Why Does Honey Never Spoil? | RapidSmartFacts

Honey can stay good for centuries — even thousands of years. But why doesn’t

it ever spoil? First, honey has almost no water — and bacteria need water

to survive. Bees remove moisture by fanning their wings, turning nectar into

a thick, concentrated syrup. With so little water left, microbes can’t grow

or multiply. Honey is also naturally acidic, with a pH around 3 to

4. Most bacteria can’t live in environments that acidic. Bees add another

layer of protection — an enzyme called glucose oxidase. This enzyme slowly produces hydrogen peroxide

inside the honey. Hydrogen peroxide kills off microbes that try to survive. Together,