4 Easy Tips to Storing Honey Properly to Extend its Shelf Life – Our Guide

There’s nothing sweeter than having access to fresh, raw honey, which is why it has always been a staple ingredient in many kitchens. To put a cherry on top of its delicious addition in dishes and drinks, honey also never goes bad, but that doesn’t mean you can disregard its storage needs. 

While there are ways to restore your honey to its original lustre once it starts to crystallize or get cloudy, proper storage can prevent both scenarios in the first place and ensure you can maintain its quality for years to come. With that in mind, the tips below should help you store raw honey properly: 

Tip #1: Store Honey in a Tightly Sealed Container 

Bacteria often has a hard time growing in honey since it has little water, but leaving your honey out in the open with poor sealing can invite moisture in. In that regard, it’s best to keep your honey in its original container or move it to a glass jar with rubber lids. Glass is often the ideal choice since non-food plastic or metal containers tend to oxidize the honey. 

Tip #2: Store the Honey at Average Room Temperature 

Honey doesn’t like to go hot nor cold when it comes to lasting long in storage, so be sure to keep the sealed container at room temperature of 18C to 24C. This is because exposing your honey to direct sunlight or heat can darken the colour and change the flavour, so hide it in your shelf or pantry to maintain its original quality. 

Tip #3: Avoid Refrigerating Honey and Freeze Only As a Last Resort

Keeping honey in the refrigerator for a few hours is okay, but leaving it to store under cold temperatures will harden the texture and cause the honey to crystallise and turn semi-solid. 

If you have massive amounts of honey that you need to save for an extended period, keeping it in the freezer can preserve your honey without the risk of granulation but this should be a last resort as any drastic fluctuation in the temperature can affect the quality of the honey.

The Bottom Line

Storing honey and keeping it fresh for years to come is a relatively straightforward process. By following the simple tips above, you can have the best quality honey without experiencing crystallization and granulation from the moment you bought it up to the last, sugary drop. 

We offer some of the best varieties of flavoured honey for people to enjoy if you’re craving a sweet taste of raw honey in New Zealand. Get in touch with us at 03 541 8930 if you want a taste of our delicious raw New Zealand honeys!