How to use a honey stick? (5 steps only)

In this article, we will answer the question “How to use a honey stick?”, and how to season your wooden honey dipper before use?

How to use a honey stick?

The right sequence of using a honey stick is to dip it, cover it, twist it, and drip it. Follow the steps below to correctly use a honey stick or honey dipper. 

  1. First of all, remove the lid of the jar of honey. Make sure the honey stick is properly washed and dried before putting it in the honey. 
  2. Insert the honey dipper or honey stick in the honey jar.
  3. Hold the stick in there and twist to generously and thoroughly coat it with honey.
  4. Pull the honey stick out of the jar and twist it over your food and let the honey drip.
  5. Put the honey stick directly into hot tea.

How To Season your Wooden Honey Dipper Before Use?

  1. Wash the honey dipper thoroughly with hot soapy water. Rinse with warm water and let air dry or pat dry with paper towels.
  1. Use medium-grit sandpaper (between #80 and #60) to one out the wet woody paper stick. Sanding should be done while the dipper is slightly damp.
  1. Before seasoning, sanitation of the dipper is crucial. To dot his,  mix white vinegar and warm water in a 1:5 ratio. Submerge the wooden dippers in this mix and let them stay there for several minutes. Rinse with warm water. Let it dry completely. It usually takes about 2-3 days.
  1. Add 2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil into a small saucepan followed by 2 tsp of honey. Let the honey dissolve into the oil by heating this mix on a gentle heat with continuous stirring. Let the oil cool down. 
  1. Coat the dippers with a thin layer of oil. Rub the dippers with paper towels soaked in oil. Then, place the dippers on a baking sheet.  Put the baking sheet in the oven preheated at 350 degrees for about 2 minutes. After 2-3 minutes, let the dippers cool down before using. 

Can you smoke honey?

Yes, you can smoke honey. The following recipe tells briefly shows you how you can smoke honey.

Ingredients 

To make smoked honey, you will need:

  • 8 ounces local honey
  • 1/4 cup water optional

Instructions 

  1. Select a fruitwood such as an apple or cherry. The sweetness pairs well with the honey and the smoky flavor like mesquite or oak.
  1. Add the honey to a smoker safe dish, preferably a glass dish. Dilute the honey with some water If it feels too thick. 
  1. The water will eventually evaporate and the honey will return to its thickness. Smoke for about 2 hours, remove and let cool. Smoking for more than 2 hours will impart an intense smoky flavor. 
  1. If the honey feels too ashy, do not smoke it directly. Use a cheesecloth as a shield to prevent the ash from getting into the smoked honey.

What temperature do I smoke honey?

Smoke at a scope of 160 degrees F to 200 degrees F. Any higher temperature quill increases the potential for the nectar to bubble or caramelize, and we don’t need that. 

You can perform cold smoking also, or holding the temperature under 90 degrees, however, we favor a more blazing temperature for flavor.

How to store honey?

The following storage practices should be adopted to safely store honey.

  1. Glass jars and stainless steel containers with a tight seal should be used to store honey.
  2. Honey should be kept away from moisture. The ideal temperature to store honey is 50-70℉.
  1. Refrigerating honey will make it crystallize faster and the texture becomes denser. Heating honey at low temperatures will melt the crystals. However, be careful with the temperature as high temperatures can degrade the quality to a great extent.
  1. Using dirty spoons to scoop out honey can introduce microbes that can lead to contamination and spoilage.
  1. If the honey develops a foamy appearance, has a bad taste or odor, and a lot of free water, it should be discarded.

How long can you keep honey?

Pure honey can last indefinitely if stored properly. Commercial honey has an expiration date printed on the label. It is because the honey has been diluted. The shelf-life of honey depends greatly on how it was processed.

Whether it is pasteurized or raw, how it is packaged, and how it is stored, are the factors that affect the shelf-life of honey. Over time, honey can become darker in color, lose its flavor and crystallize. 

Conclusion

In this article, we answered the question “How to use a honey stick?”, and how to season your wooden honey dipper before use?

References

https://www.leaf.tv/articles/how-to-freeze-honey/
https://www.thespruceeats.com/how-to-store-honey-1807772
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/does-honey-go-bad#TOC_TITLE_HDR_5

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