honey jar

[harperra]

Have seen lots of postings, projects, books, etc. about turning honey dippers, but can't find any references about turning a honey pot.

My idea is to turn a small lidded box (with a notch for the dipper) for storing honey on the table.

Any issues (e.g., safety, particular woods) with storing honey in a wooden container?

Thanks.

 

[Ken Grunke]

I don't have the specific info at my fingertips, but the USFPL (US Forest Products Laboratory) in Madison, WI did a study on the bacterial retention of wood vs. plastic cutting boards quite a few years ago, and wood won the test due to it's natural antibiotic properties which plastic lacks (imagine that, PLASTIC lacking natural antibiotic properties?).
[Correction: it was not the USFPL, but the U of Cal Davis Food Safety Laboratory that did that study. Thanks to John in his post below)]

There was a thread here in the AAW forums on this subject sometime last year, if you want to do a search I think it would be worthwhile.

I would choose a relatively inert wood such as Hard Maple (unspalted) or Ash, as opposed to Walnut or Cherry. A beeswax finish would seem appropriate, no? If there are any doubts about the safety of a particular wood, turn a wooden lid to fit a glass jar.

 

[John Nicholas]

I don't have the specific info at my fingertips, but the USFPL (US Forest Products Laboratory) in Madison, WI did a study on the bacterial retention of wood vs. plastic cutting boards quite a few years ago, and wood won the test due to it's natural antibiotic properties which plastic lacks (imagine that, PLASTIC lacking natural antibiotic properties?).

I have used this citation, with an insert in my cutting boards for many years.

http://faculty.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/faculty/docliver/Research/cuttingboard.htm

John