How to filter honey at home

There are five methods for filtering honey at home: gauze filtration, fine mesh filtration, natural precipitation, warm water assisted filtration, and centrifugal separation.

1. Gauze filtration

Cover the mouth of a clean container with a double-layer medical gauze, pour in unfiltered honey, gently press the edge of the gauze, and use the gauze fibers to intercept beeswax and impurities. This method is suitable for handling small amounts of honey. It is important to disinfect the gauze with boiling water and air dry it before use to avoid secondary contamination. The residual beeswax from the filtered gauze can be collected and used to make moisturizing products.

2. Fine mesh filtration

Select 80-100 mesh food grade stainless steel filter screen, tilt it above the wide mouthed bottle, slowly pour honey to let it flow naturally. Mesh can effectively block pollen particles and bee debris, making it easier to clean than gauze filtration. Keep the environment dry during operation to prevent honey from absorbing water and spoiling. The filtered mesh should be immediately rinsed with warm water.

3. Natural precipitation method

Place the raw honey in a transparent container for 24-48 hours, and impurities with higher density will gradually sink to the bottom. After the stratification is obvious, use a siphon to extract the upper clear liquid, and collect the bottom turbid layer separately for use as baking ingredients. This method is suitable for processing crystallized honey, but attention should be paid to maintaining the ambient temperature at 20-25 ℃ to maintain the fluidity of honey.

4. Warm water assisted filtration method

Soak the sealed honey jar in warm water below 40 ℃ for 10 minutes to reduce viscosity, and then filter it with a fine mesh screen. Excessive temperature can damage enzyme activity. It is recommended to use a thermometer for monitoring. This method can improve filtration efficiency but accelerate honey fermentation. After filtration, it should be refrigerated and consumed within two weeks.

5. Centrifugal separation method

Fill the honey into a sealed container and manually rotate it quickly. Use centrifugal force to make impurities stick to the wall, and then scrape the center of the pure honey with a clean spoon. Although it does not require professional equipment, it takes a long time. After each rotation, it needs to be left to stand for half an hour and repeated 3-4 times to obtain clear honey. It is suitable for processing high viscosity dark honey such as buckwheat honey.

The filtered honey should be stored in glass or food grade plastic containers, avoiding the use of metal vessels to prevent oxidation. The storage environment should be dark and dry, and the temperature should be maintained at 10-20 ℃. It is recommended to use a dry wooden spoon or silicone spoon for daily use, and try to consume it within 6 months after opening. crystallization is a normal phenomenon and can be restored to a liquid state by heating it below 40 ℃ in water, but repeated crystallization and dissolution will reduce the quality. Patients with diabetes and infants under one year old should take it with caution, and stop using it immediately in case of flatulence or allergic reaction.