Honey is the most ancient food consumed for millennia by the human race. It’s the most popular food but its conservation can cause some doubts. This can lead to a question, “dose honey expires?”

 

 

When you observe the crystallization of honey, it gives the impression that it is spoilt.

 

 

Well, today we look at these doubts and debunk the myths about dose honey expires?. You might know that honey comes from bees from the nectar they get from flowers, and from secretions of living parts of the plants. 

 

It’s interesting to know that bees have survived on planet earth for more than 40 million years.

 

Honey is a naturally antimicrobial substance and this means, if honey is pure then harmful microbes can grow in it and honey will stay safe to consume forever.

 

So, we now arrive at the question, “Do we need an expiration date on the honey jar?” This is a question that is regularly asked.

 

 

Do we need an expiration date on the honey jar?

 

We don’t have an expiration date on the jar. What we do have is a best before date, which means that honey can be consumed even after the mentioned date.

 

But, after the best before date, honey will change in aroma, texture, and color. The change in properties is darkening of color or crystallization but this doesn’t make honey unsafe.

 

In fact, it means that the honey is pure.  Since it is pure it will darken and thicken over a period of time. Instead, you need to worry if honey stays the same in color, texture, and doesn’t change at all for months together. It only implies that it is synthetic honey, which has been processed.

 

 

Indian and international laws with regards to food make it mandatory to mention the best before date or expiry date on the label of foods. Thus, honey jars have a best before the date mentioned on them.

 

The sugar content in honey makes it absorb moisture with ease thus, there are few or no microorganisms that are able to survive in it. Thus, they don’t decompose honey.

 

The level of acidity in honey has a similar effect on sugar. It hinders not only the development but also the survival of the different microorganisms that can break it down.

 

 

Raw honey:

 

 

Let’s clarify this term called raw honey. The word raw honey seems to be rather unsure of a lot of people. Many people ask which is better, raw honey or the creamy honey. Should I buy raw honey or the usual honey in the grocery store?

 

Raw honey is unprocessed and unheated. There is no floral variety of honey.

 

 

When you heat or warm honey it doesn’t make it less pure, but the live beneficial enzymes are destroyed in the heating, honey. Raw honey too can be diluted and adulterated with other substances like starch or processed sugars, and this shortens the lifespan of the resultant liquid.

 

Raw or pasteurized honey should last indefinitely when stored properly in airtight containers away from heat.

 

Thus, the question that arises,

 

If pure and unadulterated honey doesn’t spoil when stored properly then why there is an expiration date? or dose honey expires?

 

Honey jars are sourced directly at the farmer’s market or beekeepers and don’t have an expiration date or stamps. But food products sold at the supermarket, need to have an expiration date or best before dates.

 

Thus, even salt and vinegar have expiry dates. Honey crystallizes overtime on the shelf and has a peculiar color and appearance. Honey crystallization is a natural process and its harmless. But most people don’t like the darkening of honey and the sugar crystals too.

 

Thus, best before date on the jar helps to indicate the freshness of honey and work up to consumer’s expectations. Best before date signals whether or not the honey jar has been on the shelf for too long.

 

If the honey jar has a longer expiration date, consumers perceive it as better quality. But there is no reason behind this belief. Unlike meat and vegetables that are perishable, 100% pure and undiluted, supersaturated honey is able to withstand the test of time. It will stay good and fresh indefinitely.

 

Visit Navmi website www.navmi.co.in to buy honey as the focus of Navmi, since its inception has always been serving customers with natural and organic foods of the best quality. All our products like coconut oil, flaxseed oil, ghee, A2 milk, different types of natural honey, jaggery, turmeric, etc are chemical-free. Unprocessed foods contain higher amounts of antioxidants, they reduce the risk of heart disease, cancers and other health issues.

 

Visit our site (Nirlesh Foods Private Limited or Navmi) www.navmi.co.in to know more about nutritionally pure and unprocessed food. Make a conscious and healthy choice of foods.

 

 

 

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What is the best way to store honey?

 

What Do You Do With Crystallized Honey

 

 

Nirlesh Foods Pvt. Ltd.