Honey is one of the very few things that never get bad and it is one of the best natural resources for nutrients and vitamins. Honey can be stored pretty much anywhere with the right procedure without losing the health benefits because of its unique chemical composition. Water in honey is bellow 18% and the acidic level is fairly high, which makes it not a good condition to grow bacteria. This is why some say that Organic honey comes with an indefinite shelf life. However, there are some procedures in collecting and storing raw honey. I will talk about them here.
Does honey expire? If the honey is collected directly from the beehive and stored correctly without getting exposed to any artificial content, it can last for infinity. Although you can find honey jars in the store with an expiry date on it, that doesn't mean that honey will lose the freshness after that. However, you have to find a good quality raw honey that is not processed and came directly from the hive if you want the honey to last you forever.
What makes honey last so long? Honey can last a very long time even without a special process because bacteria cannot grow in honey easily. Archeologists even discovered entombed honey in the Egyptian mummies which are still in mint condition, that gives a clear idea about the lifespan of honey. However, the main reasons why honey can last longer are the very high sugar, almost about 80% of it, which is dissolved only in 17-18% of water. This composition inhibits the growth of microbes like fungi and bacteria.
Another reason for honey to be durable is the acidity. The average pH value of honey is 3.9 and it can be anywhere from 3.4 to 6.1 with. Gluconic acid is the main reason to extend the longevity of honey and prevent the reproduction of bacteria, it is produced during the nectar ripening.
How to store raw honey? When it comes to storing raw honey, there is not much of a process you have to through, because the honey itself can last forever. However, when you are storing the honey, here are the things you should keep in order: Store it in an airtight glass jar When you are storing honey for a long time, make sure you are putting it in a glass jar and never use a plastic jar. A plastic jar has harmful elements like lead and the chemical in the plastic could harm the natural state of the honey. Putting it in a glass jar eliminates the possibility of getting exposed to chemical reactions for the honey. Make sure the jar is lid tight and securely to preserve the quality of the honey ad keep it out of the contact of air.
Keep it in controlled temperature Store the jar of honey away from direct sunlight and store it at a regular temperature. don't store it in the kitchen where the temperature gets high, which can be harmful to the integrity of the honey. Bottom line If the honey is consolidated and you want to consume some, don't put in extream heat or direct sunlight, rather put it in a bucket of warm water. The warmth of the water will do the job and liquefy the honey.