On toast, in a marinade or dipped in a hot herbal tea to heal the throat… Honey, we never get tired of it. The proof is that everyone has a pot of it at home. You know, that pot that has been lying in the back of the cupboard for ages, that we rediscover from time to time before it falls back into oblivion in the pantry. Yes, that’s the pot we’re talking about.
Problem is, when we reopen it after years, a question immediately arises: is this poor, shriveled honey still edible? You will have understood, mine stayed for quite a while in a corner of the fridge, to the point of looking strange. As if he worked day and night, seven days a week.
For all those forgotten about the jar, this article is for you, to finally answer this existential question: does honey eventually expire? Just to finish your dusty pot in complete peace of mind.
“You don’t talk to me about age” (aka Mielbappé)
We already know that honey is almost a superhero among edible foods. Rich in antioxidants, minerals and vitamins, it strengthens natural defenses, with antiseptic and antibacterial properties.
And, hold on tight, because he might still surprise you. Let’s not drag out the suspense any longer. Honey lovers, get out the champagne: honey never expires… ever! You read correctly: never.
Everything is in fact linked to its composition, unique to say the least. When bees bring their pollen harvest back to the hive, they deposit the nectar in the cells and patiently dry it by flapping their wings, reducing its water content from around 70% to only 17 to 20%. A process that creates an environment in which no bacteria can survive. Oust! none of that here.
And that’s not all. In addition to being very low in water, honey is also very high in sugars, which draws water from the cells of microorganisms, preventing them from growing. Add to that an acidic pH and the fact that honey is a natural antiseptic (with its own antimicrobial defense system!), and you have the perfect combo for destroying bacteria and fungi.
Properly stored, your jar of honey will therefore remain edible indefinitely. Nonsense? Bullshit? Well, tell yourself that when Tutankhamun’s tomb was opened, archaeologists found mummies, of course, but also… pots of honey more than 3,000 years old! And, believe it or not, they were still edible. The anecdote is far from being an isolated case. In Georgia, pots of honey dating back more than 5,000 years were found… still intact too. Time passes, honey basks.
Solid honey, edible honey
This is all very well and good and even if my old, shriveled honeypot has gained ground with these pharaonic arguments, the fact remains that he has a funny face. He is harsh and grimaces. The kind that is not convenient and even less edible. At your place too?
This is, in fact, completely normal. Certain varieties of honey, richer in glucose, have an unfortunate tendency to crystallize and solidify. However, it remains completely edible. A little heating in a bain-marie (on low heat) or even in the microwave: and bam, it will regain a fluid and soft texture, without its taste being altered.
In very rare cases, honey can still look old, with visible signs of mold or an abnormal texture, too liquid. There, it’s clear, it smells scorched. And above all it feels like its conservation was done with the feet.
To keep your honey through the ages, equip yourself with an airtight glass jar, rather than a metal container, carefully close the jar after each use, avoid any introduction of water (with a damp spoon, for example) and keep it at room temperature. Outside the refrigerator, therefore, but also far from excessive heat and direct sunlight. In short, put it back in that good old back of the cupboard, where it spends peaceful days.
