Microwave Melting
Place the honey in a microwave-safe container. A thick glass container, like a glass canning jar, is usually a safe choice. Spoon the honey you need to melt into the container. It is best to check the container to verify that it is microwave-safe before using it. Typically, this information is labeled on the bottom of the container.Melt Honey Step 7Bullet1.jpg Never use a metal container.Melt Honey Step 7Bullet2.jpg Plastic containers are debatable. Many are marked as being microwave-safe, but there is some evidence that chemicals from plastic can leech into the contents of the container when heated.Melt Honey Step 7Bullet3.jpg
Microwave on medium power. Place the container of honey in your microwave. Set the power to 50 percent, then microwave the honey for 30 to 40 seconds. The exact amount of time can vary based on how powerful your microwave is and how much honey you have inside the container.Melt Honey Step 8Bullet1.jpg Keep an eye on the honey as it melts inside the microwave. If it appears fully melted before the full amount of time passes, stop the microwave and remove the container.Melt Honey Step 8Bullet2.jpg
Stir the honey. Carefully remove the container of honey from the microwave. Stir the honey with a spoon to distribute the heat. If some of the honey has not yet melted, return the container to the microwave and heat for another 20 seconds at medium power. Repeat this process as needed. Heat the honey in 20-second intervals at 50-percent power, stirring after each interval, until the honey melts.Melt Honey Step 9Bullet1.jpg If you are trying to decrystallize honey, stop heating it once you can no longer spot any crystals. If you only want to melt honey to a thinner consistency, simply stop heating it once it has become thin enough for your liking.Melt Honey Step 9Bullet2.jpg
Store melted honey at room temperature. Pour the melted honey into an airtight storage container. Store that container in a dry, room temperature location until you need to use the honey. The ideal temperature range is between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit (10 and 21 degrees Celsius). Colder and hotter temperatures can speed up the crystallization process. Moist conditions should also be avoided.Melt Honey Step 10Bullet1.jpg The container must be an airtight one if you want to prevent moisture loss and crystallization.Melt Honey Step 10Bullet2.jpg
Stovetop Melting
Spoon the honey into a glass jar. Transfer all the honey you want to melt into a tall, room temperature glass jar with a lid. Loosely cover the jar. A glass jar is the ideal container since the glass can withstand hot temperatures while also allowing that heat to be transferred to the honey inside.Melt Honey Step 1Bullet1.jpg Make sure that the jar you use is room temperature, though, and not cold. Glass can shatter under extreme changes in temperature.Melt Honey Step 1Bullet2.jpg Using a lid will help prevent water from accidentally getting inside the jar and into the honey. A lid is not strictly necessary, though, especially if the jar is fairly tall.Melt Honey Step 1Bullet3.jpg
Boil a saucepan of water. Fill a deep saucepan roughly halfway with water. Place this saucepan on the stove over high heat, keeping it there until it reaches a rolling boil. Before boiling the water, make sure that you have enough water in your saucepan to melt the honey. Place the jar inside the saucepan and check the water level. The level of water should approximately match the level of honey inside the jar.Melt Honey Step 2Bullet1.jpg
Remove the pan from the heat. After the water reaches a steady boil, remove it from the stove and set it down on a heat-resistant surface. Alternatively, you can keep the water on the stove and reduce the heat to low. Before placing the jar of honey in the water, though, you need to make sure that all simmering stops. Hot temperatures will not make the honey inedible, but temperatures above 110 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) can destroy some of the beneficial health properties of the honey.Melt Honey Step 3Bullet1.jpg
Lower the honey into the water. Sit the jar of honey directly on the bottom of the pan so that it is now surrounded on all sides by hot water. If you are using a lid, make sure that the lid is on very loose. You want to prevent water from getting inside while allowing air to escape. If you tighten the lid too much, pressure could build up inside of the jar and cause the glass to crack.Melt Honey Step 4Bullet1.jpg
Stir the honey. Periodically remove the lid and stir the honey while the jar is still sitting inside the hot water. This can help the honey melt more evenly and at a quicker pace. Continue doing this until the honey melts. If you are trying to melt crystallized granules out, keep at it until you no longer see any crystals left. If you are trying to melt thick, raw honey, continue melting it in the hot water until it thins to the consistency of store-bought honey.Melt Honey Step 5Bullet1.jpg This process can take a long time depending on how much honey you have. Expect to wait anywhere from 20 to 60 minutes.Melt Honey Step 5Bullet2.jpg
Store at room temperature. When done, remove the jar from the water and dry it off with a clean dish towel. Tighten the lid on securely and store the honey at room temperature until you are ready to use it. The ideal storage temperature is 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (10 to 21 degrees Celsius). At colder temperatures, the honey will begin to crystallize. You should also keep the honey away from hot, moist conditions for similar reasons.Melt Honey Step 6Bullet1.jpg Make sure that the lid is airtight. Otherwise, the honey can lose moisture and start to crystallize again.Melt Honey Step 6Bullet2.jpg
Thinning It Out
Mix a little water into the honey. Spoon some honey into a small jar or dish. Add fresh water to the honey, 1 Tbsp (15 ml) at a time, mixing after each addition. Continue until the honey reaches your desired consistency. No heat is required for this method.Melt Honey Step 11Bullet1.jpg Since you aren't actually melting the honey in this process, you cannot use this method to decrystallize hardened honey. In addition to thinning out the honey, water will also dilute the taste. The exact amount of water you need will depend on how thin you want the honey to be and how strong you want the flavor to remain. Typically, though, you will not want to exceed a ratio of equal parts honey to water.
Store in the refrigerator. While undiluted honey is best stored at room temperature, a honey syrup like this is best stored in the refrigerator. This thinned out honey will only last for about three weeks, though. After three weeks pass, the honey will start to lose its flavor and may show signs of crystallizing. Store this thin honey syrup in an airtight container to prevent moisture loss.
Finished.
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