What to do with honey when it crystallizes?

The honey is an ingredient that should not be missing from your kitchen, as long as you consume it in moderation, since according to the Digital Library of Traditional Mexican Medicine from UNAM, this food is used for “sore throat, cough, hoarseness, bronchitis, and laryngitis,” among other ailments. If you peeked into your pantry and your honey has crystallized, don’t worry, here’s what to do, as it’s not necessary to throw it away.  You can also read: How to identify if honey is pure or adulteratedWhat to do with honey when it crystallizes? According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), honey should be consumed 12 months after opening, as after this time, “the honey remains safe, but its quality decreases.”  Now, it is sometimes said that if the honey becomes hard, it is adulterated honey, but in reality, it is quite the opposite, as pure, unprocessed, and good-quality honey crystallizes after some time. So don’t throw it away, it’s still good! Is crystallized honey bad? Before heating the honey, remember that it is safe to consume once it solidifies or looks cloudy, as U.S. authorities indicate that it poses no health risk.  For example, if you like to have tea or coffee with a touch of honey, the solid honey will dissolve with heat and you won’t notice it was crystallized. It’s also an excellent option for toasted bread.  You can also read: How many types of honey are there and how to identify the best?How to melt crystallized honey? According to the USDA, crystallized honey “can be heated in the microwave or in a container with hot water to clarify or melt it.”  On the other hand, the Taste of Home website recommends the following method to melt honey without exposing it directly to heat: 1. Pour warm water into a heat-resistant bowl. 2. Uncap the honey and place it inside the bowl. 3. Let it sit for a couple of minutes.  4. Use a clean, dry spoon to stir the honey. 5. Remove the honey from the bowl when it has turned liquid again.  If you don’t have the time or patience, you can also heat the honey in the microwave as follows: 1. Before putting the honey in the microwave, make sure to remove any metal parts. 2. Heat in 15-second intervals until you achieve the desired consistency.  So now you know, if honey crystallizes, don’t throw it away, because besides being 100% bee honey, you can use it in all kinds of dishes and drinks, as it poses no health risk.  You can also read: 5 ways to include honey in your beauty routineHow to differentiate pure honey from adulterated honey?  The Federal Consumer Prosecutor's Office (Profeco) points out that sometimes false or adulterated honey is sold, so it is essential to know the main characteristics of bee honey to avoid buying fake honey with these tips:  1. Experts confirm that honey does crystallize some time after opening, so if this happens, you will know it is 100% natural. Academic Alfonso Gardea Béjar explains that “crystallization is the best mechanism for storing produced honey, so that bees can consume it during times when it is not being produced.”  2. Check the labels, as if it indicates that it contains any additive, then it is not 100% pure honey.   3. Check if it has an expiration date or best before date, as bee honey does not expire or spoil.   4. In the case of bee honey sold in markets or street stalls, pay close attention, as it is more common for it to be adulterated with fructose syrup, pieces of wax, and dead bees to make it seem like a pure product, according to Ángel López Ramírez, an academic from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics at UNAM.  5. If the honey is being sold at a very cheap price, it is most likely adulterated.