Comments on: Why doesn’t honey need to be refrigerated? http://bioephemera.com/2007/05/30/why-doesnt-honey-need-to-be-refrigerated/ the art of biology & the biology of art Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:49:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Arowosola Olaosebikan http://bioephemera.com/2007/05/30/why-doesnt-honey-need-to-be-refrigerated/#comment-78991 Arowosola Olaosebikan Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:36:12 +0000 http://bioephemera.com/2007/05/30/why-doesnt-honey-need-to-be-refrigerated/#comment-78991 I am happy to know a site like this exists. I am presently doing my final year project in school. I am working on honey. I will like to know if microbes can grow on products made from honey. Thanks. I am happy to know a site like this exists. I am presently doing my final year project in school. I am working on honey. I will like to know if microbes can grow on products made from honey.
Thanks.

]]> By: cicada http://bioephemera.com/2007/05/30/why-doesnt-honey-need-to-be-refrigerated/#comment-9791 cicada Tue, 05 Jun 2007 09:53:28 +0000 http://bioephemera.com/2007/05/30/why-doesnt-honey-need-to-be-refrigerated/#comment-9791 Ah, but feeling dumb is part of the pleasure of being alive! At least, that's what I tell myself, since I feel dumb most of the time. Please don't disillusion me. Ah, but feeling dumb is part of the pleasure of being alive! At least, that’s what I tell myself, since I feel dumb most of the time. Please don’t disillusion me.

]]> By: mdvlist http://bioephemera.com/2007/05/30/why-doesnt-honey-need-to-be-refrigerated/#comment-9693 mdvlist Mon, 04 Jun 2007 00:38:57 +0000 http://bioephemera.com/2007/05/30/why-doesnt-honey-need-to-be-refrigerated/#comment-9693 That's absolutely fascinating. I never thought of the honey question, either, and I'm very glad you answered it for me before I did so that I could be spared the trouble of wondering and feeling dumb. That’s absolutely fascinating. I never thought of the honey question, either, and I’m very glad you answered it for me before I did so that I could be spared the trouble of wondering and feeling dumb.

]]> By: cicada http://bioephemera.com/2007/05/30/why-doesnt-honey-need-to-be-refrigerated/#comment-9321 cicada Wed, 30 May 2007 23:46:12 +0000 http://bioephemera.com/2007/05/30/why-doesnt-honey-need-to-be-refrigerated/#comment-9321 That's interesting! Who knew Monarchs were so picky? It's been forever since I did dilution series, so I hope this is in the ballpark: since honey is denser than water (~1.45 kg/L), a 50% w/w dilution of honey in water should yield a final solution that's over 60% water by volume - a pretty big change. I think a much weaker dilution would suffice to get some microorganisms in the honey going. It would definitely be something to keep in mind - you wouldn't want to encourage bacterial growth by diluting a topical honey dressing too much. My understanding is that the first organisms to exploit diluted honey are wlid yeasts, so if you'd left your Monarch food to ferment, you might have eventually had butterfly wine. . . not that you or the Monarchs would probably want to drink it. BTW, did you let the butterflies go at the end of your project, or did you have to dissect them? I'll happily kill fruit flies any day, but I think sacrificing butterflies would be depressing. That’s interesting! Who knew Monarchs were so picky?

It’s been forever since I did dilution series, so I hope this is in the ballpark: since honey is denser than water (~1.45 kg/L), a 50% w/w dilution of honey in water should yield a final solution that’s over 60% water by volume - a pretty big change. I think a much weaker dilution would suffice to get some microorganisms in the honey going. It would definitely be something to keep in mind - you wouldn’t want to encourage bacterial growth by diluting a topical honey dressing too much.

My understanding is that the first organisms to exploit diluted honey are wlid yeasts, so if you’d left your Monarch food to ferment, you might have eventually had butterfly wine. . . not that you or the Monarchs would probably want to drink it.

BTW, did you let the butterflies go at the end of your project, or did you have to dissect them? I’ll happily kill fruit flies any day, but I think sacrificing butterflies would be depressing.

]]> By: Steve http://bioephemera.com/2007/05/30/why-doesnt-honey-need-to-be-refrigerated/#comment-9320 Steve Wed, 30 May 2007 23:18:19 +0000 http://bioephemera.com/2007/05/30/why-doesnt-honey-need-to-be-refrigerated/#comment-9320 In grad school, part of my research required that I feed hundreds of captive Monarch butterflies. We diluted honey by about 1/2 , I think it was, and in less than a week, even refrigerated, it would start to spoil. Interestingly, the butterflies would stop feeding before we could smell the spoilage and we'd mix up a fresh batch of "nectar". In grad school, part of my research required that I feed hundreds of captive Monarch butterflies. We diluted honey by about 1/2 , I think it was, and in less than a week, even refrigerated, it would start to spoil. Interestingly, the butterflies would stop feeding before we could smell the spoilage and we’d mix up a fresh batch of “nectar”.

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