How to Store and Preserve Your Honey (2024)

FAQs

How to Store and Preserve Your Honey? ›

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

Yes, you can store honey in the freezer. But raw honey doesn't quite “freeze” like water because of its low water content. As honey gets colder, it gets thicker and more viscous, meaning it flows less easily. If you put it in your freezer, it will solidify and keep — but it won't become rock-solid like an ice cube.

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.

According to new research, honey – especially Robinia, clover and unprocessed raw honey – can improve blood sugar and cholesterol levels. “There may be benefits of adding honey and natural sweeteners to your already healthy diet,” says Taimur Habib, MD, a Fairfield internist.

How to tell if honey is bad? ›

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.

No, honey does not go bad. 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.

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.

The shelf life of honey can be nearly indefinite. But in order for it to remain good, honey must be kept in a sealed container. Honey normally has a moisture content of around 18% when properly stored. But due to its hygroscopic nature, honey can absorb moisture from the air.