Why You, Too, Should Start Experimenting With Honey in The Kitchen
Out of the many interesting additions you can make to your daily recipes, honey is one of the most underrated options. For some reason, society has gotten so used to processed sugar that we forget how beautifully sweet honey can be.
Its health benefits and the variety of options out there mean that you should seriously start considering giving it a permanent spot in your inventory.
In this article, we will explore everything you need to know about honey. So, sit tight, and let’s dive right in.
The Advantages of Taking Honey for Your Health
Honey has so many benefits and it is often recognized and valued for its medicinal properties. It doesn’t just excel in one specific area, which makes it a sort of jack-of-all-trades substance. Honey has excellent anti-oxidant properties, such as phenolic and flavonoid compounds and anti-oxidants help control harmful free radicals in your body.
Honey is also one of the best remedies for sore throats. Almost every culture in the world uses it as a natural remedy for coughs. Its benefits don’t end here, though. It is also a great digestive aid and can be a lifesaver when you are having a bad case of diarrhea or indigestion.
Did you know that honey is sometimes taken by athletes? This is because it is believed to help with exercise-induced oxidative stress. Similarly, its benefit to heart health is worth noting, as it can lower blood pressure and blood fat levels.
It should be obvious by now that this isn’t just a mere sugar substitute. The benefits that honey offers make it a far superior option, with the only drawback being that sugar is a little more convenient to use and store.
There Are Plenty of Honey Varieties to Savor!
The honey that you may be familiar with is also known as ‘wildflower honey.’ This is because bees take the nectar from plants grown in the wild. Interestingly, the taste of honey can vary based on the initial source of nectar before it is turned into honey.
Take a look at avocado honey, which is made from the nectar of the avocado tree’s blossom. When compared to regular honey, this type appears darker in color and has a particularly rich taste with a subtle hint of avocado.
According to Bee Inspired, you can use this type of honey on hot buttered toast, pancakes, and even with poultry or pork. Avocado honey isn’t the only option, though. You can also experiment and try out sourwood honey, which can be hard to find. However, people who try it swear by how delicious it is.
Other popular options include buckwheat, eucalyptus, and even lavender honey, each of them has its own unique flavor. Be warned though: once you go down this path, it’s going to be tough to resist spending a lot of money at farmer’s markets!
Does Honey Never Spoil? If So, How Do You Store It?
Honey does indeed have an incredibly long shelf life. When stored under ideal conditions, it might be able to last indefinitely, meaning centuries and even millennia.
That said, you will notice some changes in its consistency, most notably crystallization. This is a natural process and does not mean that your honey has spoiled.
If you aren’t a fan of crystallized honey, all you have to do is place it in a bowl of warm water and heat it gently in the microwave. Make sure to stir at regular intervals, and it should be back to its usual, gooey state.
If you are storing a lot of honey, the best way would be to find a nice container with a tight seal so that moisture doesn’t get in. You will also want to keep the honey away from light and heat sources because they can accelerate the aging process, which can sometimes impact flavor and color. At the same time, avoid leaving honey in your fridge because temperatures lower than 50 degrees Fahrenheit can trigger crystallization.
In conclusion, honey is an amazing addition to any recipe that calls for sweetness. The fact that you can add it to virtually any dish and still find it delicious should be a sign of its value. Even if you can’t find any of the other varieties besides regular bee’s honey, that’s perfectly fine.
You can always explore them later on. Just remember that honey still has calories, so don’t be surprised if you see the numbers on your scale start to increase over time!
