Honeycomb makes a delicious treat due to its sweet taste and crispy texture. The problem with honeycomb is that it doesn’t last very long if it’s kept in a warm environment. Keeping them in the fridge will last for only a week. If you need to store them longer, would freezing honeycomb be an option?
Can you freeze honeycomb? Yes, you can freeze honeycomb, and it’s a great way to keep them from going soft. The key to keeping it fresh in the freezer is to prevent any air from reaching the honeycomb. Using an airtight container or plastic bag designed for freezer usage will prevent the honeycomb from getting damaged by the cold temperature. Properly stored, honeycomb can last for up to 12 months in the freezer.
Does Honeycomb Freeze Well?
Honeycomb does freeze well. Properly stored, you can keep them in the freezer forever.
When honey is frozen in the comb, due to its low moisture content, it doesn’t expand at all. This will keep the fragile honeycomb from getting damaged or going soft.
The only thing you need to be aware of is air. If air is leaked into the container when it’s in the freezer, it will cause the honeycomb to go bad. The honey will taste fine, but the honeycomb will become soft.
Why Freeze Honeycomb
Many farmers choose to freeze their honeycombs instead of extracting the honey first. There are a couple of benefits of doing so.
One benefits to freezing honey in the comb are that you can extract all the honey at the same time. Collecting honey from the honeycomb is very time-consuming, so it’s better to do it all at once.
Another reason to freeze honey in the honeycomb is to kill any wax moths or their larvae that may be living inside it. After freezing, you won’t need to worry about any of the insects in the honey.
How To Freeze Honeycomb?
When it comes to freezing honeycomb, it’s fairly easy and doesn’t require a lot of time to prepare it.
Below are the steps in details to freezing honeycomb:
1. Cool It Down
After the honeycomb is made, you’ll want to cool to room temperature. Freezing honeycomb while it’s still warm will cause condensation in the container.
2. Portion
While you can freeze the whole honeycomb, it’s best to divide them into portions. Doing so will allow you to take the right amount of honeycomb from the freezer. This will prevent any leftovers since you won’t be able to refreeze them again.
3. Storage
You can either use an airtight container or freezer bag to store the honeycomb. Both are great for storing in the freezer. Make sure that either the container or bag doesn’t have any holes or leaks in them. Otherwise, air will get in and cause freezer burn to the honeycomb.
4. Seal It
If you’re using a freezer bag, press on the bag to remove any excess air from it before sealing it.
For an airtight container, check to make sure there are no leaks in the lid. The seal around the lid should have no tears or cuts. Then secure the lid onto the container tightly.
5. Label
Label the bag or container with the date of freezing. Honeycomb will last indefinitely, but you’ll want to use them within 12 months for the best quality.
6. Freeze It
Place the freezer bag or airtight container full of honeycombs into the freezer. If you want to save space in the freezer, let the honeycomb completely freeze first.
Once it does, you can stack them on top of each other without damaging them.
How Long Can You Freeze Honeycomb?
When properly stored, the honeycomb will last for 12 months. After that time, the honeycomb will still be safe to eat, but the quality of it will diminish. The taste will still be the same, but the honeycomb will become soft, instead of being crispy.
Therefore, for the best quality, try to consume honeycomb within 12 months.
How Do You Defrost Honeycomb?
When it comes to thawing honeycomb, you can simply take them out of the freezer and leave them out at room temperature. Place the honeycomb onto a plate, so it’ll collect some of the water that melts.
Within 2-3 hours, the honeycomb will completely thaw.
If you need it much sooner, place the honeycomb in a bowl of water. Make sure to keep it sealed in the freezer bag. Every 5-10 minutes, change out the water and add new water. The honeycomb should thaw completely and ready to be eaten within 30 minutes.
Can You Refreeze Honeycomb?
Refreezing honeycomb is possible only if it hasn’t completely thawed yet. If it has already thawed, we wouldn’t recommend freezing it again. The honeycomb will likely become brittle and soft. This will result in a taste that’s not sweet.
Other Questions about Honeycomb
Can you freeze honey?
It’s not recommended to freeze honey. Due to their low moisture content, honey will not freeze at all. It may thicken a bit, but it will not freeze solid. Instead of freezing honey, you can keep them stored at room temperature. Just make sure to keep it in an airtight jar, and it will last forever.
Can you freeze honeycomb candy?
Yes, you can freeze honeycomb candy, and it will freeze well. This is a great method to keep the candy from spoiling. Make sure to keep them in an airtight container or freezer bag while they’re stored in the freezer.