How Long Does Honey Last?
Honey keeps indefinitely in the pantry, opened or unopened, as long as it is sealed and dry. For best flavor use it within about 2 years. Crystallized honey is still good.
Honey — opened
shelf life- Unopened: Indefinitely in the pantry
Fridge at 40°F (4°C) or below · freezer at 0°F (−18°C). Freezer times are for best quality; frozen food stays safe longer.
Honey is a supersaturated sugar solution made by bees, with so little available water and enough natural acidity that microbes cannot grow in it. Properly sealed, it keeps for years. It can darken and crystallize into a grainy solid, which is natural and reversible. Its one weakness is absorbed moisture, which lets yeasts ferment it.
How to store honey
- Keep honey tightly sealed at room temperature. It draws moisture from the air, and honey that takes on water can ferment.
- Use a dry spoon every time, and never a wet one or one with butter or crumbs on it.
- To re-liquefy crystallized honey, stand the jar in warm water, not boiling, and stir. Avoid the microwave, which scorches it and can melt plastic bottles.
- Store it away from the stove and sunny windowsills, since heat darkens honey and flattens its flavor.
- Keep honey in glass or food-grade plastic rather than metal containers, which can react with its acids over time.
How to tell if honey has gone bad
- Foam or bubbles on top with a sour, yeasty or alcoholic smell, which means the honey has absorbed water and fermented.
- A thin, watery layer sitting on the surface of honey in a jar that was stored open or damp.
- Visible mold, which is rare and only happens in diluted or contaminated honey.
- Crystals, cloudiness and darkening are normal aging and are not signs of spoilage.
Bacteria that cause food poisoning usually do not change the look, smell or taste of food. Go by the time limits first, and the signs above second.
Honey shelf life chart
| State | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opened | Not recommended | Not recommended | Indefinitely |
| The fridge speeds up crystallization. Honey stays safe either way; crystallized honey re-liquefies in warm water. | |||
| Unopened | Not recommended | Not recommended | Indefinitely |
Not safe = perishable: no more than 2 hours at room temperature (1 hour above 90°F / 32°C). Not recommended = possible, but quality suffers or it serves no purpose.
Frequently asked questions
Does honey ever expire?
No, pure honey does not expire in the safety sense. Its low moisture and natural acidity stop bacteria and mold, so sealed honey stays safe indefinitely. The best-by date on the jar, usually around 2 years, reflects peak flavor and color. Honey that has fermented from absorbed moisture is the exception.
Is crystallized honey safe to eat?
Yes, crystallized honey is completely safe and has not gone bad. Glucose naturally comes out of solution over time, faster in raw honey and in cool storage. Eat it as it is, spread like creamed honey, or warm the jar gently in a bowl of warm water to make it liquid again.
Should honey be kept in the refrigerator?
No. Honey should be kept in the pantry. Refrigerator temperatures are close to ideal for crystallization, so chilled honey turns thick and grainy quickly, and the fridge adds no safety benefit. If you want to prevent crystallization long-term, the freezer works better than the fridge.
Why can babies not have honey?
Honey can contain Clostridium botulinum spores, which can cause infant botulism in babies whose gut is not yet mature. The CDC advises never giving honey to children younger than 12 months, including in baked goods, on pacifiers or mixed into food or drinks. This is unrelated to the honey's age; fresh honey carries the same risk.
Related foods
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maple Syrup Opened |
1 year | 2 years | Not recommended |
| Sugar Dry (uncooked) |
Not recommended | Not recommended | Indefinitely |
| Jam & Jelly Opened |
6 months | Not recommended | Not recommended |
| Peanut Butter Opened |
6–9 months | 6 months | 2–3 months |
| Tea Brewed |
3–4 days | 2–3 months | 8 hours |
| Brown Sugar Opened |
Not recommended | 1–2 years | Indefinitely |
More sweet spreads & syrups: Nutella (Hazelnut Spread).
Reviewed 2026-09-20. Times follow published USDA FoodKeeper / FSIS, FDA and CDC storage guidance; where sources differ we use the shorter time. How we compile this data.