How do I store my honey?

Honey can be stored pretty much anywhere, at any temperature. It’s one of the few products in the world that never goes bad, due to its unique chemical composition. Honey has a very low water content (normally less than 18%), and a fairly high acidic level: this makes for very unfavorable conditions for bacteria to grow. If bacteria cannot grow in honey, then it cannot spoil. This basically gives it an indefinite shelf life.

Liquid honey however should be stored in your cupboard at room temperature as if it is kept in the refrigerator; the cooler temperature will promote and speed up the crystallization of liquid honey. Creamed honey may be kept in the refrigerator if you prefer the texture to be firm or at room temperature if you would like your honey to be soft and easy to spread.

Just to give you an idea of honey’s durability, archeologists have discovered jars of honey entombed with Egyptian mummies, and the honey is still edible, even after thousands of years! Don’t worry, though: the honey that Bee Maid regularly sells is somewhat fresher.