One of the greatest facts about honey is that it doesn’t spoil! However, honey is susceptible to physical and chemical changes over time. It can lose its aroma and flavor and it also tends to darken. Because the preservation of honey is dependent upon temperature, the shelf life of honey is difficult to define. For practical – and commercial – purposes, a shelf life of two years is often stated. Properly stored honey, though, retains its quality for much longer than that, which is why it’s extremely important to store your honey following these guidelines:
Keep honey in sealed container.
Because honey contains little water, bacteria don’t grow easily, but improperly sealed containers could allow moisture in. Keeping your honey in the original container that you bought it in is recommended, and after use, make sure the lid is on tight so moisture and odors can’t sneak in. Glass jars with lids are also ideal for storing honey as long as the lids are on tight so the honey won’t be exposed to air, while not being used. It isn’t recommended to store your honey in non-food plastic containers or metal containers because they can cause honey to oxidize.
Keep container in an area that will stay at average room temperature.
Because honey is best stored at room temperature (somewhere between 64 to 75 F), keeping your container of honey on a shelf or in your pantry is recommended. Exposing your honey to warmer temperatures, from direct sunlight or other type of direct heat (like your stove or oven) can cause darkening and subtle flavor changes so try to avoid those areas of your kitchen.
Do not refrigerate honey.
Keeping your honey in the refrigerator preserves it but the cool temperatures will cause your honey to form a semi-solid mass, so this method of storage is not recommended.
Freeze honey only if necessary.
Storing your honey in the freezer also preserves your honey but it doesn’t promote granulation because the temperatures are too cold for any crystals to form. However, it does make dispensing very difficult. If you are buying large containers of honey that granulate before you are able to finish them, pour a manageable amount of honey into a smaller container that you can use in your kitchen or at your table. Keep the rest of the honey in the original larger container and store in the freezer. When necessary, warm the honey to easily refill the small container and place the larger container back in the freezer. Before refilling the small container, be sure to check that there are no crystals that could act as “seed” for the new honey to granulate around.
After following these steps, if granulation still occurs – a natural characteristic of pure honey, which does not harm it or indicate any deterioration of the honey – it can easily be reversed without harming the honey. Follow these three simple steps and your honey will be back to its original liquid form in no time!
FAQs
It will keep indefinitely if stored in a sealed container and is best stored at room temperature. Refrigeration preserves honey very well but also promotes granulation, yielding a semi-solid mass. Freezing, on the other hand, preserves honey well and does not promote granulation, but makes dispensing difficult.
What are the best practices for storing honey? ›
Storing Your Honey
Simply keep it in a cool location away from direct sunlight and in a tightly sealed container. It's recommended that you use the original container the honey came in, though any glass jar or food-safe plastic container will work. Avoid storing honey in metal because it can oxidize.
Does store bought honey need to be refrigerated after opening? ›
No, honey does not need to be refrigerated. After you've taken some from the jar, just keep the lid screwed on tight when you're not using it. You can keep it on a shelf at room temperature and it will be fine.
What is the Sioux bee honey lawsuit? ›
Plaintiff Soraya Ross ("Ross") has filed a class action lawsuit against Defendant Sioux Honey Association, Cooperative ("Sioux Honey"), alleging that it violated federal and state law by marketing its "Sue Bee Clover Honey" ("Sue Bee Honey") in California as "Honey," despite the fact that it did not contain pollen.
How do you properly store raw honey? ›
Raw honey is best stored in a dark area that ranges from 65 to 75 degrees, such as in a cupboard near a stove or oven. If you're trying to avoid crystallization of raw honey, try duplicating the hive environment—warm and dark—as much as possible.
What's the best way to store honey so it doesn't crystallize? ›
The pamphlet recommends keeping honey below 50° Fahrenheit for long-term storage, since this cooler temperature prevents crystallization. This will slow down how easily the honey flows, so they also recommend allowing it to warm back up to room temperature before using.
Does honey go bad at room temperature? ›
If bacteria cannot grow in honey, then it cannot spoil. This basically gives it an indefinite shelf life. Liquid honey however should be stored in your cupboard at room temperature as if it is kept in the refrigerator; the cooler temperature will promote and speed up the crystallization of liquid honey.
What is the best container to store honey in? ›
Keep honey in sealed container.
Glass jars with lids are also ideal for storing honey as long as the lids are on tight so the honey won't be exposed to air, while not being used. It isn't recommended to store your honey in non-food plastic containers or metal containers because they can cause honey to oxidize.
How long will honey last in a sealed jar? ›
Natural, properly preserved honey will not expire. In fact, archeologists found honey thousands of years old in ancient Egyptian tombs, and it was still good!
Where is the best place to store honey? ›
Ideally, honey should be stored at room temperature, so keep it away from stoves and other kitchen appliances that generate heat. You should also refrain from putting it in the fridge, as this can cause it to thicken and change its texture.
In 2012, the UMFHA was worried about fake “active” manuka honey being sold in large quantities around the world. And more recently, in 2019, an Auckland honey producer was prosecuted for “allegedly adding synthetic chemicals to its manuka products”.
Who owns Sioux Honey? ›
It is a producer-owned co-op, consisting of 197 members nationwide. “They are divided up into 11 geographical districts and amongst each 11 districts, they elect one of their own to be on the board of directors,” Mammen said. Mark Mammen, president emeritus of Sioux Honey.
What is the honey controversy? ›
From an ethical standpoint, some vegans argue that honey production exploits bees. Commercial beekeeping practices involve disturbing and manipulating bee colonies, including clipping the wings of queen bees and replacing their natural honey stores with artificial substitutes.
How to store a large amount of honey? ›
Avoid temperature fluctuations and store your honey as close to a consistent room temperature as possible. Never refrigerate your honey or store it next to the oven. The best temperature for honey is between 21 and 30 degrees Celsius.
What type of honey is best for long-term storage? ›
Powdered honey is especially great for long term storage. It provides the typical flavor characteristics of honey, but without the water and a shelf life of decades if stored properly.
Does honey go bad in plastic containers? ›
When it's stored properly, honey never goes bad, Grad said in an interview with Allrecipes. "Honey will darken and/or crystallize, but it is still safe to eat," she said. Metal or plastic containers can oxidize the honey, and heat can change its flavor.
What is the best container to store honey long term? ›
When choosing containers for raw honey storage, go for glass or plastic jars with strong-fitting lids; these provide an airtight seal, maintaining both the quality and the taste. Avoid preserving honey in metal utensils, as they can react with the honey and affect the taste and consistency.
How to stop honey from crystalizing? ›
Preventing Honey Crystallization
If you're someone who prefers liquid honey, you might want to know how to keep raw honey from crystallizing. Storing honey at room temperature usually leads to normal crystallization. To delay this process, consider refrigerating or even freezing your honey.
How long does honey last once opened? ›
No, even opened honey doesn't expire. Per U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines, honey will remain safe to eat even after the quality of the honey declines. So why can you eat years-old honey and be completely fine? The answer has to do with chemistry.
