Does substance ever really go bad?

pulse

September 1, 2017 1:57 PM

Read this if you've had the same jar in your pantry for...forever.

Have you ever found yourself looking at your pantry, asking yourself: Does honey goes bad? Especially when looking at a jar thats been around who even knows how long? Well, youre in luck—properly-sealed, pure honey can last decades or even centuries in a perfectly edible state. (Yes, really.)

"Honey has been eaten out of the tombs of Egypt," says Chris Hiatt, vice president of the American Honey Producers Association. "Honey lasts forever if stored in a cool place in a sealed container."

Honey is incredibly stable due to a variety of factors, according to Smithsonian Magazine. It's a sugar that contains very little moisture, and it's naturally extremely acidic. So basically, bacteria or microorganisms that might otherwise cause spoilage don't last long inside honey.

That doesn't apply if honey is ever stored unsealed, especially in a humid environment. "Mainly a bad smell will tell you it is rancid," Hiatt says.

One thing to note is that raw honey, which hasn't been heated, filtered, or processed in any way, will crystallize over time.

If your honey looks opaque or is more solid than liquid, chances are it has crystallized —but that doesn't mean it's gone bad. The National Honey Board recommends placing the honey jar in warm water and stirring until the crystals dissolve.

So there you have it, honey really doesn't go bad if stored properly. Now you know!

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