Let’s talk honey, honey. Whether you call it liquid gold, bee juice, or just “honey,” there’s a 30% chance you’ve got some in your cabinet right now if you live in the U.S. And if you’ve found your way here, you’re probably wondering, “Is my honey still good?”

No matter when you bought it, the answer is yes — because honey never expires. Want proof? Archeologists have even found unspoiled 3000-year-old honey in Egyptian tombs. 

What’s the key to long lasting — or even immortal — honey? Read on to find out.

Does honey expire?

Pure, raw honey does not expire, thanks to several qualities that make it nearly impervious to bacteria. It’s acidic, low in moisture, high in sugar and gluconic acid, and complete with naturally occurring hydrogen peroxide. 

Even though most commercially available honey comes with a use-by date on its packaging, this — like almost all printed expirations dates — is a recommendation for quality, not a hard cut off for food safety. 

That said, honey must be pure to ensure an infinite lifespan. Some supermarket honeys may contain added sweeteners like corn syrup, which makes the honey less shelf stable. It is still safe to eat, but it just won’t last forever like pure honey will. 

Improper storage can affect its color, texture, and taste — or, at worst — cause spoilage. Of course, even changes in texture like crystallization don’t mean honey is unsafe to eat.  

How to store honey

Oxygen, water, heat: These are the enemies of long-lasting, delicious honey. Honey should be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight  — and out of direct sunlight —to remain pristine, amber, and tasty. This means a cabinet by the stove probably isn’t the best place, but a pantry a little further away should work. 

Given the need for a cool, dark environment, it may be tempting to toss your honey into the refrigerator — but don’t do that either. The fridge is too cold for honey, and it will cause it to seize up and crystallize, making it harder to get out of the container and enjoy. 

Speaking of which, when you finally do dive in for some sweet, golden goodness, make sure you’re using a clean spoon or honey dipper every time. Utensils with food or water residue on them can introduce particles that might lead to mold growth on top of your honey, and nobody wants that. Stored properly, honey will remain good for thousands of years.

What does it mean when honey crystallizes?

While it might not present as the most beautiful honey, crystalized honey is still perfectly safe to eat. Honey crystallizes when the sugar separates from the water content and forms sugary little lumps. This will definitely happen at temperatures below 60°F, and it can also start happening in temperatures below 75°F.

Some people prefer crystallized honey; its thicker texture makes it easier to scoop and spread on things like toast and can make it less messy to dollop into warm tea, where it will liquefy again. If you aren't into crystalized honey, however, here’s a quick fix: Place your honey jar or bottle in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes to get it back to its natural state. Just make sure the water isn’t too hot (above 104° F), as that can destroy some of the honey’s natural enzymes and impact flavor. 

Five unexpected uses for honey

If you’ve found yourself with more honey than you know what to do with, or you’re looking for new ways to incorporate honey into your life, here are five new tips to try. 

1. Try it in your coffee. Honey is a natural sweetener that can add subtle sweetness and a new flavor to your morning java.

2. Use it as a face mask. Honey’s antimicrobial and moisturizing properties make it a great addition to DIY skincare. Apply a thin layer, let it sit for 10 minutes, then wash your face as you normally would.

3. Use it as a hair conditioner. Sticking with the cosmetic approach, you can mix honey and olive oil together for a moisturizing hair treatment. Keep it on for 30 minutes, then rinse. That’s it!

4. Glaze your veggies. We’re all fond of honey for its sweet applications, but don’t be afraid to get savory with it, too. Drizzle honey over potatoes, carrots, and even Brussels sprouts for an added layer of flavor. 

5. Get your fermentation on. From kombucha to mead and even honey-fermented garlic, the sugar in honey is great for fermentation and can help produce the necessary alcohol or other beneficial acids for the process to work. 

Reduce food waste with Mill

Even with its infinite shelf life, things happen, and you may one day find yourself with an unsealed jar of honey growing mold on it. Or, you might have honey you just don’t want anymore. If you do, don’t toss it in the garbage. Recycle it with Mill. The Mill food recycler turns uneaten food into food grounds that can be used as chicken feed, a soil amendment in your lawn or garden, or an addition to your home compost. That way, your honey will still live on in the plants or chickens it feeds. 

Sources:

1. National Honey Board: “Shopper Data.” https://honey.com/retail/information/shopper-data

2. Bantam Books: “Letters from the Hive: An Intimate History of Bees, Honey, and Humankind.” 2005. https://books.google.com/books?id=vCqoog8WH3gC&pg

3. National Library of Medicine: “Honey: its medicinal property and antibacterial activity.” April, 2011. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3609166

4. Vice: “Your Fancy Honey Might Not Actually Be Honey.” March 6, 2020. https://www.vice.com/en/article/your-fancy-honey-might-not-actually-be-honey/

5. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach: “If my honey has darkened, is it still safe to eat?” July 30, 2015. https://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/answerline/2015/07/30/if-my-honey-has-darkened-is-it-still-safe-to-eat/comment-page-2/

6. Bee World: “Crystallization of Honey.” April 1, 2015. https://bvbeeks.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Honey_Crystallization.pdf

7. Bee Health, Cooperative Extension, National Institute of Food and Agriculture: “To what temperature does honey have to be heated to destroy the health benefits for humans?” August 20, 2019. https://bee-health.extension.org/at-what-temperature-does-honey-have-to-be-heated-too-too-destroy-the-health-benefits-for-humans