Making herbal oils and honeys - safety question

[Stormy8]

In the past I've made wonderful herbal flavoured oils and honeys but I've since seen articles discouraging this because of the safety (botulism I'm guessing).

Now that I've started my larder I'd like to start this again but want to be safe. Any advice? Should I scrap my project in the name of safety? Thanks!!

[Thomzo]

Everything I've seen just says to make sure you are scrupulous on hygiene and to seal the bottles well. It doesn't keep for long either so don't overdo it. Better to fill small bottles so that you can keep them sealed until you need to use them.

Go for it.

Zoe

[Silver Ether]

yep as above ... I have been forageing and making for a while and so far I have only lost one jar of strawberry jam ... never any oils or ointments have gone awry ...

and the jam was not that bad ... just himself being to fussy I would have removed the mould

[Thomzo]

Oh I remove the mould as well. Never done me any harm (although some might think that my green skin and grey fur round the mouth are a bit um... unusual?).

[hedgewitch]

Whether you use the cold or the hot oil method I would suggest using them up within 3 weeks - and keep them in the fridge, refridgeration slows down the spore growth, which causes botulism.