Hummingbirds are delightful little birds that bring joy to backyard bird watchers. Their fast, darting movements and ability to hover as they sip nectar from flowers are a wonder to behold. Attracting hummingbirds to your yard with feeders allows you to get up close and personal with these tiny creatures.
Once hummingbirds find a food source, they will return to it often. So it’s important to keep your hummingbird feeders clean and filled with fresh nectar. But what do you do when you’ve mixed up more nectar than your feeders can hold at one time? How should you store leftover hummingbird food so it stays fresh and appealing to hummers?
Can you refrigerate extra hummingbird nectar?
The short answer is yes, you can refrigerate extra homemade nectar. Hummingbirds sip nectar from flowers in the wild that does not contain preservatives. So homemade nectar made from just sugar and water should be kept as fresh as possible.
Refrigeration is the best way to achieve this when you have mixed up more nectar than you need right away. The cold environment of the refrigerator slows down microbial growth in the sugar-water mixture, keeping it fresher longer.
Tips for refrigerating hummingbird nectar
Follow these tips to properly store hummingbird food in the refrigerator:
- Allow freshly made nectar to cool to room temperature before refrigerating.
- Use a clean container made of glass, plastic, or ceramic. Avoid metal.
- Make sure the container has a tight-fitting lid.
- Fill the container as full as possible to limit oxygen exposure.
- Store for no longer than 1-2 weeks.
- Keep refrigerated nectar toward the back of the fridge where temperature is most consistent.
Can you freeze extra hummingbird nectar?
Freezing is another option for preserving extra homemade hummingbird food. Simply fill clean plastic containers or ice cube trays with nectar and freeze.
Then, thaw in the refrigerator as needed. Thawing overnight in the refrigerator allows the nectar to turn liquid again while retaining its cool temperature.
Tips for freezing hummingbird nectar
Follow these guidelines when freezing extra nectar for hummingbirds:
- Only freeze fresh homemade nectar that has been cooled to room temperature.
- Use plastic containers, cups, or ice cube trays. Avoid glass.
- Fill containers all the way to the top to minimize oxygen exposure.
- Use shallow containers for quick thawing.
- Thaw frozen nectar in the refrigerator overnight before using.
- Once thawed, use within 1-2 days.
- Do not refreeze nectar after it has thawed.
Things to avoid when storing hummingbird nectar
When refrigerating or freezing homemade hummingbird nectar, there are some key things you should avoid:
- Avoid storing in warm environments – Room temperature and warm areas can cause rapid microbial growth.
- Avoid clear glass containers – Clear glass allows light exposure which degrades nutrients.
- Avoid containers with little headspace – Always leave a bit of room at the top of the container to allow for expansion as the nectar freezes.
- Avoid storing too long – For peak freshness and nutritional value, store nectar no longer than 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator or freezer.
How long does hummingbird nectar last?
The expected shelf life depends on whether nectar is refrigerated, frozen, or left at room temperature:
| Storage Method | Shelf Life |
|---|---|
| Room temperature | 2-3 days |
| Refrigerated | 1-2 weeks |
| Frozen | 2-3 months |
For best results, only mix up as much food as your feeders will empty in a couple days during peak hummingbird season. Make fresh batches often to ensure the highest quality nectar.
Signs that stored hummingbird nectar has gone bad
Over time, even refrigerated or frozen nectar will start to degrade. Watch for these signs that indicate stored hummingbird food has spoiled and should be discarded:
- Cloudy appearance
- Moldy residue
- Fermented smell like wine
- Discolored nectar
When in doubt, remember the old adage, “Better safe than sorry.” Toss it and make a fresh batch!
Conclusion
With proper refrigeration or freezing, you can safely store extra homemade hummingbird nectar for up to 2 weeks. This allows you to conveniently mix larger batches less often.
Always make sure to fill containers as full as possible, use airtight lids, and minimize exposure to light, heat, and oxygen. Thaw frozen nectar overnight in the refrigerator before filling feeders.
Discard any nectar that shows signs of spoilage like cloudiness, discoloration, or fermented smell. And remember to clean your feeders thoroughly before refilling them with fresh nectar.
With these simple tips, you can keep leftover homemade hummingbird food nutritious and appealing to these little flying jewels!
