this post was submitted on 06 Mar 2025
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No Stupid Questions

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A quick search suggests that the average American uses about 1.3 pounds of honey per year. If I'm 40 years old, and guess that I might live to be 80, that's only 52 pounds of honey, which I could easily buy in bulk. Honey doesn't expire, and even assuming the price doesn't skyrocket from bee die-offs, inflation alone will make the price go up over time.

Does it make sense to buy all the rest of the honey I'll ever need for the rest of my life, right now?

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 hour ago

Do you actually eat 1.3 pounds a year tho? If so, then it does.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 hour ago

Yeah, then turn it into mead

[–] BillibusMaximus 103 points 7 hours ago (3 children)

Beekeeper here. I won't comment on whether or not you should. But since I know a little about storing honey, here are some things to consider:

If you do this, you need to make sure it's sealed in airtight containers.

Part of what gives honey its antimicrobial properties (and long shelf life) is its low moisture content. But it's hygroscopic and will pull moisture directly from the air if exposed. After it pulls enough moisture, it can ferment, grow bacteria, or otherwise not be fit for normal consumption.

Also, honey can crystallize over time. This doesn't mean it's bad, but in order to re-liquify it, you'll need to heat it. So consider your storage container size and material carefully.

That said, 52 lbs is less than a 5 gallon bucket full (at roughly 12 lbs / gallon), so it shouldn't take an incredible amount of space if you choose to do it. Or, in smaller portions, a quart mason jar will hold about 3 lbs. So 2 cases (12 jars each) would exceed your quantity requirements, and be more manageable than a 60lb bucket.

Also if you can buy it in bulk at wholesale prices, it will be cheaper. Retail can be anywhere from $5-$20 per pound (depending on what/where) whereas the last I checked, wholesale prices were more like $1.50 - $3.50 per pound, depending on quantity.

Hope that helps.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 3 hours ago

i would not consider buying this much honey, personally, but i really appreciate your comment. it is so informative.

thank you! (sincere)

[–] [email protected] 15 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

Does anyone else REALLY want this crazy honey buyer to get his honey from this knowledgeable beekeeper? It's a Lemmy matchmaking story!

[–] BillibusMaximus 9 points 3 hours ago

Unfortunately, I've really scaled back my number of hives and now only get enough honey to keep my immediate family supplied.

But I appreciate the sentiment.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 5 hours ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 hours ago

most beeluable player?

[–] [email protected] 32 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

I buy a 5 gallon bucket of honey once every 6ish years. It's one of the only sweeteners my wife can have so we use it in everything that needs a sweeter taste. I fill small 20oz jars with it and seal the bucket back up. It's a good investment because you can get it much much cheaper. I buy mine from Sleeping bear farms in Michigan.

[–] [email protected] 48 points 7 hours ago (3 children)

Is it dangerous? What if the bears wake up?

[–] [email protected] 16 points 7 hours ago

obviously you have to wait for them to go lookin' for pic-a-nik baskets then.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 7 hours ago

They hibernate for quite a while. Plenty of time to steal their honey jars.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 hours ago

Hello.

Oh wait you meant the other kind of bear...

[–] [email protected] 21 points 8 hours ago (2 children)

Honey can expire if not stored right.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 7 hours ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 12 points 7 hours ago

God damn that works on so many different levels!

[–] [email protected] -1 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

That’s an old wives’ tale. Honey never spoils, it crystallizes. All you need to do is heat it to liquify. 3000 year old honey was found in an Egyptian tomb, and was still edible.

https://realrawhoney.co.uk/blogs-real-raw-honey-honey-in-ancient-egypt/

[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 hours ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 hours ago

I misunderstood “poor storage” as a temperature. Sure, if you don’t seal the container and an abundance of moisture is able to enter, that could cause spoilage. So if OP doesn’t keep their honey in a bucket in the basement they should be fine.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 hours ago

Sure, buy the 50 lbs of honey now. Convert it to mead. Profit.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

Honey can change consistency, depending on how it is packaged and stored. In addition, you have to consider the cost and risk of storing it. But if you think the bees are going to die off, it could be a lucrative investment.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

My first thought was that of the cost of storing it. You never know when something will happen and all of your effort to store it is moot. Like if a natural disaster occurs and destroys your stash, or something happens and you must leave everything behind. Not a huge deal if you only have a few years of it, but a lifetime's worth?

[–] Gullible 14 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

Or just ants. Ants ruin plans

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 hours ago

Also cockroaches.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 7 hours ago (2 children)

You're likely better off investing the same amount of money.

Buying it all now is betting that inflation will be higher than your investment return over the next 40 years. That's not a good bet unless the world literally collapses.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 7 hours ago

So it's a good bet, got it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

What do you think investing less than $200 is going to earn you?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 hours ago (2 children)

What do you think buying $200 worth of honey will save you?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

About 20 trips to the grocery store and the associated gas prices.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

…You know you can buy multiple things at once at the store?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 hour ago

Like $200 worth of honey?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

It'll get me at least a few years of happiness, and perhaps make my ensuing case of diabetes mellitus more appropriately named than that of most peoples'.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago)

Honey can technically expire. If it crystalizes, some portions of it can become more diluted, leading to a low enough osmotic pressure for bacteria and fungi to exist. If you do buy in bulk, check your local universities. One in my area does honeybee research and sells bulk honey from their bee lab at cheaper prices than any of the private beekeepers. I use it to make mead.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

A fire could destroy it, just saying 👀

[–] [email protected] 2 points 40 minutes ago

That's some very nice honey you got there, be a shame if it all burned down

[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 hours ago
[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 hours ago

Bulk honey is significantly less expensive if you buy direct from an apiary, and in bulk. It never expires (but can go bad! you still have to store it properly) and will last longer than you if you treat it good.

Go for it. The price of honey is bound to just go up.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 hours ago

The issue with stuff like this is the high upfront cost, the hassle of storing the goods (correctly), and the fact that you could just put the same money into some stable stocks and likely be better off buying honey as needed. But I'm sure if you research it hard enough you can set yourself up for a good deal, barring catastrophy.