Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Charles Wright on September 13, 2020, 07:28:47 pm

Title: Over wintered honey?
Post by: Charles Wright on September 13, 2020, 07:28:47 pm
I'm not sure if "over wintered" is the right terminology. But if I leave honey in a super through the winter and the bees don't eat it, is it good for harvesting the next summer? I ask because I plan to just let the bees have all the honey they store in the late summer and fall.
Title: Re: Over wintered honey?
Post by: The15thMember on September 13, 2020, 08:03:45 pm
As long as it's capped (or similarly sealed to keep it from absorbing moisture), honey will never go bad.  Provided the bees don't eat it and they maintain the hive enough to protect it from mold or pests, it'll last forever, as long as it's down to the appropriate moisture content of around 17-18%.  There has been honey found in tombs in Egypt that is still perfectly edible all these thousands of years later.     
Title: Re: Over wintered honey?
Post by: Charles Wright on September 13, 2020, 08:13:23 pm
Ok. Thanks.
Title: Re: Over wintered honey?
Post by: Michael Bush on September 16, 2020, 12:50:42 pm
In my experience in my location it will all be crystallized by december...
Title: Re: Over wintered honey?
Post by: BeeMaster2 on September 16, 2020, 01:54:00 pm
Here in north Florida, my honey has large amounts of Black Gum And Gallberry. They do not like to crystallize, sometimes for years.
I have pulled over wintered honey many times with no problems.
Jim Altmiller
Title: Re: Over wintered honey?
Post by: paus on September 16, 2020, 03:55:03 pm
How long can honey be kept in a deepfreeze.   ?#2 I have LOTS of uncapped honey still in the hive with most cells about 80 percent level.