Book 9, Question 14
Why Does Honey Turn Grainy and Hard in the Jar?
Honey turns grainy and hard because some of its sugar slowly lines up into crystals! Honey is mostly sugar with very little water. It is still honey, and gentle warmth melts the crystals again.
More fun facts
- Clear honey tends to crystallize over time.
- To make it runny again, set the jar in a jug of hot water for a minute or so.
- Honey can crystallize in a sealed jar, but it does not go bad.
- Honeybees make honey from flower nectar, which starts out as a warm, watery, sugary liquid.
- Germs cannot survive long in honey, so they do not get the chance to spoil it.
- A good seal on the jar helps honey last, which is how jars of honey thousands of years old were found in Egypt.
Sources: BBC, BBC, Smithsonian Magazine
Questions kids ask
Is grainy honey spoiled?
No. Crystallized honey is still good. Warming it gently makes it smooth again.