Honey never expires. You will not find a “Use by…” notice on a container of honey.
Honey is often credited as a multi use wonder, known to soothe sore throats, heal burns, and add a little sweetness to drinks and desserts. But if a bottle in the back of your pantry has been collecting dust, you might be wondering if it’s safe to eat. Don’t worry, it is: as long as it’s stored properly, honey will never expire. When archaeologists who unsealed King Tut’s tomb in 1923—sealed containers of honey were found. It was good, proven by their performing a not-so-scientific taste test. As a result, these researchers reported this 3,000-year-old honey still tasted—sweet. Thus, it was discovered that honey has an endless shelf life; (Adapted from HONEY).
More than 20,000 species of bees cohabitate our good earth with us. The vast majority of these bees do not produce honey. Less than 4% of all bees — around 800 species — are known to turn nectar into honey; in the U.S. that job is most commonly undertaken by Apis mellifera, aka the European honey bee.Honey’s preservative properties have a lot to do with how little water it contains. Some 80% of honey is made up of sugar, with only 18% being water. Having so little moisture makes it difficult for bacteria and microorganisms to survive. Honey is also so thick, little oxygen can penetrate — another barrier to bacteria’s growth. Plus, the substance is extremely acidic, thanks to a special enzyme in bee stomachs called glucose oxidase. When mixed with nectar to make honey, the enzyme produces gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide, byproducts that lower the sweetener’s pH level and kill off bacteria. (Adapted from USDA Agricultural Research Service).
There is a caveat to the durability of honey: In spite of honey’s built-in natural preservatives, according to USDA ARS, it is possible for honey to spoil—storing honey in improperly sealed containers. In a sealed container, honey is safe from humidity, but when left open it can absorb moisture that makes it possible for bacteria to survive. In most cases, honey can be safely stored for years on end, though the USDA suggests consuming it within 12 months for the best flavor.
As a famine ravaged their land, Joseph’s brothers went to Egypt to negotiate for grain. Their father, Jacob, sent them with gifts in hopes to persuade generosity. Among the gifts was honey. There are dozens more references to honey in the Bible following this reference in Genesis. This is a wild —and a totally undocumented, off-the-charts speculation, but what if, that honey found by the archaeologists was some of the honey old Jacob sent with his sons to Egypt? As I said, it is a wild speculation!
©Copyright Willis H. Moore 2023