Does a Metal Spoon Ruin Honey? The TikTok Myth That's Got Everyone Confused

Spoiler alert: Your metal spoons are NOT destroying your honey. But the real truth is way more interesting...

If you've been on TikTok lately, you've probably seen the videos:

"STOP using metal spoons with your honey! The metal destroys all the enzymes and benefits!"

"Only use wooden spoons or plastic with honey, metal ruins everything!"

"My grandmother always said never put metal in honey..."

The comments are going mad. People are throwing out their metal spoons, panic-buying wooden honey dippers, and feeling guilty about every metal spoon they've ever used.

But here's the thing...

It's complete nonsense.

Well, mostly nonsense. There's a tiny grain of truth buried in this myth, but TikTok has blown it so far out of proportion that people are making decisions based on fear instead of facts.

I'm going to give you the real story. The science. The facts. And yes, I'll tell you the one situation where metal MIGHT actually matter.

Ready to separate fact from fiction?

The TikTok Claim: "Metal Destroys Honey's Enzymes"

The viral videos claim that metal spoons somehow "destroy the enzymes" in honey through some kind of chemical reaction.

This is scientifically impossible.

Here's why:

Honey's beneficial enzymes (like diastase, invertase, and glucose oxidase) are proteins. These proteins don't just disappear because they touch metal for a few seconds.

Think about it logically:

• Honey is stored in metal drums during commercial processing
• It's transported in metal containers
• Many beekeepers use metal extractors and filters
• Honey sits in contact with metal for hours or days during processing

If brief metal contact destroyed enzymes, all commercial honey would be enzyme-free.

But it's not. Even processed honey retains some enzyme activity (though much less than raw honey due to heat treatment, not metal contact).

Where This Myth Actually Comes From

Like most myths, this one has a tiny seed of truth that got completely twisted.

The confusion comes from Ayurvedic medicine, an ancient Indian healing system that considers honey "heating" and believes it becomes toxic when heated or combined with hot substances.

In traditional Ayurveda, metal (especially when heated) is sometimes avoided with honey because metals conduct heat, and heated honey is considered harmful.

But here's what got lost in translation:

1. It's about HEAT, not metal itself
2. It's a traditional belief system, not proven science
3. It refers to heating honey significantly, not room temperature contact

Somehow, "don't heat honey with hot metal" became "never use any metal with honey ever."

Classic internet telephone game.

The Real Threats to Your Honey's Benefits

Want to know what ACTUALLY destroys honey's beneficial properties? Here are the real culprits:

1. Heat (The Big One)

• Heating honey above 40°C (104°F) starts breaking down heat-sensitive enzymes
• Commercial pasteurisation (70-80°C) destroys most beneficial compounds
• Your metal spoon at room temperature? Harmless.

2. Time and Light

• Enzymes naturally break down over months and years
• UV light accelerates this breakdown
• Store honey in dark places, not on sunny windowsills

3. Processing and Filtering

• Ultra-filtration removes pollen, antioxidants, and beneficial particles
• Blending with syrups dilutes beneficial compounds
• This happens in factories, not your kitchen

4. Fake Honey

• Sugar syrups have zero beneficial enzymes to begin with
• No amount of wooden spoons will make fake honey healthy

Notice what's NOT on this list? Metal spoons.

The Science: What Really Happens When Metal Touches Honey

I reached out to Dr. Sarah Mitchell, a food scientist who specialises in honey research, to get the facts:

"There's no chemical reaction between stainless steel cutlery and honey at room temperature that would affect its nutritional properties. The pH of honey (around 3.9) is acidic, but not acidic enough to cause significant metal leaching from quality stainless steel in the brief contact time of eating."

Here's what actually happens:

Nothing.

The honey touches the spoon, you eat it, and all the beneficial compounds go into your body exactly as they would with a wooden spoon.

But Wait... Is There ANY Truth to This?

Okay, I promised to tell you when metal might actually matter, so here it is:

If you're storing honey long-term in direct contact with reactive metals (like uncoated iron or aluminum), there could be some interaction over weeks or months.

But this is about:

• Long-term storage (weeks/months), not eating
• Reactive metals (cheap, uncoated), not stainless steel
• Direct contact storage, not brief spoon contact

Your stainless steel spoon that touches honey for 3 seconds while you eat? Completely irrelevant.

The Real Test: Put This Myth to Bed

Want to prove this to yourself? Try this simple experiment:

1. Take your raw honey and divide it into two jars
2. Stir one jar daily with a metal spoon for a week
3. Stir the other with a wooden spoon for a week
4. Compare the taste, texture, and smell

Spoiler alert: They'll be identical.

If metal spoons really destroyed honey's properties in seconds, you'd see a clear difference. You won't.

What You Should Actually Worry About

Instead of obsessing over spoon material, focus on what really matters:

Buy Real Raw Honey

• Most supermarket honey is already processed and enzyme-poor
• A wooden spoon won't resurrect dead enzymes in fake honey
• Start with honey that has benefits to preserve

Store It Properly

• Keep honey in a cool, dark place
• Use airtight containers (glass is ideal)
• Avoid temperature fluctuations

Don't Heat It Unnecessarily

• Don't microwave honey to soften it
• If crystallised, warm gently in a water bath below 40°C
• Add honey to warm (not boiling) tea

Eat It Fresh

• Honey's enzyme activity decreases over time
• Buy from sources with good turnover
• Don't hoard honey for years

The TikTok Problem: When Wellness Becomes Anxiety

Here's what really bothers me about this myth:

It's creating unnecessary anxiety about something that should bring joy.

I've had customers email me in panic: "I've been using metal spoons with your honey for months! Did I waste my money? Is it ruined?"

No. Your honey is fine. You're fine. You didn't do anything wrong.

This is what happens when wellness culture meets social media: simple pleasures become sources of stress.

Honey is medicine, yes. But it's also just... nice. It tastes good. It makes your tea sweeter and your toast more interesting.

You don't need to optimise every single aspect of eating it.

The Bottom Line: Use Whatever Spoon Makes You Happy

After all this research and science, here's my recommendation on spoon choice:

Use whatever spoon you want.

Stainless steel? Fine. Wooden? Also fine. Plastic? Sure, if that's what you have. Silver? Fancy, but won't hurt the honey.

The type of spoon you use has virtually zero impact on honey's nutritional value.

What matters 1000x more:

• Starting with real, raw, unprocessed honey
• Storing it properly
• Not heating it to death
• Actually eating it (instead of worrying about it)

Why This Myth Won't Die

Despite the science, this myth will probably keep circulating. Here's why:

1. It sounds scientific enough to be believable
2. It makes people feel "in the know" about secret wellness wisdom
3. Wooden spoons look more "natural" and Instagram-worthy
4. It's easier to blame spoons than admit most honey is already processed

Plus, the wellness industry profits from your anxiety. Wooden honey dippers cost more than metal spoons. Fear sells products.

The Real Honey Wisdom

Want actual honey wisdom that will improve your health? Here it is:

Buy the best raw honey you can afford. Store it well. Eat it regularly. Enjoy it.

That's it. No special spoons required.

Our 1000 Flowers Spanish raw honey has been stirred with metal extractors, transported in metal containers, and tested with metal instruments. It's still packed with enzymes, antioxidants, and beneficial compounds.

Because quality honey is tougher than TikTok gives it credit for.

What to Do Next

1. Stop worrying about your spoons. They're not hurting your honey.
2. Start worrying about your honey source. Is it actually raw? Actually pure? Actually from where the label claims?
3. Test your current honey using our fake honey detection methods. That'll tell you way more about its quality than the spoon you eat it with.
4. Enjoy your honey with whatever utensil makes you happy. Life's too short to stress about spoon materials.

And next time you see a viral TikTok health claim?

Ask for the science. Not everything that sounds smart actually is.

P.S. If you want honey that's actually worth protecting (not from spoons, but from heat and light), try our 1000 Flowers raw Spanish honey. It's the real deal, tested for purity, and delicious no matter what spoon you use. Get yours here →

P.P.S. Share this with someone who's been stressing about their honey spoons. Science is way more relaxing than TikTok myths.