Does Manuka Honey Expire? Shelf Life and Storage Tips
Does Manuka honey expire? Here's what the best before date on your jar really means, how long Manuka honey lasts once opened, how to store it and what to do if it crystallises.
- Manuka honey doesn't go off like most foods, but every jar has a best before date.
- Up to that date, the brand guarantees the MGO or UMF™ grade on the label.
- After it, the honey is still safe to eat, but its strength may no longer match the label.
- Store it in a cool, dry pantry with the lid on tight, not in the fridge.
- Crystallised honey hasn't gone off: warm the closed jar in warm water to soften it.
On this page 9 sections
The short answer
Manuka honey doesn't go off like most foods, but every jar carries a best before date. Up to that date, the brand stands behind the MGO or UMF™ grade on the label. After it, the honey is still safe to eat, but its strength may no longer match the label.
Does Manuka honey expire? Not in the way milk or bread does. Honey keeps for years, yet every jar of Manuka honey you buy has a date printed on it, and that date matters more for Manuka than for any other honey. Here's what the best before date really means, how long Manuka honey lasts once you open it, how to store it, and what to do if it turns hard or grainy.
Does Manuka Honey Expire?
Not really. Honey is mostly sugar with very little water, so it is one of the longest lasting foods in your pantry. Comvita notes that honey can stay stable for decades when it is stored well.
So why does your jar have a date on it? In Australia and New Zealand, food labels use two kinds of date, and they mean very different things:
- Use by is about safety. Food Standards Australia New Zealand says foods should not be eaten after the use-by date.
- Best before is about quality. You can still eat food for a while after its best before date, as long as it has been stored well.
Manuka honey carries a best before date, not a use by date. It tells you how long the brand guarantees the honey at its best.
What the Best Before Date on Your Jar Means
For most honey, the best before date is about taste and texture. For Manuka honey, it is also about strength. Manuka Health describes it as a quality marker focused on potency: up to that date, the MGO level printed on the label stays accurate. Comvita says it packs its honey at the right moment so the UMF™ rating on the label holds for three years.
In other words, the date is the brand's promise about the number on your jar. If you're paying for MGO 573+ or UMF 20+, that's the grade you get, as long as you enjoy it before the date.
Every jar we sell carries its date, so you always know how long its grade is guaranteed.
Can You Eat Manuka Honey After the Best Before Date?
Yes. Food Standards Australia New Zealand confirms that you can still eat foods for a while after the best-before date, and Comvita notes that virtually all honey stays safe past it.
What can change is the strength. After the date, the MGO level may have drifted from the number on the label, and the flavour and texture can change too. Enjoy an older jar on toast or in your tea, but don't count on it still being the grade you paid for.
Does Manuka Honey Lose Its MGO Over Time?
MGO doesn't simply stay fixed. Manuka nectar is rich in a natural compound called DHA, which slowly turns into MGO (methylglyoxal) in the honey. A 2009 study in Carbohydrate Research found that DHA fell as MGO rose in stored honey.
Comvita sums up the pattern: MGO levels rise, then settle, and eventually decline. Heat speeds things up. A 2016 study in Food Chemistry found that warmer storage made DHA disappear faster, while cooler storage turned more of it into MGO.
That's why the brands test, pack and date each batch carefully, and why where you keep your jar matters.
How Long Does Manuka Honey Last Once Opened?
A long time. Manuka Health says an opened jar can still last two to three years if you store it well. Opening the jar doesn't change its best before date, so the date on the label is still the one to go by.
The easiest way to enjoy every jar at its best is to pick a size you'll finish well before the date. A teaspoon a day gets you through a 250g jar in roughly a month, while a 500g or 1kg jar suits households that use Manuka honey every day.
How to Store Manuka Honey
Good storage keeps your honey tasting its best and its grade on track. Manuka Health suggests a cool, dry place between 10 and 21°C. In practice:
- Keep it in the pantry, away from the stove, the kettle and sunny windowsills.
- Skip the fridge. The cold can make honey crystallise and turn hard to spoon.
- Close the lid tightly. Honey draws in moisture from the air, and too much water can make it ferment.
- Use a clean, dry spoon every time, so no water, crumbs or butter end up in the jar. A wooden honey spoon kept just for your jar makes it easy.
Why Manuka Honey Crystallises and How to Soften It
If your honey has turned thick, cloudy or grainy, it hasn't gone off. Crystallising is a natural process: the sugars in honey slowly form tiny crystals, especially in cooler rooms. Manuka Health is clear that crystallisation doesn't mean the honey has gone bad.
To make it smooth again:
- Stand the closed jar in a bowl of warm water, not boiling.
- Leave it for 10 to 15 minutes, then stir.
- Repeat if needed. Skip the microwave, which heats unevenly and can overheat the honey.
Many people simply enjoy it crystallised. It spreads beautifully on warm toast.
How to Tell If Your Honey Has Gone Off
It's rare, and it nearly always comes down to water getting into the jar. Signs to look for:
- A sour, yeasty or alcohol smell
- Foam or bubbles on the surface
- Any mould
If you notice any of these, throw the jar out. Crystals or a thicker texture on their own are nothing to worry about.
Want to know more about what's in your jar? Our guides on MGO and UMF and how to use Manuka honey are a good place to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Manuka honey expire?
Not in the way most foods do. Manuka honey keeps for years, but every jar carries a best before date. Up to that date, the brand guarantees the MGO or UMF™ grade on the label.
Can I eat Manuka honey after the best before date?
Yes. Best before is about quality, not safety, so honey that has been stored well is still fine to eat. Its MGO level may no longer match the label, though.
Should I keep Manuka honey in the fridge?
No. A cool, dry pantry is best. The fridge can make honey crystallise and turn hard to spoon.
Why has my Manuka honey gone hard?
It has crystallised, which is natural and doesn't mean it has gone off. Stand the closed jar in warm water for 10 to 15 minutes and stir to soften it.
Does Manuka honey lose its MGO over time?
MGO can change with time. It tends to rise, settle and eventually decline, and heat speeds this up. That's why each jar is dated and why it's best kept somewhere cool.
