6 tips for preserving honey

Honey is a food that does not require any extra effort to store. Honey stays fresh for years when stored at room temperature. Bacteria or anything else cannot spoil it. The nutritional value of honey is also fully maintained. 

Why doesn't honey spoil? 
BBC Science Focus magazine says that honey can stay good for up to a thousand years in a sealed jar! The main hand behind this powerful vitality of honey is its artisan bees themselves. While making nectar, the secretion of gluconic acid increases. Bees secrete a special enzyme called glucose oxide in nectar. Due to this, hydrogen peroxide is produced in honey. This element acts as an anti-bacterial element in honey. Honey contains anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory elements. It also contains a high amount of sucrose. However, the amount of water is negligible. This is why honey is called hygroscopic. Honey does not dry out easily. No outside germs come into contact with honey and do not spread infection. As a result, no germs are transmitted to honey. Due to this, honey does not spoil. Moreover, honey is naturally acidic. This is also a reason behind its non-spoiling. Honey contains a good amount of gluconic acid. This acid prevents bacteria from growing in honey. However, it is important to remember some basic storage tips to maintain the taste, quality, and color of honey. 

Tips for storing honey

1. Choose the right jar to store honey. If you keep the lid tightly closed, honey will stay good for a long time. Do not store honey in metal or plastic containers, store it in a glass jar. Glass jars will preserve the color and taste of honey. 
2. Keep honey jars in a cool place. Do not store them in direct sunlight. Never store honey jars near a stove or in a hot place. Room temperature is ideal for storing honey.
3. There is absolutely no need to refrigerate honey. In fact, storing it in the refrigerator will destroy its properties.
4. It is also important to ensure that there is no water in the spoon used to scoop the honey. If there is water, the honey will spoil. 
5. Be careful not to let air enter the honey jar. 
6. Sometimes honey becomes cloudy. Place the jar of honey in a bowl of hot water. The honey will become clear as before.