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A Beginner's Guide To
Safely Storing Leftover Hummingbird Nectar
By KATE NICHOLSON
To keep your birds safe, homemade hummingbird nectar should be stored in the fridge to stay fresh for up to a week, while storage times for purchased
nectar vary.
Keeping nectar fresh is important, as it can ferment and get hummingbirds drunk, and bacteria and fungus may start to grow on improperly stored or room-temperature nectar.
Homemade hummingbird nectar has the shortest shelf life since its only preserving agent is sugar. Store it in a bottle with an airtight seal on the lowest shelf in the fridge.
For store-bought nectar, consult the manufacturer's directions and best-by dates to determine how to store them. As a general rule, treat them as you would fresh, homemade nectar.
Other best practices for keeping your nectar safe include avoiding products with preservatives, sticking to a sufficient water-to-sugar ratio, and boiling the water beforehand.
Usable nectar looks like clean water. If you notice your fridge or pantry-stored nectar is cloudy, smells off, or has mold growing on the surface, discard it.