| Author | |
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
|
| Posted: Feb 25 2013 at 9:15am | IP Logged
|
 |
|
We've been starting to eat more local honey for allergies and other healing. The honey comes in little mason jars, which are extremely messy to serve. I have to wipe it off every time I use the honey.
How do you store and serve your honey to make it less messy? Do you use a honey pot?
Do you use a wooden dipper?
Or do you use a Dispenser?
I was thinking a dispenser might be the neatest to use for our maple syrup and honey. I just want to make sure there is no plastic and a bonus would be not made in China.
I love the old fashioned honey pots, but they still look messy.
Am I the only one who reads Winnie the Pooh and gets uncomfortable with all his sticky eating with the honey?
__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Betsy
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 02 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1962
|
| Posted: Feb 25 2013 at 9:26am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I have never used either....I left it in the very messy mason jar! 
One thing to consider is if the raw honey crystalizes, which at least half of my has in the past. If it does it won't pour and you are scooping it out to use.
I am not sure if I am any help....but I have just come to accept Honey is messy!
__________________
ImmaculataDesigns.com
When handcrafting my work, I always pray that it will raise your heart to all that is true, modest, just, holy, lovely and good fame!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SallyT
Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 08 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2489
|
| Posted: Feb 25 2013 at 9:26am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I've found that honey just is messy, no matter what. Or maybe it's just that *I'm* messy, I don't know. I have used those wooden wands, and found that they dribbled honey everywhere. But again, maybe that's just our household. We're not terribly fine-motor-skills gifted here.
I also buy local raw honey in Mason jars, and I just keep it in the jars and serve from them. I try to wash the outside of the jar in warm water before putting it back in the cupboard so that there's nothing sticky to drip down onto the shelf, though I notice that the shelf is still sticky and needs to be wiped again!
The glass dispenser does look neat -- reminds me of diners and pancakes houses of my childhood. You'd still have to wipe it down/rinse it with warm water after use, I think, because no matter what, the honey/syrup will drip down the front from the spout.
I've gone through long phases of not buying honey, because I get sick of how messy it is, but really it's a staple in our house, and I love the reusable Mason jars, which go on to become food storage and drinking glasses. I wish I knew of a good solution for the messiness of it . . . but again, I'm tempted to think that we just are congenitally messy people, and that other households do not have half the problems that we do!
Sally
__________________
Castle in the Sea
Abandon Hopefully
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
|
| Posted: Feb 25 2013 at 9:29am | IP Logged
|
|
|
No, honey is messy. It drips and it's sticky. I'm extremely careful and I still can't stop the spoon from dripping when I put it into the bowl.
Is Maple syrup is less messy because it's more liquified?
__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: Feb 25 2013 at 9:46am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Honey IS messy!
I love the honey pots because they're so charming...but they're not practical in our home.
I keep my honey in the glass pint jars they come in, and then I keep a sufficient supply of small silicone spatulas in the kitchen and readily available for honey administration. (I use small ones like this). We either dip the spatula in for drizzling, and/or I use the spatula to wipe the side of the jar and do my best to contain the honey IN the jar. It isn't perfect, but it works better than the little wooden dipper. We always wipe the side with a wet cloth after pouring...otherwise, the lid just gets sticky and gross.
Also, if you're measuring with honey...like if you're using honey as a sweetener in baked goods, I first measure my oil or butter in a small glass measuring cup like this, and then measure the honey out immediately after you measure and pour your oil. It makes NO MESS and comes right out with no effort on your part!
So...that's my morning commiseration on honey. 
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: Feb 25 2013 at 9:51am | IP Logged
|
|
|
By the way, I've tried the dispenser, too...it just drips down the front and side and gooeys-up the little retractable opener/closer thingy on the top of the dispenser. It was way more trouble than just keeping it in a jar!
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mimip
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 17 2009
Location: Florida
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1526
|
| Posted: Feb 25 2013 at 10:00am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Just a side note on those syrup dispensers: If you in any way have ants, those syrup dispensers will be the death of you with honey.
Don't ask how I know.
__________________
In Christ,
Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Betsy
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 02 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1962
|
| Posted: Feb 25 2013 at 10:02am | IP Logged
|
|
|
SallyT wrote:
I also buy local raw honey in Mason jars, and I just keep it in the jars and serve from them. I try to wash the outside of the jar in warm water before putting it back in the cupboard so that there's nothing sticky to drip down onto the shelf, though I notice that the shelf is still sticky and needs to be wiped again! Sally |
|
|
One thing that I have done for this is to always place a small little plate underneath the jar (I just a small saucer from our white Corelle dishes)
I am messy too and this keeps the drips on the plate, which will often just glue it's self to jar! But, it does keep the counter and the cabinet less sticky!
__________________
ImmaculataDesigns.com
When handcrafting my work, I always pray that it will raise your heart to all that is true, modest, just, holy, lovely and good fame!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Servant2theKing
Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 13 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1505
|
| Posted: Feb 25 2013 at 10:11am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Jenn, we use a dispenser, very similar to this one. The nice thing about this type of dispenser is that the flow of honey cuts off when you close the sliding lid. I have a feeling older ones are less likely to made in China. We usually give the lip of ours a quick wipe after use. It seems neater than a dripping wooden dipper, especially for dc.
We buy local honey in mason jars as often as possible and the jars are definitely unwieldy, they tend to collect honey all over the jar rim, making a dispenser quite desirable.
No matter how you store or serve your honey or maple syrup, try putting jar lids under the bottles in your cupboards ~ sure cuts down on sticky, gooey mess on shelves ~ lids are SO much easier to wash than an entire shelf!
__________________
All for Christ, our Saviour and King, servant
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SallyT
Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 08 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2489
|
| Posted: Feb 25 2013 at 11:06am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Betsy, I need to put a plate back under my jar! I had been doing that, and then somehow . . . you know how it goes . . .
Well, this was a timely reminder to wipe down my shelf today!
And re maple syrup -- we keep it, but don't use it nearly as much as we do honey, so it's fine in the glass bottles it comes in. The necks/mouths are narrower, so it pours more neatly. Again, though, I wipe them down before putting them back in the fridge.
Sally
__________________
Castle in the Sea
Abandon Hopefully
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MaryM
Board Moderator
Joined: Feb 11 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13104
|
| Posted: Feb 25 2013 at 11:13am | IP Logged
|
|
|
We have a honey pot and it is really cute so it is for decoration now -  . Like Jen, I didn't find it practical to use for reducing mess. Our problem was with sugaring, too. I know it's plastic but like the honey bear (with the longer tip - not just hole). That really has been the least messy for as far as drips for us.
What about this?
Some reviews.
__________________
Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
CrunchyMom
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 03 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6385
|
| Posted: Feb 25 2013 at 11:34am | IP Logged
|
|
|
SallyT wrote:
Betsy, I need to put a plate back under my jar! I had been doing that, and then somehow . . . you know how it goes . . .
Well, this was a timely reminder to wipe down my shelf today!
And re maple syrup -- we keep it, but don't use it nearly as much as we do honey, so it's fine in the glass bottles it comes in. The necks/mouths are narrower, so it pours more neatly. Again, though, I wipe them down before putting them back in the fridge.
Sally |
|
|
I haven't found a way to make honey not a mess.
I do find that the little quart jugs of maple syrup with the flip top and the lip for pouring are good for keeping maple syrup in check. Trader Joe's sells its syrup this way as does Costco and BJs, too, I think. Anyway, we buy our syrup either by the gallon or fill our own jar from the bulk section of the local food co-op, but however I buy it, I have one of these jugs I reuse.
It *is* plastic, but it works.
Also what we've done recently to reduce messes is just cut an X in the peel off seal instead of peeling it off. It pours much more slowly that way, so little ones are better able to do use it moderately. The funnel still goes in.
__________________
Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
lapazfarm
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 21 2005
Location: Alaska
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6082
|
| Posted: Feb 25 2013 at 1:01pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I keep honey in a mason jar and use a spoon to scoop it. Here is my trick for keeping it neat:before scooping I always run the spoon under hot water (or let it sit in my teacup for a bit). The honey usually comes out neatly without dripping. Works for me.
__________________
Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
|
| Posted: Feb 25 2013 at 1:04pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
lapazfarm wrote:
| I keep honey in a mason jar and use a spoon to scoop it. Here is my trick for keeping it neat:before scooping I always run the spoon under hot water (or let it sit in my teacup for a bit). The honey usually comes out neatly without dripping. Works for me. |
|
|
I like this idea! Thanks, Theresa!
Seems the majority here would recommending just not buying another container, which is really where I was leaning.
My problem is getting my husband on the same page -- wipe off the jar before closing, please!
He never used honey before, but since I've been getting it, he's been using and enjoying it, and find it's helping him. I'm happy, but I wasn't budgeting honey for two.
__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Angel
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 22 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2293
|
| Posted: Feb 25 2013 at 4:31pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
We don't use any refined sugar at all, so I buy my honey in 1/2 gallon pails.  (At least, I think it's half-gallon... 12 lbs of honey?) I attempt to then pour it into my own mason jars using a canning funnel.
I don't think there is a way to keep honey entirely mess free. You just have to wipe the jar a lot. And if your kids use it, it will always be a mess.
__________________
Angela
Mom to 9, 7 boys and 2 girls
Three Plus Two
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
|
| Posted: Feb 25 2013 at 4:58pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
if it sugars you can just warm it up in a pan of water so that it'll pour again.
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MaryM
Board Moderator
Joined: Feb 11 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13104
|
| Posted: Feb 25 2013 at 7:29pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
JodieLyn wrote:
if it sugars you can just warm it up in a pan of water so that it'll pour again.
|
|
|
Yes, that is what we do - it is easier to do that for me when they are in the honey bear jar than when they are in the cute honey pots like Jenn pictured above.
__________________
Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Becky Parker
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 23 2005
Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2582
|
| Posted: March 01 2013 at 1:16pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Okay, honey naivet`e showing ....
Angel, when you buy honey in bulk and transfer to your own mason jars, how long does it keep?
__________________
Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
Academy Of The Good Shepherd
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
|
| Posted: March 01 2013 at 1:20pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
honey pretty much keeps forever.. it might sugar but it's still "good".
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Angel
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 22 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2293
|
| Posted: March 01 2013 at 2:16pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
What Jodie said. Even if it crystallizes, it's still good. I wouldn't know, though, because we seem to use an embarrassing amount of honey -- one of the reasons I buy it in bulk. My dh and I put it in our coffee, our kids put it in their plain yogurt, we make cold remedies with it, we bake with it -- etc. So it never really has a chance to crystallize around here.
__________________
Angela
Mom to 9, 7 boys and 2 girls
Three Plus Two
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Forum Locked) 
4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: Honey Pots
