ShelfLife
Does honey go bad?
Honey keeps its best quality for about 2 years in the pantry, and sealed, it rarely spoils at all. Over time it may darken or crystallize, which changes its texture but not its safety.
| Food | Pantry |
|---|---|
| Honey | 2 yearsfrom purchase |
Fridge at 4 °C (40 °F) or colder, freezer at −18 °C (0 °F). Freezer times are for best quality: food kept frozen stays safe, but slowly loses taste and texture. These times are USDA guidance, not a guarantee. When in doubt, throw it out.
How to tell if honey has gone bad
- Foam on top, a sour or yeasty smell, or a fizzy taste: water got in and the honey has fermented. Throw it out.
- Mold, which only happens when the honey has been diluted with water or food.
- Crystals or a cloudy, solid texture are not spoilage: they're a natural process, faster in some honeys than others.
- A darker color and stronger flavor with age are normal too.
How to store honey
- Keep honey tightly closed at room temperature, away from heat and direct sun.
- Keep water out: use a dry spoon, and don't leave the jar open in a steamy kitchen. Honey that absorbs water can ferment.
- Don't refrigerate it: cold speeds up crystallization.
- Raw and creamed honey crystallize faster; that's normal.
Can you freeze honey?
You can, but there's no need: honey keeps for years in the pantry. Freezing doesn't harm it and slows crystallization, which some people use for honeycomb. Thaw it at room temperature.
Questions
How do you fix crystallized honey?
Stand the jar in a bowl of warm water, not boiling, and stir until the crystals dissolve. Avoid the microwave and high heat, which damage the flavor. Crystallized honey is also fine to eat as it is.
Can you eat honey after the best-by date?
Yes, if it shows no foam, sour smell or mold. The date is about quality: older honey may be darker or crystallized but is still good.
Can babies eat honey?
No. Health agencies advise against giving honey to babies under 12 months, because it can contain spores that cause infant botulism. This applies to honey in baked goods and other foods too.
Add honey and other pantry staples to ShelfLife, so you know what you have before buying another jar.
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Storage times: USDA FoodKeeper (Food Safety and Inspection Service), public domain. Text by ShelfLife.