportion of glucose to water accelerates the crystallization process. Try adding a tablespoon or two of water to the honey and mix; this could result in faster crystallization.
Step 2. Store the honey in the fridge
Honey stored at a temperature of around 10 ° C crystallizes much faster. Store honey in the fridge or some other cold place. Use a thermometer to measure the temperature and make sure it is around 10 ° C.
Don't freeze honey. This would prevent it from crystallizing
Step 3. Wait for the honey to crystallize
Unfortunately, there is no exact formula to calculate the duration of the process. If stored at the right temperature, almost all varieties of honey crystallize, but the process can vary in duration and take weeks or months. When crystallization is complete, large crystals will form in the honey, with white air bubbles between them.
Step 4. Incorporate small amounts of crystallized honey into the liquid one
If you already have crystallized honey, transfer it to a jar of liquid honey. The presence of the crystals can speed up the process.
Part 3 of 3: Using Crystallized Honey
Step 1. Spread it on the bread
Crystallized honey is denser than normal honey. You can spread it on baked goods such as bread, croissants, toast and scones.
Step 2. Glaze the meat with crystallized honey
Meats like pork and chicken go well with honey glaze. Before cooking you can glaze them very easily using crystallized or normal honey.
Step 3. Sweeten a drink with crystallized honey
Honey crystals can be put into hot drinks like coffee and tea. They dissolve as if they were sugar lumps and allow you to sweeten the drink.
