Can you use a metal spoon with honey?

Can you eat honey with a metal spoon? Yes, it’s fine for everyday use!

It’s a common belief that metal destroys the natural qualities of honey. And when honey is so valued for them, that’s an easy concern to understand. 

For everyday use, however, using a clean metal spoon to scoop or stir honey is fine. 

In this guide, we’ll cover what happens when metal and honey come into contact and the best practices for storing honey.

Does honey react with stainless steel and different metals?

Because of honey’s composition, it does react with certain metals, but the harmful claims are often exaggerated.

As a naturally acidic substance with a low pH, honey may react with some sensitive metals, particularly non-stainless ones, which are susceptible to corrosion. When honey is exposed to a reactive metal for extended periods, it can potentially affect honey’s taste and quality.

While the honey-metal spoon myth is rooted in some truth, it’s mostly an old wives’ tale. If you’re using a clean, food-grade stainless steel spoon, which is the most common material in Kiwi kitchens, the brief contact time is unlikely to affect the honey’s flavour or quality.  

Is a metal spoon bad for honey?

No, a metal spoon isn't bad for honey in everyday use. Eating raw honey off a metal spoon or stirring Mānuka Honey with a clean stainless steel or silver spoon won't ruin it or affect its flavour.

If quality is your priority, make sure you buy authentic Mānuka Honey. The UMF™ rating system independently verifies key quality markers and provides a trusted indication of Mānuka Honey authenticity and strength. Learn more about what UMF ratings mean.

When does metal ruin honey?

It's safe to use a metal spoon with honey in everyday contexts. However, we don’t recommend storing honey in metal jars, especially if the jar is made of a reactive metal such as uncoated iron or copper. Instead, it’s best to use the original honey jar for long-term storage.

What’s the best spoon to use for honey?

While there isn’t one ‘best’ spoon to use for honey, wooden honey dippers and wooden spoons are the traditional choice. They complement the natural character of honey, adding a touch of nature to any kitchen.

Alternatively, stainless steel, food-safe plastic, silicone, and ceramic spoons are all safe choices for stirring, eating, and scooping honey.

Best practices for handling and storing Mānuka Honey

• Use clean utensils: The state of your utensils is more important than their materials. Make sure your spoons are clean and dry before handling honey.
• Store honey in a sealed container: Keep your honey jar tightly sealed to help prevent contamination from moisture or environmental exposure. Ideally, use the same container you got it in.
• Avoid introducing moisture: Prolonged contact with moisture may increase the risk of spoilage, so keep the jar sealed, and your spoons dry to prevent it from entering.
• Keep at room temperature: Mānuka Honey doesn’t need to be stored in the fridge, but keep it away from direct sunlight and heat, which can degrade its quality.

So, can you use a metal spoon in honey?

Yes! It’s perfectly fine to eat honey with metal utensils, and the short contact time is highly unlikely to impact its quality or flavour. Storage, handling, and, in the case of Mānuka Honey, the UMF™ rating are more meaningful quality considerations than your choice of utensils.

Comvita is your source of genuine, independently certified New Zealand Mānuka Honey. Since 1974, we’ve been carefully harvesting honey from our very own hives across remote landscapes, rigorously testing each batch for authenticity and quality.

Explore our selection of UMF-certified Mānuka Honey online today.