Does honey spoil?

Do you have pure honey sitting around in your pantry that has been there for years? Maybe it's changed color or crystalized. If you're considering throwing it away, think again. 

You don't have to toss that honey! Even if honey had been sitting on your shelf for 2,000 years, that honey would still be as good as the day you opened it. In a nutshell, well-stored honey never expires or spoils, even if it's been previously opened. 

Why Honey Doesn't Spoil

So why does honey never go bad? Raw honey is antibacterial, which means that you don’t have to worry about anything funky growing in your honey. 

Raw honey also has a pH of about 3.26-4.48, which helps to also stave off anything bacteria trying to make a home in your honey.

Honey May Change Color & Texture

While honey never spoils, it may change color from clear to cloudy or texture thicker and grainier over time. That’s ok! Unless your honey becomes exposed to moisture and ferments which will be super obvious, it’s safe to consume. 

Since most of the water in honey interacts with sugars, there’s little “free” water for microbes to multiply in.