Wondering if old or crystallized honey is still good?
Learn how to store, use and if honey spoilsor if it really helps with a cough!
Honey is a pantry staple that can be found in most people’s homes.
Getty Images / Lauren Burke / Ekaterina Goncharova / cgdeaw
It’s a versatile ingredient that you might use to make everything fromdrinksand baked goods tosavory dishes.
But a little goes a long way, and one jar can last months if not years.
Is that, well, OK?
Can honey go bad?
If so, when and how do you know if your honey is bad?
Here are all the details about the golden sweetener and whether it ever expires.
What Is Honey?
Honey is a thick, sweet liquid produced by bees from plant nectar.
The color and flavor of the honey depend on which plant the nectar comes from.
In general, the darker the honey the stronger the flavor.
The most common variety produced in the U.S. is clover honey.
Does Honey Go Bad?
Honey is made up of about 80% sugar and 18% water.
That small amount of water makes it inhospitable to bacteria and mold.
However, it can go bad if it’s contaminated or incorrectly stored.
What If Honey Is Crystallized?
It’s natural for honey to crystallize over time.
Then Why Does Honey Have an Expiration Date?
In general,expiration dates and sell-by datesare guidelines for inventory management.
The dates help stores keep the freshest products on their shelves.
With that said, the quality of the honey could change over time.
What Special Properties Does Honey Have?
Honey primarily consists of natural sugars and is not considered highly nutrient-dense.
Today, medical-grade honey is used by some physicians to treat certain drug-resistant infections.
This also prevents your honey from absorbing additional moisture.
More moisture means more water, which makes it easier for bacterial growth to happen.
Avoid Cross-Contamination and Water
Never use dirty or wet utensils to spoon honey out of the jar.
This can invite unwanted bacteria and mold to grow.
Crystallized honey is not an indicator of spoilage but rather a sign of aging.
Or try it in a variety of quick, easy and healthy dinners likeHoney Walnut Shrimpor deliciousHoney-Garlic Salmon.
Lindberg, T.et al.
Ji, P.et al.
Sartore, S.et al.
Nolan VC, Harrison J, Wright JEE, Cox JAG.
Clinical Significance of Manuka and Medical-Grade Honey for Antibiotic-Resistant Infections: A Systematic Review.Antibiotics (Basel).
2020;9(11):766.
Published 2020 Oct 31. doi:10.3390/antibiotics9110766
Abuelgasim, H., Albury, C. and Lee, J.
