Is it Safe to Eat Old Honey?

by Christie
(Mesa, AZ, USA)

I recently opened a #10 can of honey that was canned in 1983. The honey is dark in color and I thought it was bad, but I read on this site that age does indeed darken honey.

I also read that it's best to store honey in jars not cans. I checked the inside of the can and it all looks normal.

I tasted a small amount on my finger and it tasted a little bit like molasses. Is this honey safe to eat?

Janette's Reply

Christie, if you have only just opened the can then it is still good to eat, honey is the one food source that will not go off, nothing is capable of growing in it as it destroys bacteria.

Most honey is stored in jars but of course there are some which are stored in cans. The sell by date label has been placed there because the law of your country states that all food must have a sell by date.

I would be inclined myself now to transfer the honey from the can into a sterilized jar. Store this in a darkened cupboard although it is perfectly safe to store in a fridge if you so wish however this is not necessary.

Ancient tombs thousands of years old have been discovered to have stores of honey, this it was discovered are still edible after all this time.

Go ahead and eat your honey or cook with it, it makes a great sugar substitute. Just be careful not to feed to a baby under one year old.

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