Sometimes we may notice that white foam appears in the jar of honey, which may raise doubts about the quality of honey. What does this foam mean and can it be consumed?
White foam in a jar of honey is not a sign of adulteration or spoilage of honey, but a natural process associated with the crystallization of honey.
Crystallization is the transition of honey from a liquid state to a solid or semi-solid state, during which sugar crystals are formed. This process depends on many factors, such as temperature, humidity, honey type, presence of impurities, etc.
When honey crystallizes, it becomes denser and heavier, and the water contained in the honey rises to the top and forms foam.
Foam consists of air bubbles that reflect light and give it a white color. Foam does not affect the quality and properties of honey, but only indicates its naturalness and purity.
How to Get Rid of Foam in a Jar of Honey
If you don't like the look of foam in your honey jar, you can easily get rid of it in a few ways.
Remove the foam with a spoon or knife and discard it. The foam is not harmful, but it is not particularly useful either, as it contains little honey.
Heat the honey in a water bath or in a microwave to 40-50 degrees. The foam will dissolve and the honey will become liquid and transparent.
However, this method can reduce the nutritional and medicinal value of honey, since when heated, honey loses some of its vitamins, enzymes and antioxidants.
Pour the honey into another jar, leaving the foam at the bottom of the first jar. This is the easiest and safest method that will not affect the quality of the honey.
How to store honey so that foam does not form
If you want to keep your honey from foaming or crystallizing, there are a few rules you can follow when storing honey.
Store honey in tightly sealed glass or ceramic jars that do not allow air or moisture to pass through. It is not recommended to store honey in metal or plastic jars, as they may oxidize and release harmful substances.
Store honey in a dark and dry place where the temperature does not exceed 20 degrees. Do not place honey in the sun, near a radiator or other heat sources, as this promotes crystallization and loss of useful properties.
Do not mix honey with other products such as sugar, salt, flour, milk, etc. This may cause fermentation and spoilage of honey, as well as the formation of foam.
