Optimal Heating for Honey: Utilizing Stainless Steel Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers for Precise Temperature Control
The Sweet Science of Honey Processing: Preventing Crystallization
Honey is a popular sweetener many people often use while baking, in teas and as a topping on toast or ice cream. When thinking of honey, most envision an amber-colored, sticky liquid that is easily, if slowly, poured from a bottle. This is the most popular form and the state in which honey producers strive to keep their product.
As many people know, honey is a substance created by bees. The bees extract nectar, or sugars, from flowers to transform into honey in their hives. The substance is therefore essentially a sugar mixture, composed primarily of fructose and glucose, according to Serious Eats. These sugars can cause the honey to crystallize over time, making it appear cloudy and thick.
The speed at which honey crystallizes depends on several factors, including storage conditions, the types of flowers the bees sourced nectar from, and the treatment of the honey before it reaches store shelves.
Keeping Out Crystals
To prevent early crystallization, honey producers often use a heating and filtering process. Heating the honey serves multiple purposes:
- Dissolving Sugar Crystals: Heating helps dissolve any existing sugar crystals, preventing them from multiplying.
- Thinning the Honey: Warm honey is thinner and easier to strain, allowing for the removal of particles like pollen and bee parts.
- Removing Particles: Straining out particles reduces the number of surfaces on which sugar crystals can form, further preventing crystallization.
For optimal results, honey should be heated to 160°F for a short period. A stainless steel shell and tube heat exchanger is ideal for this process. The heating element, such as water, evenly warms the honey to the desired temperature, ensuring consistent treatment and preventing early crystallization.
For information on how shell and tube heat exchangers can benefit your food production business, contact the experts at Enerquip.