When it's stored correctly, honey doesn't seem to have a shelf life at all. It's true; this natural golden food produced by bees can last forever. If you've ever wondered why it is that honey doesn't expire, take a look at this short video to get an introduction into the science behind this.
My Notes
The everlasting properties of pure honey are something that seems to surprise everyone. What other food is there that can boast a never-ending “sell by” or “use by” date. There isn't one, or nothing that's all-natural and comes straight from an insect. There are three main reasons why honey goes on forever. These are:
- Honey's acidity
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Lack of water content
These three things combined are what work in harmony with each other to create this everlasting food. Let's look at each of these components in turn.
Acidity
Honey contains quite a few different acids. This includes about 18 amino acids. Amino acids help to make proteins. These are what help the body to break down food, grow, repair body tissue and perform various other bodily functions. Honey also contains many different organic acids, as well as aliphatic and aromatic acids. The aromatic acids are what contribute to the flavor of the honey.
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is composed only of water and oxygen. It is regarded as the world's safest all-natural decontaminator. The hydrogen peroxide in honey makes it hostile to all bacteria. It is produced in honey by the enzyme glucose oxidase.
Lack of Water Content
The lack of water content in honey determines its ability to remain fresh. It avoids spoilage by yeast fermentation. Raw honey can have less than 14% water content. The lower the water content is, the higher the apparent value of the honey.
Archeologists have often come across pots of honey amongst the tombs of Egyptian pharos. The honey itself was thousands of years old, but its age was not the amazing discovery. What was amazing was how well the honey was preserved. So well in fact, that it was perfectly safe to eat. This was not a one-off incident, but something that has been seen time and again. Salt, sugar and dried rice are examples of other foods that can last forever, but honey is the only food from an insect.
It's important to point out that honey which lasts forever needs to be sealed in an airtight container, like that in the Egyptian tombs.
Summary
There no reason why you would want to keep honey for hundreds or thousands of years. This is really only of interest because it supports the medicinal properties of honey. Nothing can infect sealed honey because it's hostile to bacteria. The tiny amount of hydrogen peroxide that comes off it is what promotes healing for humans. It not only heals open cuts but it also soothes burns and helps with various skin conditions.
Further reading: The Science Behind Honey’s Eternal Shelf Life
By Natasha Geiling | Smithsonian Magazine | August 22, 2013