Of course, all foods look older quicker if it they are not stored properly. But remember, like a lot of other condiments, it usually has a best by date and not a use by date or expiration date. Because of this distinction, you may safely use it to compliment your favorite meals, snacks or drinks even after the best before date has lapsed.

How to tell if Honey is bad, rotten or spoiled?

Practicing proper hygiene and food safety techniques will help prevent foodborne illness.

That's right, honey is one food that never spoils! Although the look of your product will change somewhat over time, it will never actually spoil. Honey will begin to look yellow and cloudy instead of golden and clear and will get thicker and grainy over time, eventually looking white and hard. But, it is still good. In this form, the honey may have started the process of crystallization. Crystallized honey is where some of the glucose content in the honey spontaneously crystallized. In this state, it can also be called "candied" or "granulated" but is still safe to eat. If you would like to fix the color of your honey or turn crystallized honey into its soft liquid form, see the section below on how to fix honey.

There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled foods so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your foods before their shelf life has expired!

How to store Honey to extend its shelf life?

You can help honey stay fresh longer by storing it right on the counter in its original container. It will look older faster if it is kept in a dark place!

Some benefits of proper food storage include eating healthier, cutting food costs and helping the environment by avoiding waste.

Interesting facts about Honey:

How to Fix Honey - If Honey Hardened or Crystalized:

To return the honey to its original gooey state, simply put the container into a bowl of hot tap water (not boiling or you may melt the container!). Or, put the honey into a microwave safe bowl and microwave it for about 15 - 20 seconds. With either method, it will magically return to its golden liquid state! If your honey has crystalized, either of these options should suffice to fix hardened honey. Crystalized honey has a melting point of between 104° and 122°F (40° and 50°C), depending on its composition.

How to use extra before your Honey goes bad?

Did you know that honey can be used to keep sliced apples from turning brown.

How long is Honey good for when prepared in a dish?

How long does honey last? That depends. How long does tea last? In general, all foods last only as long as the quickest expiring ingredient in the dish that it is prepared.

What are our shelf life resources?

In determining how long Honey lasts, our content incorporates research from multiple resources, including the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food & Drug Administration. In addition, we scoured the web for informative articles and reports related to food safety, food storage and the shelf life of Honey.

*An important note about expiration dates...

Although the Honey shelf life information on Eat By Date is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not a replacement for your health care professional. Please eat responsibly!