How long is the shelf life of honey?
Does honey have an expiration date or spoil with time?
All these questions are important to know if you intend to keep honey for long periods.
So in this topic, I will tell you in detail about how long you can keep honey.
Plus a lot of other important information.
Let’s first start with…
Does honey spoil?
Pure natural honey does not spoil no matter how long it is stored and no matter what conditions it was left in. But since some types on the market have other ingredients added to them, they may spoil.
Therefore, it is very important to make sure that your honey is genuine and not adulterated.
Hence, making sure of the source of your honey is essential.
How long is the shelf life of honey (maximum leaving)?
Although it does not have an expiration date, it is best not to leave honey for too long.
Therefore, it is preferable to purchase appropriate quantities from the beginning, Or if you want to store for necessary reasons, it is important that you store moderate quantities.
From our point of view here in Assalun and from the point of view of many experts, it is always preferable not to exceed one year of storage, And in the following year, you can buy again from a new production.
Why does honey not expire?
There are many reasons why honey is one of the rare foods that does not spoil over time.
The most important of those reasons are:
1- Low water content
Water is always a suitable medium for the growth of bacteria, which causes spoilage in any food.
But since the bees draw water from the honey, leaving a weak moisture content that does not exceed 18% in the natural honey, It has blocked the way for these bacteria to grow and cause any damage to the honey.
2- acidic content
Honey is characterized by being a somewhat acidic medium. Acids kill harmful bacteria.
This is mainly due to the fact that most of the bacteria that cause food spoilage prefer neutral media.
Hence, honey is an absolutely unsuitable environment for it.
3- Rich in anti-bacterial and anti-microbial
Another reason not to spoil your honey is the enzyme Glucose Oxidase , which produces one of the most powerful antimicrobials.
Therefore, it contributes to the elimination of any components that may spoil the honey.
Now let’s tell you…
The best conditions to keep honey for a long time
We talked in detail about how to preserve bee honey in a previous topic…
But let us tell you quickly about the appropriate conditions.
- Use glass utensils and stay away from containers made of metal materials.
- Completely stay away from high heat or fire.
- Store the amount you wish to store in a cool place.
Note: The color of honey may change with the length of time left in it, But this does not mean that it has spoiled, and the crystallization of honey does not mean that it is spoiled.
Mistakes may lead to spoilage of honey
Certainly, impure honey may spoil when kept for a long time.
But even pure honey may also spoil if you do
- Exposing it to high heat or heating it.
- Store in metal containers (may oxidize).
That was all the information you wanted to know about the validity of honey.
Now if you have any other questions you want to know, feel free to contact us or leave your comment for us.