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? ›
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.
What is the best storage for 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.
How is honey supposed to be stored? ›
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.
How do you store honey so it never goes bad? ›
The best way to preserve honey is to store it in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight. Heat and moisture can cause honey to ferment or spoil, so it's important to avoid exposing it to these conditions. It's also important to keep your honey in an airtight container.
How to store honey to avoid ants? ›
Keep your honey jar lid closed tightly.
This is the easiest way to prevent hordes of ants from going for a swim in your precious condiments.
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.
How do you store honey forever? ›
Controlling Temperature & Light Exposure
Keeping a constant temperature is paramount for storing honey. UV light can impact it while speeding up the crystallization process. Keep your honey away from extreme temperatures - store it at a moderate room temperature. Plus, more exposure to light can impair honey quality.
How do you store fresh honey long term? ›
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.
How to stop honey from crystallizing? ›
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.
Finally, the presence of gluconic acid gives honey a slightly acidic pH level—another barrier to microbial growth. In general, honey doesn't spoil. However, it can go bad if it's contaminated or incorrectly stored. If your honey has visible mold, or if it smells fermented or "off," then it's time to toss it.
How to permanently decrystallize honey? ›
Choose a pot that is deep enough to cover the honey and wide enough to fit the honey jar. Boil some water in the pot directly, or heat it up in a tea kettle first and then pour it into the pot. Place the honey jar in the hot water and keep it submerged until the honey decrystallizes.
What keeps honey from spoiling? ›
Because honey has a low water content and high acidity, it's an unfriendly place for bacteria to thrive. As long as the lid stays on and the honey stays free of added moisture, honey can be stored in the cupboard indefinitely.
Does honey go bad at room temperature? ›
Honey can be stored pretty much anywhere, at any temperature. It's one of the few products in the world that never goes bad, due to its unique chemical composition.
