Author Topic: POLLEN, nutritional shelf life when frozen?  (Read 2375 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Knucs

  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 126
  • Thanked: 12 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Wausau, WI
POLLEN, nutritional shelf life when frozen?
« on: September 21, 2016, 12:25:22 am »
I've been collecting pollen from 1 hive, freezing it, and now feeding it back to some late splits. Any idea hope long it can be frozen till it loses too much of its nutritional value for the bee, & for that matter, humans❓
Nucs & queens, for 2017.

Offline Lburou

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 2284
  • Thanked: 315 times
  • Location: DFW area, Texas, USA, growing zone 7a
Re: POLLEN, nutritional shelf life when frozen?
« Reply #1 on: September 21, 2016, 10:41:07 am »
I've read conflicting information about how long pollen keeps.  I think the moisture content plays heavily into the outcome.  You are probably on the right track freezing it.  The faster you can freeze it the better.  HERE is an informative article one the subject with some interesting links for further reading.  HTH   :)
Lee_Burough
The following users thanked this post: Knucs

Offline riverbee

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 8924
  • Thanked: 410 times
  • Gender: Female
  • ***Forum Sponsor***
  • Location: El Paso Twp, Wisconsin
Re: POLLEN, nutritional shelf life when frozen?
« Reply #2 on: September 27, 2016, 07:26:09 pm »
1 year i think, or a year and a half, and i would freeze using a foodsaver if you can, probably a little longer shelf life with these; no air, no moisture
 using zippies........less time i would guess. no matter how hard one try's to compress and get air out you will still acquire moisture in these. you will get the moisture and freezer burnt factor going.........

great article lee, thank you!
i keep wild things in a box..........™
if you obey the rules, you miss all the fun.....katherine hepburn
Forum Sponsor
The following users thanked this post: Knucs

Offline Bakersdozen

  • Global Moderator
  • Gold Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 4520
  • Thanked: 483 times
  • Gender: Female
  • Location: Olathe, Kansas
Re: POLLEN, nutritional shelf life when frozen?
« Reply #3 on: September 28, 2016, 07:45:33 am »
I don't have much experience with pollen.  I do know some locals that dry their pollen in a dryer contraption, bottle it and freeze it. 
I have also heard another local say that his wife lays the pollen in the sun to dry it.  She picks through it by hand and then they bottle it and freeze it. 
The following users thanked this post: Knucs