How to store honey at home: keep pure honey tasting great for longer

You’ve bought a good jar of pure honey and want it to keep its taste and aroma for months? The secret isn’t only in the honey, it’s also in how you store it. Plenty of people spoil precious honey through small mistakes: a wet spoon, a lid left loose, or a warm cupboard next to the stove. In this article we explain, step by step, how to store honey at home, what to do if it crystallises, and how to tell whether it has really gone off.

In this video we visited the beekeeper, who told us that Aït Baamrane euphorbia honey can keep for years without spoiling as long as it’s stored properly. Those last words are what this article is about.

Why does pure honey keep for so long?

Pure honey is rich in natural sugars and low in water, which makes it a hard place for microbes to live. But honey has one important trait: it draws moisture from the air. If the jar is left open or water gets in, its moisture content rises and, over time, it can ferment, smell sour and turn foamy. So honey’s first enemy is moisture, and its second is heat.

How to store honey at home: the basic rules

• Close the jar tightly: after every use, screw the lid back on properly so moisture and kitchen smells stay out – honey picks up odours easily.
• Always use a dry spoon: never dip in a wet spoon, or one that’s been in your tea or touched bread. Even a little water can cause problems over time.
• A cool, dark spot: a cupboard away from the oven, the hob and sunlight. Avoid the top of the fridge and the windowsill.
• Glass jars are best: glass doesn’t pass any smell or taste to the honey. Don’t keep honey for long in a metal container that isn’t made for food.
• Don’t mix new honey with old: keep each honey in its own jar so you know what you have and one doesn’t spoil the other.

Should honey go in the fridge?

No, there’s no need. Pure honey doesn’t need refrigeration to keep, and the cold makes it crystallise faster, so it turns hard and difficult to spoon out. The best place is an ordinary cupboard, away from heat and light.

Has your honey crystallised? Don’t worry

Crystallisation is not a sign of fake honey, nor a sign it has gone bad. It’s a natural process that happens with time and cold, and it varies by type: orange blossom honey sets quickly, euphorbia honey becomes grainy over time, a bit like beldi soap, while sidr honey stays runny for longer. We explain this in detail in How to tell pure honey from fake honey.

Crystallised honey is perfectly fine to eat, and many people prefer it that way, spread on bread. But if you’d like it runny again, here’s how:

1. Heat some water in a pan until it’s hot but not boiling.
2. Turn off the heat and stand the glass jar (lid slightly loosened) in the hot water, with the water reaching the level of the honey.
3. Leave it for a few minutes, then stir with a dry spoon until the crystals melt.
4. If it’s still firm, repeat gently. Patience matters here.
5. Only close the jar once the honey has cooled and the outside of the jar is dry.

How long does honey keep?

Well-stored pure honey can keep for a very long time, as the beekeeper told us about euphorbia honey. But over time, even well-stored honey changes a little: the colour darkens, the aroma fades and the taste becomes heavier. That’s natural and doesn’t mean the honey has spoiled. To enjoy it at its best, buy what you’ll use within a few months and then buy again, rather than storing large amounts for years.

Mistakes that ruin honey

• Heating it in the microwave or directly on the hob: strong heat strips honey of its natural aroma and taste and changes its colour.
• Keeping it above the oven or next to the stove: daily warmth slowly affects it too.
• Leaving the jar open: dust, ants and moisture get in.
• Adding water to “thin” it: the biggest mistake of all, because water is what makes honey ferment.

How do you know honey has really gone off?

Honey that has crystallised or darkened a little with age has not gone off. The signs to watch for are: a sour smell like vinegar or yeast, foam or bubbles rising to the top without stirring, a layer of liquid on the surface, or any mould. If you notice any of these, it’s best not to eat it.

Our tips from the countryside

• If you buy a large jar, fill a small one for everyday use and keep the big one closed in the cupboard, so you’re not opening it every day.
• Write the type of honey and the purchase date on the jar, so you know what you have and since when.
• A precious honey like pure thyme honey deserves extra care: a glass jar, a dry spoon and a dark spot.

Want to learn more about the different types? Read Moroccan honey: a guide to choosing the right honey, or see how honey is made in our beehive visit.

At Chaidmia Hora we deliver our pure honey to your door, with cash on delivery anywhere in Morocco. Any question about storage or a particular honey? Message us directly on WhatsApp: +212682077365.

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