Many of us discard certain items when we see the passed expiration date mentioned on the package. All the time, wasting is unfavourable because, maybe, many of the expired products are expensive, one of them could be honey.
Honey is one of the sweeteners consumed by humans from ancient times. It has unique and long-lasting properties. It is made up of about 80% of sugar and only 18% of water. It also contains potassium and minerals in small quantities.
Honey is versatile and delicious that is used in all types of meals and drinks. Many people also enjoy them with a spoonful.
What if you find a bottle of pure honey sitting around in your pantry that has been there for years. Maybe it has changed its colour or crystallized. But if you are thinking of throwing it away, you should stop and read this article to know about honey that has passed its expiration date.
Does honey expire? No, honey never expires; it can stay edible for years, even for decades. It is a natural resource with long-lasting properties. If it is sealed properly, it is entirely safe to use them even after thousands of years. However, it is a natural product that changes over time. The most common changes of honey include thicker consistency, darkening colour, and different taste.
So you don’t need to toss the bottle of honey, even if you have found it after 2,000 years. Honey is an antibacterial, which means you no need to worry about any funky growing in your honey.
As a general rule, the preferred date for consumption written on honey jars when we buy them, which is nearly between two years from the time of manufacturer. After this date, honey can be still consumed as long as it has been kept in good condition.
National honey board exclaimed that over time honey may darken and lose its aroma and flavour or crystallize. Some people may not find it appealing, while the change in honey is actually a good sign that proves that your honey is high quality and not pasteurized.
Crystallization occurs more often in real honey because it contains sugars and pollen; both are essential things that you need for your honey.
How long does honey stay good?
Natural, real honey, if appropriately preserved, can last for decades, sometimes even longer. Keep honey in an airtight, glass container to prevent it from fermentation. Be careful while using it and use fry utensils while spooning from the jar because moisture contamination can ruin honey.
To use it for longer without being spoiled, it is best to keep it in an airtight container and not expose it to very high or very low temperatures. Keeping the honey jar in the refrigerator is not necessary, and it will be okay to save it in a cupboard, away from heat sources.
The ideal room temperature for storing honey is between 18 and 27 degrees Celsius.
Why honey has no expiration date?
Real honey can last for a very, very long time and the reason for this longevity lies in its biological make.
Honey don’t expire because of the following factors;
- Honey hygroscopic: This simply means that honey has lower to no water content. The bees dehydrated the collected liquid nectar with 80 to 90 % initial humidity to turn it into thick honey. Without water, bacteria cannot appear.
- High sugar concentration: Honey is mainly made up of sugar which is helpful in preventing the growth of microorganisms.
- Honey enzymes: During the process of honey-making, bees provide different enzymes of their own, including hydrogen peroxide. This enzyme is a powerful antimicrobial that hinders the growth of microorganisms.
- The pH of honey: Honey has an acidic pH level and ranges between 2 and 4.5. As most organisms grow only in a neutral or basic environment, that’s why they cannot live and grow in the acidic environment of honey.
- Antimicrobial compounds: Organic acids, phenolic compounds, and specific peptides are present in honey that contributes to the antimicrobial action of honey. This action prevents honey from growing and spoiling.
- Because of all the above reasons, we can say that honey doesn’t expire only if it is appropriately preserved in a good environment.
Is it safe to eat expired honey?
Honey is naturally antimicrobial and has been used throughout history for a number of illnesses of mind and body. And properly preserved honey is completely safe to consume even after years.
The only way that can make your honey bad and expire is when your honey has been contaminated with moisture. So be careful while using honey and make sure never to get water into your honey pot.
Crystallization can lead to increase moisture. Therefore honey become more susceptible to spoilage by fermentation. But keeping it at room temperature is a more preferred atmosphere that can avoid fermentation. Neither raw nor pasteurized honey can go bad and remain safe to use after years if stored properly.
CAN expired honey make you sick?
You do not necessarily get sick ill from eating expired honey as long as it is provided with a good environment. The only thing to be careful about while using honey is that it must be sealed and packed in a jar where no moisture can be added.
It is very unlikely that spoiled or expired honey can make you sick. If you feel upset after eating expired honey, remember that even unspoiled honey can make you sick if it has to.
Many people are allergic or sensitive to specific components present in honey, especially bee pollen. The most common side effects of consuming honey (not only expired but also fresh) include;
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Vomiting
- Excessive perspiration
- Nausea
- Fainting
- Irregular heart rhythms
- Change in sugar level
Does honey go bad in the fridge?
As we have come to know that honey doesn’t expire, but it is better to store it at room temperature. Storing honey in the refrigerator will rapidly turn it into crystallized form; however, it is not necessary to avoid keeping it in refrigerators since it doesn’t go bad.
Moreover, if you prefer crystalized honey that will become a chewable sweet snack, then it’s best to place your honey into refrigerators.
Just one thing is recommended, if honey is packed in a bear-shaped bottle, it will be difficult to remove crystallized honey. So it’s best to spread it out on a plate or any other flat surface, then it will be convenient for you to have a long strip of crystallized honey that you can cut into bite-sized cubes.
If you love honey you cannot miss our page : Honey
How long can you use honey after the expiration date?
Generally, when you buy the honey package from the market, it usually has an expiration date on it that is usually two years. But this expiration date is not a full stop, and you don’t need to be a worry. You can use expired honey for years, even decades, without having any problem. While using an expired honey just be careful that the honey jar must be sealed properly.
Honey contains numerous vitamins and enzymes, making it a naturally occurring sugar replacement. To ensure that honey is a real deal, it must be raw and unfiltered.
Raw honey means that honey is not overheated, and the heating process can kill the vitamins and enzymes. Unfiltered honey implies that all its goodies are not filtered out, and they are present in it, including pollen.
See also: Does Honey Make You Fat?
What does expired honey look like?
Honey is one of the products that never spoils; however, its look may change somewhat over time. Any change in appearance is really not a matter of concern. Honey’s yellow colour will become golden and will become thicker and grainy over time.
It may also change its appearance into crystalized. Even you can easily convert crystallized honey into normal honey by just giving it a little bit of heat. If you have your honey in a jar, then place it in a pot of water and let it warm over low heat.
You can also heat the jar in the microwave for 30 seconds, then stir. All the crystals will dissolve and become in their real, previous shape, though you may need to repeat this process every time before use to return it into liquid form.
What are the benefits of eating honey?
- Honey is a good source of antibiotics that help to protect your body from cell damage due to free radicles.
- Phytonutrients of honey make it able to boost the immune system and provide anti-cancer benefits.
- Honey is also used to treat many digestive issues, including diarrhoea. It nourishes good bacteria that live in the intestine, which is essential for digestion and good for overall health.
- Eating a spoon of honey is an old sore throat remedy.
- Honey can also boost healing time and reduce infection.
