Does Honey Spoil ? Everything You Need To Know About Honey Explained
Does Honey Spoil ?
Everybody loves honey, don’t we? The beautiful golden sweetener is often regarded as the miracle liquid. It is full of nutrients, active enzymes and vital natural compounds.
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Honey Health Benefits
Honey is used in majority of home remedies to treat various diseases like cold, cough or sore throat. Consuming honey regularly makes you stronger by improving the immune system, also protects you from infections and diseases. Start your day with a tablespoon of honey and warm water. This combination is known to improve digestive health, boost your energy levels and remove toxins.
Usually a pot of honey can last you long. But, the question is; How long? Does honey ever spoil or does it last forever? Read more to find out.
How Long Does Honey Last ?
Various modern archaeologists have discovered pots of honey, which were thousand years old but still preserved. So, yes, honey doesn’t really spoil but it may harbor bacteria (botulism) if it is stored in a tin can. That is the main reason why you will find honey sold in glass jars.
Honey is one of the few foods that can last you for many years and still be edible. Over time, your honey may crystallize (turn cloudy, solidify and become granular resembling white crystals), but crystallization of honey simply does not mean that it has gone bad. Crystallization is a sign of pure honey. It is a natural process that may occur, since honey is highly saturated sugar solution. If this happens, just place the jar in warm water for few minutes and the honey will get back to its liquid form.
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Why Does Honey Never Spoil ?
So, now you know that honey never spoils, but what magic does it make to last forever unlike other foods? It is believed that processed honey (the ones that are available in supermarkets and have been industrially filtered) have an indefinite shelf life but raw honey which is procured directly from the beehive, is unfiltered and is consumed in its pure state, stays good for about one year. Since it hasn’t been subjected to industrial processing and may still contain some impurities, raw higher has a higher chance of contracting bacteria.
Hygroscopic In Nature
Honey has many incredible properties and the very composition of honey gives it a long shelf life. Honey is a highly concentrated solution of two types of sugars – glucose and fructose. Since it only contains simple sugars and minerals, it is hygroscopic (tending to absorb moisture from the air) in nature. This means it does not contain much water and has a very low concentration of moisture. The dry or moisture-less environment makes it difficult for bacteria to thrive and even if they do attack honey, these organisms won’t be able to survive for long and therefore, they can’t spoil the honey.
Acidity Level (pH level between 3 & 4.5)
Another reason why honey may last a lifetime is its level of acidity. Honey has a PH level between 3 and 4.5 which will kill any foreign bacteria or micro-organisms that invade honey. This is why honey is known to be an excellent anti-bacterial agent.
Presence Of Hydrogen Peroxide
There’s a bit of science involved too. The third reason that makes this sticky delight last forever is the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Honey is thick and contains hydrogen peroxide that prohibits bacterial growth and creates perfect barrier against bacteria that can cause spoilage. This is probably why honey has been used for medicinal purposes since ancient times.
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How to Store Honey
Honey can easily suck in moisture if it is left unsealed and therefore, it is important to close the lid tightly after every use. If you leave it out in a humid environment it will naturally spoil. Keep it away from sunlight and heat and store it at a cool room temperature.
- Keep it tightly closed after each use.
- Store it in dry area.
- Keep it away from sunlight & heat.
- Store it in cool room temperature
