Honey moisture content are the measurement of honey that determines whether the honey is safe to store or if the honey will ferment. Honey naturaly contains yeast which is responsible for a fermentation process. Under conditions where the moisture content in the honey is too high for yeast to survive, the yeast will consume the sugars in the honey and lead to the honey producing fizz or foamy.
If the moisture content in the honey is too low, the honey will become very thick and difficultly to pour, but this type of honey is safe to consume. Therefore, a beekeeper must measure the moisture content in the honey to ensure the honey dont spoil. The best method of measuring the moisture content of the honey is through use of a honey refractometer.
How to Test Honey Moisture and Keep It Safe
A honey refractometer measure the dissolved solids in a few drop of honey and converts that measurement to the percentage of water content in the honey. The beekeeper should sample the honey from different part of the honey super and test the honey once the beekeeper has extracted it from the honey frames. The moisture content in honey should be tested frequent after it has been pooled together.
If the beekeeper does not use a honey refractometer to test the moisture content of the honey, they will not be able to detect if the honey contains too much water until the honey begins to ferment. The water content in honey can change according to the type of flower from which the bees source the nectar. Honey that is produced during the spring months is typically lighter in color and has a lower moisture content then the darker honeys produced during the fall months.
This is due to the bees have more time to extract the water content from the nectar during the spring months than during the fall months. The type of honey that is produced does not necessarily have the same moisture content; the moisture content of honey can change according to the climate in which the bees live or the hive in which the honey are produced. According to the moisture content level of the honey, the honey must be stored in a certain way.
Dry honey can be stored in a warm location in the beekeepers pantry. However, honey that contains a high amount of moisture must be stored in a cool and dark location. The honey should always be stored in airtight container to prevent the honey from extracting moisture from the air.
If the honey is not stored in an airtight container, the moisture content of the honey will increase which can lead to fermentation of that honey. If the moisture content level of the honey is in a borderline zone, a few method can be used to manage that honey. Placing the honey in a warming cabinet will help shift the moisture content of the honey towards a more desirable level.
Additionally, using a dehumidifier in the extraction room where the honey frames are processed will prevent the moisture content of the honey from increasing. Using a dehumidifier will prevent the honey spoilage issue from starting; it is a preventative method of maintain the moisture content in honey. Additionally, visually observe the honey can provide some information regarding the moisture content.
Honey that is thick and does not easily move is likely safe to consume. Thin honey that pour quickly from the container should be tested with a honey refractometer. Additionally, if the honey begins to foam or form bubble on the surface, the yeast has begun to become active in the honey indicating that the honey has already begun to ferment.