20 Reasons to Keep Honey in the Pantry

Honey has long been used as both a natural sweetener and a medicinal remedy. This golden liquid not only adds flavor to our food but also provides numerous health benefits. If you’re looking for a fantastic ingredient to keep in your pantry, look no further than honey. Today, I want to discuss 20 reasons to keep honey in your pantry. Please stock up on honey; raw and unfiltered is the best when storing honey.

I started stocking creamed honey from Cox’s Honey, which is made in Shelley, Idaho. We can freeze it in my full-size freezer, and it’s 100% honey, with no additives, raw, and unfiltered. I remember calling my Cox’s Honey rep and asking if it’s organic. The answer is no. They have no control over where the bees fly as they gather the nectar, so that is the answer.

1. Natural Sweetener

As a healthier alternative to refined sugar, honey can be used in various recipes. From sweetening your tea or coffee to baking delicious desserts, honey adds a unique and mellow sweetness. Emergency Prepping with Honey Bees

2. Immune Boosting Properties

Honey contains antioxidants and antimicrobial compounds that provide nutrients that can help strengthen your immune system. Consuming honey regularly may help reduce the risk of infections. How to Boost Your Immune System

Honey may benefit heart health if you’re concerned about sweeteners and heart disease.

3. Cough Suppressant

A spoonful of honey can relieve your throat if you have a nagging cough. It’s soothing and can help alleviate throat irritation and reduce coughing. Allergies: What You Need to Know

4. Energy Booster

The natural sugars in honey, such as fructose and glucose, provide a quick energy boost. Whether you need a pick-me-up during exercise or an afternoon slump, a tablespoon of honey can give you the energy you need! You better believe I’m doing this as often as I need to.

5. Wound Healing

Honey has been used for centuries to treat wounds and burns. Its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties can help wound healing by keeping the area clean. Applying honey topically can help speed up the healing process. Of course, always talk to your doctor first. 35 OTC Medications You Should Store

6. Allergy Relief

Local raw honey contains trace amounts of pollen from the area where it was produced. Some research suggests that consuming local honey may help reduce seasonal allergy symptoms by desensitizing the body to allergens. Allergies: What You Need to Know

7. Digestive Aid

Honey has mild laxative properties and can help relieve constipation. It also acts as a prebiotic, which means it can help with your gut health.

8. Natural Skincare

Honey is not only great for consumption but also for topical application. It has moisturizing properties and can make it an excellent ingredient for homemade skincare products. I like to make my skincare products, like face masks and scrubs, using honey.

9. Great For Your Diet

Honey helps protect our bodies because it’s a natural ingredient found in nature and is just great for our diets overall.

10. Weight Management

Contrary to popular belief, honey can be a helpful tool in managing weight. Its natural sweetness can satisfy sugar cravings. I have also known honey to help control appetite because a little goes a long way!

11. Soothing Sunburns

The anti-inflammatory properties of honey make it an effective remedy for sunburns. Applying honey topically can help reduce redness and inflammation and promote healing. How to Reduce Sunburn Naturally

12. Natural Preservative

Honey’s low water content and high acidity create an inhospitable environment for bacteria. Adding honey to homemade jams, sauces, or dressings can extend their shelf life. This is one of my favorite reasons for keeping honey in the pantry: it’s a natural preservative.

13. Nutrient-rich

Honey is very nutrient-rich and includes many vitamins and minerals. These include vitamin C, B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, calcium, and copper. It also has iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, sodium, and phosphorus, adding a nutrient boost to your recipes.

Honey is a natural sugar made mostly of fructose and glucose, providing a high level of carbohydrates. It also contains amino acids and enzymes. Honey may not be a good natural sweetener if you have diabetes; check with your healthcare professional. In any situation, you should consume honey in moderation, just like most foods.

14. Natural Cough Syrup

Combining honey with lemon juice or herbal teas creates a natural and soothing cough syrup. This homemade remedy can relieve coughs and sore throats without the artificial additives in regular cough syrups. 10 Healthy Foods Under $1

15. Promotes Better Sleep

Consuming honey before bedtime may improve sleep quality. The natural sugars in honey stimulate the release of serotonin, which converts to melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep. How to Sleep Safely During a Crisis or Emergency

16. Sore Throat Relief

The soothing and antibacterial properties of honey make it an effective remedy for sore throats. Mixing honey with warm water or herbal tea can provide instant relief and help reduce inflammation. Canker Sores: Causes and How to Treat Them

17. Natural Energy Gel

For athletes or those engaging in prolonged physical activity, honey can serve as a natural energy gel. Its quick absorption and easily digestible sugars make it a fuel source during exercise. Fitness for Survival

18. DIY Hair Conditioner

Honey’s moisturizing properties make it an excellent ingredient for homemade hair conditioners. Mixing honey with other natural ingredients like olive oil or coconut milk can nourish your hair, leaving it soft and shiny.

19. Delicious Addition to Recipes

Honey’s unique flavor profile adds a lot to dishes. From drizzling it on pancakes or yogurt to using it as a glaze for roasted meats, honey enhances the taste of many recipes. Popeye Pancakes Recipe With A Secret Trick

20. Long Shelf Life

Unlike many other food products, the shelf life of honey is exceptionally long, some say it has an indefinite shelf life. That’s why many preppers consider honey an excellent item for long-term storage. Due to its low moisture content, honey can last indefinitely when stored correctly in a sealed container. This means you can always have a jar of honey in your pantry, ready to be used whenever needed. Foods That Have a Long Shelf Life

More Tips

• Honey Bees: Everything You Should Know
• How To Stock A Pantry

Please store your honey in glass mason jars if possible. I remember a cute neighbor in Southern Utah who told me he had just purchased several 5-gallon honey buckets. Here’s the deal with 5-gallon buckets: eventually, the honey will crystallize, and that’s okay. The term crystallized honey means it will become as hard as a rock. Over time, crystallization is a natural occurrence, even at room temperature.

Yes, it will happen in quart mason jars, which are better because you can soften the honey to its liquid state in direct sunlight or in a pan of hot water on your stove while I stir the honey. I’ve tried to heat it in the microwave, but haven’t had great results. I’ve had a plastic container crack and leak, so from that day forward, I place all my honey in quart mason jars. You need to make sure the jar has a quality lid that provides a tight seal.

Once I open the honey container, I put the honey in my refrigerator. Many people don’t use their fridge for honey storage, but I want to keep the honey as fresh as possible and minimize spoilage through contamination. The honey has a thicker consistency, but I can live with that.

What is pasteurized honey?

This is honey that has been heated to prevent crystallization, fermentation, and granulation. Heating keeps the honey in a liquid state longer and helps maintain a smoother, clearer, and less grainy texture. It doesn’t kill any bacteria since most bacteria can’t survive in honey. The process kills yeast spores that prompt honey to ferment.

Honey consumed by children 12 months old and younger can be a problem. There is a rare bacterium called Clostridium botulinum whose spores can cause botulism, particularly in young children. Boiling foods for 10 minutes or longer has been shown to kill these spores. The risk to young children is high enough that the CDC directs us to wait until children’s immune systems are stronger, so wait until after they are at least one year old.

Final Word

Keeping honey in your pantry is a wise choice. Not only does it serve as a natural sweetener and flavor enhancer, but it also provides many health benefits. I mentioned at least 20 reasons to keep honey in your pantry, but I’d love to know why you keep it in yours! May God Bless this World, Linda

Copyright Images: Honey Being Poured AdobeStock_226346903 By Ivan, Honey In Glass Jars AdobeStock_217168361 By Ivan