Why does honey not spoil? Also explains whether it has an expiration date

Have you ever heard that honey doesn't spoil?

However, just because it doesn't spoil, you may be wondering whether it will remain delicious and edible forever.

In this article, we will explain the reasons why honey does not spoil and inform you about the existence of an expiration date.

If you want to incorporate honey into your daily meals and lead a healthy and fulfilling life, please read on.

Why honey doesn't spoil

As mentioned at the beginning, "pure honey" that does not contain additives will not spoil no matter how long it is stored. As evidence of this, there is an anecdote that honey from about 3,000 years ago was found in the ruins of ancient Egypt without spoiling.

The key to understanding why honey does not spoil even after many years lies in its moisture content and sugar concentration. Let's take a closer look at this in the following sections.

 

Reason 1: Low moisture content

The reason that pure honey does not spoil is that it has a very low moisture content of around 20%.

In this way, in environments with low moisture levels, pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria cannot reproduce, so honey does not spoil.

By the way, the water content of honey is the same as that of dried foods such as kanpyo and salami, and also flour, so you can see how little water it has.

However, if it is not pure honey but "sweetened honey," the moisture content increases due to additives such as starch syrup and sugar, so it may spoil if stored for a long time. It is recommended to use honey that contains such additives as soon as possible.

 

Reason 2: High sugar content

In addition to its low water content, honey's very high sugar content is also one of the factors that prevents it from spoiling.

Honey has a sugar content of about 80%, which is among the highest among agricultural products. For example, even bananas and melons, which are known to have high sugar contents, have a sugar content of about 20%, so you can see that honey has an overwhelmingly high sugar content.

When the sugar content is high, the osmotic pressure is high, and even if bacteria adhere to the honey, the moisture contained in the bacteria is absorbed and it is killed. This prevents the proliferation of bacteria, so honey with a high sugar content does not spoil.

Honey has a low water content and high sugar content, which creates an environment in which bacteria that cause spoilage cannot thrive.

 

Does honey have an expiration date?

After reading this far, many of you may be thinking, "If honey doesn't spoil, doesn't it have an expiration date?" However, this is a mistake.

In the first place, the expiration date refers to the date by which a food item can be eaten deliciously. Just because honey doesn't spoil doesn't mean that its taste and flavor will never deteriorate, so it has an expiration date just like other foods.

Manufacturers that sell honey generally set the shelf life of pure honey at 1 to 3 years, while blended honey is set at about 1 year. However, some blended honey products may have a shelf life of around 6 months, so be sure to check carefully when purchasing.

Since honey does not spoil, it does not have a best-by date, which is the date by which the food is safe to eat.

 

Why does honey, which doesn't spoil, have an expiration date?

The reason honey has an expiration date isn't just because its taste and flavor will deteriorate.

The fact is, it is required by law to indicate the period for which the quality, flavor, etc. of any food product can be guaranteed.

Honey is no exception, and it is necessary to clearly indicate the expiration date by which consumers can enjoy the honey. As mentioned above, although honey does not spoil, its taste and flavor will gradually deteriorate.

Additionally, the sugars contained in honey caramelize, causing a change in color to a brownish hue, resulting in a visual transformation.

If you want to fully enjoy the natural floral aroma and rich flavor of honey, it is best to use it up quickly after purchase.

Reference source: e-Gov Law and Regulation Searchhttps://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/427M60000002010#Mp-Ch_2-Se_1-Ss_2-At_11

Does the expiration date of honey change if it is unopened or opened?

There is no significant difference in the basic expiration date whether it is unopened or opened.

However, after opening, please rest assured that by storing it cleanly with a clean spoon as a guideline, it will be less likely to spoil.

Even if the expiration date has pieces, if you are reluctant to eat it as is, we recommend using it in cooking instead of sugar.

 

How to store honey

Finally, we will explain how to store honey.

Honey should be stored at room temperature and away from direct sunlight as a rule. Exposure to direct sunlight not only leads to a decline in the quality of honey but also causes the temperature of the honey itself to exceed 45 degrees Celsius, which can destroy its nutritional and health components.

Some people might think, "Isn't it better to store it in the refrigerator after opening?" However, this is not recommended. Storing it in the refrigerator causes the glucose in the honey to crystallize and harden, making it difficult to handle.

In other words, whether unopened or opened, it is best to store honey in a warm place above 16°C, avoiding direct sunlight and high humidity.

Additionally, it is important to pay attention not only to the storage location but also to the storage container of honey. If the purchased honey is in a glass container, it should be stored as is.

Even if the container has been cleaned and sterilized at home, there is still a possibility that bacteria could mix into the honey for some reason during the transfer.

In that case, since it can cause honey to spoil, let's store it without changing the container after purchase.

 

Honey will not spoil even if stored for a long time, but it does have a best-before date.

This time, I explained the reasons why honey does not spoil and whether it has an expiration date.

In the case of pure honey, it does not spoil permanently due to its low moisture content and high sugar concentration. However, it is important to note that sugar-added honey can spoil over time because the additives increase the moisture content.

Also, keep in mind that like other foods, honey has a best-before date set by law to inform consumers of the date by which it can be enjoyed tastily.

If you want pure honey that you can eat safely for a long period of time,Honey specialty store | SUGI BEE GARDEN online storeis recommended.

You can purchase a wide variety of pure honey, both Made in Japan and Made in Japan, so please feel free to take advantage of this offer.