Pollen Storage Containers

Pollen storage containers are food-grade, airtight containers that protect dried or frozen bee pollen from moisture, air, light, heat, odours and pests. Dried pollen is kept in lidded glass jars, food-grade plastic containers and light-proof multi-layer bags; fresh pollen goes into small, freezer-safe portion containers. A good container can only preserve the quality the pollen already has; poorly dried pollen will spoil even in the best container.

Why should pollen be stored in a special container?

Bee pollen is a delicate food and can deteriorate in several ways during storage:

• Moisture uptake: Dry pollen quickly absorbs moisture from the air; damp pollen clumps and goes mouldy.
• Air and oxidation: The fats and some vitamins in pollen break down with exposure to air; the flavour turns stale.
• Light: Sunlight and strong light fade the colour and reduce light-sensitive compounds.
• Odour absorption: Pollen picks up surrounding smells; it should not be stored next to detergents, fuel or spices.
• Pests: Wax moths, small insects and mites settle in open or poorly sealed containers.

What types of pollen storage containers are there?

Choosing containers for dried and fresh pollen

Dried pollen

Dried pollen is stored in a cool, dry, dark place in an airtight container. A glass jar or a light-proof multi-layer bag is the best option. The fuller the container, the less air remains inside, so choose small sizes to suit your needs.

Fresh (frozen) pollen

Fresh pollen is very moist and spoils quickly at room temperature. In Türkiye, the Turkish Food Codex Communiqué on Bee Products requires fresh bee pollen to be kept at +8 °C or below from production until it reaches the consumer; dried pollen is exempt from this rule. For long-term storage, fresh pollen is kept in the freezer. Choose freezer containers for small portions; thawed pollen is not refrozen.

What should you look for when choosing a pollen storage container?

• Food safety: The container should carry the mark or documentation showing it is suitable for food contact. Containers that have held chemicals, fuel or detergent are not used.
• Tight lid: A gasketed or screw lid keeps out air and moisture. Once closed, the lid should not turn or loosen easily.
• Light-proofing: Dark glass, opaque plastic or a foil-lined bag blocks light. If a clear container is used, keep it in a dark cupboard.
• Size: A large container that is opened and closed often takes in moisture and air every time. Small containers suit sale and consumption; large ones suit storage if they are opened rarely.
• Label space: There should be room for batch number, collection date, apiary and, if possible, the dominant plant source.
• Tamper evidence: For products sold to the public, a tamper-evident lid or seal increases consumer confidence.

How do you fill a pollen container?

1. Make sure the pollen is completely dry and has cooled to room temperature; warm pollen "sweats" in the container.
2. Wash the containers and dry them thoroughly; a wet container passes moisture to dry pollen.
3. Make sure the cleaned pollen has spent some time in the freezer to kill insect eggs.
4. Fill the container to the brim, leaving little headspace, and close the lid tightly.
5. Label it: product name, batch number, collection or packing date.
6. Store the containers in a cool, dry, dark place away from strong-smelling substances.

How do you check stored pollen?

Containers in storage are inspected at regular intervals. If any of the following signs appear, that batch is not sold or eaten:

• a mouldy or sour smell, or a whitish or greenish layer on the pellets,
• damp pellets stuck together,
• webbing, larvae, insects or a build-up of fine, flour-like dust (signs of moths and insects),
• marked fading of colour and a stale, bitter taste.

Mouldy or insect-infested pollen cannot be rescued by sieving; the whole batch is set aside. The store is cleaned so that other containers are not contaminated.

Common mistakes

• Filling containers with pollen that has not cooled: condensation forms inside.
• Opening and closing one large container every day: the pollen takes up moisture each time.
• Keeping a clear jar on a sunny shelf: colour and quality are lost.
• Combining different batches in one container: a problem batch spoils the other one too.
• Storing without labels: pollen of unknown age and origin cannot be sold.