Sometimes we discard certain foods when we see that the expiration date indicated on the package has arrived. But have these products really expired?
Very few foods are immune to the passage of time, which do not have an expiration date. Among them we find salt, sugar, rice and of course honey. But eating raw rice or salt is not comparable to the taste of honey, edible as it comes from the hive.
In the case of honey, the preferred date of consumption must appear on the packaging. They are long expiration dates, because the risk to health is low, but it is true that over time organoleptic and physicochemical changes may occur (acidity, humidity …) so it is mandatory to indicate a preferred consumption date.
As a general rule, the preferred consumption date that we find on the honey jars we buy is two years from the moment of manufacture. After these years, honey can continue to be consumed as long as it has been kept in good condition.
Well, honey doesn’t actually expire. Look for a bad smell, changed taste, or color difference that might suggest it has turned bad. How long after expiration can you eat Honey? Due to its long-lasting nature, as long as honey appears and smells fine and is stored well, you can eat it.
Why does honey have no expiration date
The eternal life of honey is based on several factors:
- Honey is hygroscopic.
That means that honey has a very low water content. The bees are responsible for dehydrating the collected liquid nectar with 80-90% initial humidity to turn it into thick honey. Ripe honey barely reaches 18% humidity.
Without water, bacteria cannot appear or thrive. A properly matured honey in a hive or in a closed pot is safe from bacteria.
- High concentration of sugars.
Honey is mainly made up of sugars, and this hinders the growth of microorganisms due to problems with the high osmolarity of honey.
- The acid pH of honey.
The pH of honey is acidic and ranges between 2 and 4.5. Most harmful bacteria prefer a neutral or basic environment, so in an acidic environment such as honey, they cannot grow or develop.
Bees, in the process of making honey, provide different enzymes of their own. One of them is glucose oxidase, which produces hydrogen peroxide, a powerful antimicrobial that prevents microorganisms from growing.
Honey contains organic acids, phenolic compounds and certain peptides that contribute to the antimicrobial action of honey, preventing it from growing and spoiling the honey.
For all this, we can say that honey does not expire, only if it is not preserved in the correct conditions. If honey is kept in optimal conditions, its shelf life can be very long.
All the honey that you will find in Maes Honey complies with current legislation and is properly packaged so that it preserves all its properties.
Does Honey Expire? – WATCH THIS!
FAQ
How long is honey good after expiration date?
How can you tell if honey has gone bad?
What can you do with old honey?
Is it OK to eat fermented honey?
Is it safe to eat expired honey?
If your honey’s expiration date is approaching, it’s still safe unless it’s obviously fermented. Does the type of honey make a difference? Yes, different kinds of honey will age differently.
How much honey is safe to consume per day?
Honey is known to contain sugar. WHO’s daily sugar recommendation is 10% of daily energy. Men should consume no more than 36 grams of sugar daily, while women and children should consume no more than 24 grams daily. A teaspoon of honey contains 6 grams of sugar, so the maximum daily sugar intake should not exceed 4-6 teaspoons. Additionally, we must pay attention to other sources of sugar.
Can you eat a jar of honey if it expires?
If you buy a jar of honey that’s approaching its expiration date, it should still be fine to eat. It’s just been sitting on the shelf for a while. As long as it’s been stored correctly and is still sealed, it should be safe to eat. Honey has a ton of health benefits. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects.
What are expiration dates on honey?
Expiration dates on honey are there for quality control purposes. They’re set by the manufacturer and tell you how long they guarantee the honey will stay fresh. They also allow the grocery store to rotate stock so that customers are buying the newest honey available.