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By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern

A few years ago, my youngest brother got incredibly interested in raising bees and harvesting honey. He started with only one hive just for the fun of it, but fast-forward two years, and it’s now his own business! Thanks to his beehives, my mom and I have access to fresh local honey whenever we want! This has let us do so much experimenting in the kitchen, both with baking and cooking. Here are a few tips when it comes to cooking and baking with honey!

According to celebrity chef Carla Hall, there are different things to keep in mind when using honey in the kitchen, and they vary whether you are cooking with honey or baking with it.

Using honey in cooking is easy, just add it to foods however you like. A few things to think about however include:

• The source of the honey. This influences the flavor and sweetness of the honey. Buckwheat honey is a good example of a not-so-sweet honey perfect for pairing with spicy or savory foods.
• Use it to taste. If you’re using it in a marinade or dressing, use it to achieve your desired flavor!

When it comes to baking with honey, there are a few extra rules you need to follow to ensure the best possible outcome.

• Sugar can’t be swapped for honey on a one-to-one ratio. Reduce the amount of honey by half a cup.
• Increase the amount of baking soda in the recipe to help balance the pH of the honey.
• Lower the oven temperature by 25 degrees to avoid burning the sugar in the honey.

Honey is an amazing ingredient to keep in your kitchen! It has such a unique flavor and sweetness that tastes amazing in so many different recipes!

We have lots of local beekeepers here in Arizona, so getting some raw, local honey is super easy! I’m a little biased, but Grande Honey Co. in Casa Grande produces some pretty awesome honey! For more honey producers around the state, check out the Fill Your Plate website!