Can You Use a Metal Spoon with Honey?

Can you eat honey with a metal spoon? Yes, it's perfectly safe!

You might have heard that metal spoils honey. And when honey is so valued for its natural qualities, that’s the last thing you want.

But this popular idea is just a misconception; there's no harm in using a metal spoon to scoop honey.

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

Does honey react with metal?

Honey does react with certain metals, but the harmful claims are often exaggerated.

As a naturally acidic substance, honey has a chemical reaction with some sensitive metals, particularly non-stainless metals. When honey comes into contact with a reactive metal for long periods of time, its taste and quality can be affected.

However, this is only noticeable with prolonged exposure. If you're just using a metal spoon to mix or scoop honey for everyday use, a harmful reaction is highly unlikely. The honey’s quality won’t be affected, nor will you taste anything out of the ordinary.

That’s especially the case if you use stainless steel utensils, which are even less likely to react with the honey's acidity.

So, while the honey metal spoon myth is rooted in some truth, it’s mostly an old wives’ tale. Regularly enjoying honey with a metal spoon won’t affect the honey’s flavour or quality.

When should you avoid mixing metal and honey?

It's perfectly safe to use metal utensils for handling honey in everyday contexts. The brief contact time means the metal has no meaningful effect on the honey's taste or quality.

However, you should avoid storing honey in metal jars for extended periods, 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 organic 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 and eating honey.

Is a metal spoon bad for Mānuka Honey?

Mānuka Honey is a type of honey that stems from New Zealand’s native Mānuka plant (Leptospermum scoparium).

It’s known for the naturally occurring compounds that distinguish it from other types of honey, including methylglyoxal (MGO), Dihydroxyacetone (DHA), Leptosperin, and Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). This unique chemical profile, paired with a deep, earthy flavour, makes Mānuka Honey beloved as a daily treat or natural sweetener.

Does metal ruin honey? Luckily, it’s completely safe to quickly scoop honey with a metal spoon, no matter what type of honey you enjoy. Only prolonged contact, such as long-term storage in a metal container or keeping a non-stainless steel spoon in the jar, may affect honey’s quality or flavour over time.

So if you’re concerned about quality, ensure you’re buying authentic Mānuka Honey.

Licensed New Zealand Mānuka Honey is certified through the UMF™ independent quality trademark, which assigns a rating indicating the level of key markers like MGO.

The UMF™ rating system matters more for Mānuka Honey quality than briefly using a metal spoon — learn more about what UMF ratings mean.

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 scooping or stirring 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 may increase the risk of spoilage, so keep the jar sealed, and your spoons dry to prevent moisture from entering.
• Keep at room temperature: Mānuka Honey doesn’t need to be stored in the fridge, but heat and direct sunlight can affect its quality over time.

So, can you use a metal spoon with honey?

It’s absolutely safe to eat honey with a metal spoon, and the short contact time has next-to-no effect on its quality or flavour. Storage, handling, and, in the case of Mānuka Honey, the UMF™ rating all affect quality more significantly than your choice of utensils.

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

Explore our selection of UMF-certified Mānuka Honey online today, or shop our wooden spoons, perfect for handling honey.