Honey Storage
Honey is a very powerful nutritional product, which if stored properly, will last for years, if not decades. In fact, honey has been found perfectly preserved in tombs of the Pharaohs in Egypt.
The quality of honey may be damaged by the following factors:
- Excessive humidity
Ideally, the content of moisture in honey should be less than 17.8%. If the moisture content is too high, i.e. greater than 20%, honey can be fermented, because of the yeasts it has.
Since honey is hygroscopic, if it is not stored in a sealed container, it will absorb moisture from the air. - Excessive heat
Honey loses many of the benefits for our health due to temperature and time.
40 οC for 30 days
30 οC for 6 months
20 οC for four years
10 οC for 35 years - Prolonged exposure to sunlight
Honey loses many of its health benefits with prolonged exposure to sunlight. - Noxious elements in its environment
Honey is hygroscopic and takes on odors from its environment. It is also acidic, so it can dissolve metal if stored in metal containers.
Honey Storage Guidelines
Store honey in a sealed non-metal container.
For normal use, store the container in a cupboard (away from direct sunlight) at room temperature (21 οC).
For prolonged storage of honey (> 4 years), store at refrigerator temperature (4 οC).