how long does honey last after opening

How Long Does Honey Last?

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How long does honey last after opening? Honey is a viscous and sweet substance that is gold or amber in color created from nectar extracted from flowering plants and produced by several honey bees.

Bees naturally produce and store honey to nourish their colonies, but this can be used as a natural sweetener by humans.

In addition, honey is used as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial agent.

It is also taken orally to treat coughs and topically to promote wound healing and treat burns

Apart from these properties mentioned above, Honey also has emollient and humectant properties that add moisture to the hair follicles

which naturally smooths the hair shaft and restores luster to dull, frizzy, curly, or dry hair.

It seals in moisture and prevents future moisture loss with Its natural humectant properties.

 

So, how long does honey last after opening?

Well-stored honey never spoils or expires, even if has been previously opened and had been sitting on your shelf for 2,000 years,

it would still be as good as the first day it was opened.

Recommendation:

How Long Does Honey Last In The Fridge?

Honey can last a long time in the fridge,

This is because coupled with the cool temperature of the fridge,

Honey naturally has a fairly high acidic level and a very low water content which is normally less than 18 percent.

This makes for very unfavorable conditions for bacteria to grow; if bacteria can’t grow, spoilage won’t occur.

This basically gives it an indefinite shelf life in your refrigerator.

 

How Long Does Honey Last In A Jar?

For best quality, use your stored honey within 12 months of storage.

It will remain good beyond that time but the quality may not be as good as before

This is because it can become cloudy, solidified, or crystallized.

This is not a safety concern as the honey can be heated in a pan of hot water or microwaved to melt or clarify it.

 

How Long Does Honey Last Past Expiration Date?

This healthy sweetener which contains enzymes and antibacterial proteins as well as plenty of antioxidants does not expire.

The National Honey Board says honey is good forever, even if it darkens or crystalizes over time it still remains edible indefinitely.

 

How Long Does Raw And Unfiltered Honey Last?

Although raw and unfiltered honey does not contain any kind of additives or preservatives, it will remain good for years.

Honey is one of the most stable, natural foods you will find on earth, thanks to its high sugar concentration which makes it very easy to store.

The short answer is that when properly stored, raw honey can have an almost indefinite shelf life.

In fact, even if it begins to crystallize, it can be easily restored.

 

How Long Does Fermented Garlic And Honey Last?

It takes about a month for honey garlic to ferment,

But you can eat it at any time during the process till about 12 months if properly handled.

 

How Can You Tell If Honey Is Spoiled?

When contaminated with your fingers or dirty utensils such as knives or spoons, bacteria, yeasts, and molds will grow in the honey

Causing it to taste off, become foamy, or develop a lot of free water.

It may be best to throw it out if in doubt.

 

10 Best Substitutes For Honey

If you’re not counting sugar or crabs content, here are the best all naturally vegan substitutes that you can use in place of honey.

1. Maple syrup:

this syrup comes from maple trees and has a complex flavor with hints of caramel, vanilla, and butter.

PROS:
– Contains a range of antioxidants.

– Has low levels of minerals such as calcium, zinc, potassium, and magnesium.

To enjoy these benefits ensure you are buying the real thing and not the artificially flavored stuff.

CONS:
— Original maple syrup can be quite expensive.

— It contains fructose and studies suggest that consuming too much can increase your risk of diabetes, weight gain, and insulin resistance.

Use a ratio of 1:1 when swapping.

2. Barley malt syrup:

this syrup is made by slowly heating the sprouts of barley grains to make a concentrated syrup.

Barley malt syrup has a distinct malty flavor and isn’t as sweet as honey.

When swapping using 1:1

3. Raw sugar:

Raw sugar which is also called natural cane sugar, demerara sugar, or turbinado sugar has a richer flavor and a caramel color

This is because it doesn’t go through the same bleaching process as refined white sugar.

PROS:

— It contains tiny amounts of minerals like calcium and iron because it is less processed.

CONS:
— If you have diabetes or you are prone to high blood sugar, you should probably avoid it

This is because your body digests it the way it digests white sugar.

— Raw sugar is not the best choice for those on low-carb diets because a single teaspoon has 4.59 grams of carbs.

When using raw sugar to replace honey, use a ratio of 1:1

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4. Brown sugar:

this is just a mixture of white sugar and molasses to create a darker color and a deeper flavor than plain white sugar.

PROS:

— Studies have shown that brown sugar has more minerals than refined sugar.

CONS:

— consuming too much of it might increase your risk of weight gain, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.

When swapping using 1:1

5. Rice malt syrup:

which is popularly known as brown rice syrup is an easier digestible sugar that is made by breaking down starches and turning them into smaller sugars.

Rice malt syrup has a sweet, slightly nutty flavor.

PROS:

— Rice malt syrup is pretty easy to find in most grocery stores that sell vegan-friendly foods.

— It is super sweet, so a little goes a long way.

CONS:

— Rice malt syrup may contain arsenic

—Since it is high in sugar and crab, it will probably spike your blood sugar.

— it can be pricey.

Since it is too sweet use it in small amounts when substituting

6. Stevia:

this is made from the dried leaves of the stevia plant which is filtered and turned into a powder or liquid form.

The liquid would be an easier option to swap for honey.

7. Molasses

PROS:

— 2009 study suggests that molasses has more antioxidants than honey.

— it also contains minerals like calcium, iron, selenium, and copper.

CONS:

— even though molasses are better than refined sugar, it is still packed with sucrose.

— Eating too much molasses might give you the trots or lead to a gnarly sugar crash.

8. Golden syrup:

this is a thick syrup with a mild buttery flavor and a distinct amber color which is made from sugar, water, and citric acid.

PROS:

— the warm flavor of golden syrup makes it a great addition to oatmeal, baked goods, and yogurt parfaits.

— the likelihood for it to crystallize is less than other syrups.

CONS:

— golden syrup offers no real nutritional value.

— when compared to sugar, it has a slightly lower GI (glycemic index)

9. Coconut sugar:

this is made from the sweet liquid found inside a coconut plant which is known as coconut palm sap.

PROS:

— It contains some of the nutrients found in the coconut palm.

— it contains minerals like calcium, iron, potassium, and zinc.

CONS:
— coconut sugar is packed with fructose.

— in terms of energy it isn’t that different from regular sugar.

— the price of coconut sugar can be on the high side.

10. Monk fruit sweetener:

Monk fruit is a small, round fruit from Southeast Asia that contains an antioxidant called mogroside V, which is more than 300 times sweeter than sucrose.

PROS:

— Monk fruit sweetener won’t raise your blood sugar and it has zero calories.

— test tube research shows that the compounds that give monk fruit its sweetness (mogroside) can inhibit cancer cell growth.

CONS:
— there haven’t been enough studies to know if it has any potential side effects in humans.

 

Why Does Honey Have An Expiration Date?

The “best by” date of about 2 years on honey labels is put by the manufacturers for commercial purposes,

But in reality, the shelf life of honey depends on how it is processed, packaged, and stored.

 

Does Manuka Honey Expire?

Manuka honey comes with a 2 years shelf life on the package

But in a real sense, it will remain stable for decades, even centuries.

Though it will not go bad in the typical food spoilage sense, you may notice some natural chemical changes,

The honey may darken or crystallize and it may also lose some of its aroma and flavor.

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Conclusion

Honey is a thick liquid produced when Bees gather and then refine the sugary secretions of plants.

The color of Honey ranges from nearly colorless to dark brown and depending on where the honey bees buzz,

Its flavor varies from delectably mild to distinctively bold.

As a general rule, dark honey is stronger in taste while light honey is milder.

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