The Best Honey Dispensers for Your Money
If you’re tired of sticky messes on your countertops or looking for that perfect gift for just about anyone, a great honey dispenser might be what you need.
The best honey dispensers keep mess to a minimum and provide the perfect conditions to keep honey fresh for years. After all — as archeologists who discovered perfectly preserved honey in ancient Egyptian tombs can confirm — honey has an almost eternal shelf life, as long as it’s stored properly.
The most effective dispensers do just that, providing a tight seal to protect it from moisture and the elements. They’re also made from quality materials — like heavy-duty glass — that don’t alter honey’s taste and keep its freshness intact.
As an additional perk, many of them are also beautiful and can be a nice, elegant addition to your dining table or countertops. With this in mind, these are the best of the best when it comes to quality honey dispensers.
Reviewing the Finest Honey Dispensers of 2023
1. Best overall: Hunnibi Honey Dispenser
List Price: $62.99
Check on Amazon | Check on Walmart
Hunnibi, as the brand’s name suggests, specializes in honey-related products, specifically dispensers. Its honey dispensers come in various styles and materials, in a wide range of prices. This glass-and-stainless steel model retails for around $60 (and can sometimes be found on sale for $35).
The distinctive shape has a pour spout at the bottom, and a silicone cup to hold it, which prevents any leaks from reaching the countertop. The cup also serves a few other purposes: it keeps the rounded dispenser upright and, on cold days, can be filled with hot water, which will help honey keep its smooth consistency and make it flow easily. Reviewers praise this model, saying that the pour spout is just the right size to get an even flow, even with very thick honey.
This dispenser's honeycomb shape looks beautiful in your kitchen or table, but more importantly, provides the perfect conditions for honey storage. It seals effectively until it’s time to use it, and the thick glass protects it from moisture without altering its taste like some plastic or metals do.
Pros
- Easy to pour without dripping
- Durable stainless steel and glass construction
- Silicone cup prevents leaks
- Honeycomb design boasts a beautiful appearance
Cons
- Somewhat expensive, retailing for about $60
- Difficult to refill
2. Best overall runner-up: Norpro Glass Honey and Syrup Dispenser
List Price: $12.39
Check on Amazon | Check on Walmart
A popular (and less expensive) option to the Hunnibi is the Norpro Glass Honey and Syrup dispenser, which offers a similar design for a lower price.
Retailing for only about $15 (that’s almost half the price of the Hunnibi, unless you find it on sale), the Norpro is one of the most popular dispensers in the market.
Like the Hunnibi, the Norpro is made of glass (albeit a thinner, lighter type), but its top is chrome-plated, not stainless steel. Users rave about how easy to use it is, and how it protects their honey from crystallization; however, some say that the pour spout might be too small and the flow can be uneven.
Pros
- Base can be filled with warm water to heat honey
- Very affordable and great value
- Durable, heavy-duty glass construction
- Thumb lever is easy to use
Cons
- Pour spout isn’t ideal for thicker honey
- Flow may be uneven
3. Best honey jar: Hunnibi Handmade Honey Jar with Dipper
List Price: $26.09
Check on Amazon | Check on Walmart
If you prefer a nice slow drizzle of honey rather than a pour, this beautiful dispenser made by Hunnibi is a wonderful option.
Most dispensers with a dipper have an opening for a stick. This means that your honey isn’t completely covered, which could allow moisture in. (As you’ll see in our tips for honey storage below, moisture is one of the few things that can make honey spoil.) Additionally, the sticks for dipping are usually made from wood, which isn’t as easy to clean as glass and could trap bacteria.
This dispenser from Hunnibi solves all those problems. Both the stick and the jar are made from easy-to-clean glass, and it can be completely closed when not in use. This ensures the freshness of honey pretty much indefinitely. This dispenser might not be as mess-free as others on this list because the dipper could spill some drops on the way from jar to plate; however, the perfect drizzle of honey over your yogurt or oatmeal might just be worth the risk.
If you like this design, but the Hunnibi is out of stock (and it does happen), try the Mkono Honey Jar. Houseware brand Mkono also uses high-quality glass and the same closed design that ensures honey’s freshness. Like Hunnibi’s model, this one also has rave user reviews; however, some complain that the dipper is too short, making it awkward to use when you’re running low on honey.
Pros
- Complete closure when not in use
- Easy to fill and very easy to clean
- Large 14-ounce capacity
- Glass dipper for smooth, precise drizzle
Cons
- Dipper may spill drops while out of jar
- Dipper doesn’t reach the jar’s bottom
4. Best everyday dispenser: Winco Maple Syrup or Honey Dispenser
List Price: $18.95
Check on Amazon | Check on Walmart
Winco makes some of the most popular commercial-grade honey dispensers around. But you don’t have to run a professional kitchen to use them — for a bit less than $20, the Winco dispenser is a useful and reliable addition to any honey (or syrup) lover’s kitchen.
There are some good reasons restaurants all over the country use this type of dispenser. It offers an even, reliable pour, and the steel lid cuts off the flow effectively, keeping stickiness to a minimum and protecting honey’s freshness and color, even for years. Given the low price, reliability and ease of use, this is a great buy for very busy cooks and large families, especially those with children.
Pros
- Easy to use for a mess-free pour
- Stainless steel lid cuts off the flow effectively
- Dishwasher-safe design for easy cleaning
- Easy to refill the jar
Cons
- Relatively plain appearance
- Not ideal for thick, unfiltered honey
5. Best everyday dispenser runner-up: eHomeA2Z Syrup Dispenser Honey Glass Jar
List Price: $22.99
Check on Amazon | Check on Walmart
If the Winco is out of stock, this is a great alternative for busy households. The eHomeA2Z syrup dispenser is made from high-quality glass and an alloy top. It’s easy for children to use, and for anyone to clean and refill. Reviewers praise its even pour (even with unprocessed, thicker honey) and the effectiveness of its lid, which keeps mess to a minimum.
Pros
- Tempered commercial-grade glass for durability
- Non-slip base to prevent accidents
- Comfortable handle for easy dispensing
- Thick construction limits honey crystallization
Cons
- Must be hand-washed for best results
- May leak and drip
6. Best gift: Studio Silversmith Beehive Crystal Honey Jar
List Price: $19.95
Check on Amazon | Check on Walmart
If you want a truly beautiful dispenser for yourself or as a gift, and aren’t too worried about preserving honey for years, then Studio Silversmith’s Beehive Crystal Honey Jar is the one for you.
Shaped somewhat like a beehive (of course), the Studio Silversmith dispenser is built with real crystal, not glass, highlighting honey’s beautiful amber color and giving the jar an antique heirloom look.
Although we generally recommend dispensers that seal completely to provide the best protection for your honey, for households that go through honey fairly quickly (and don’t live in a particularly humid environment), the Studio Silversmith Crystal Jar could be a gorgeous addition to any table.
Pros
- Real, heirloom crystal is very durable
- Easy to clean and fill
- Gorgeous beehive design
- Nicely packaged for gifting
Cons
- Doesn’t seal completely
- May be heavier than other options
Tips for Storing Honey
Honey is a known superfood: it’s not only nutritious, but its distinctive taste will improve anything it touches, from sweet desserts to savory sauces. As we said above, it's also almost immune to spoilage if it’s stored under the right conditions. To store honey properly, it’s helpful to understand what exactly makes it last so long.
First, there’s its acidic nature, which makes it a potent anti-bacterial and antimicrobial. In fact, its bacteria-fighting prowess has been so well-established, honey is now routinely used in band-aids and wound dressings to speed up healing. Second, unlike most foods, honey barely contains any water, making it an inhospitable environment for bacteria and mold.
This means that honey will not spoil if it’s protected from moisture. So, even if you’re not planning to keep honey for millennia, there are some things you can do to ensure it will stay fresh for as long as you need it.
• Choose dispensers that seal completely. There are some beautiful honey containers that feature a stick for drizzling; however, many of them have an opening for that stick. If you live in a humid environment, this could let moisture into your honey, making it spoil faster.
• Keep it in heavy-duty glass, when possible. Some cheaper plastic and metal containers can change the flavor or even cause honey to oxidize.
• Make sure the pour spout is large enough for different types of honey. The honey sold in the characteristic plastic bear on supermarket shelves has been filtered and processed, which makes it flow easier. If you’re getting honey from the farmers’ market or the coop, the texture will be much different and will take longer to dispense, especially if the dispenser has a very small pour spout.
• Don’t put it in the fridge. This will definitely change honey’s texture and sometimes its taste. Keeping it in the right container and at room temperature — that is somewhere between 64°F and 75°F — will preserve its texture best.
• Don’t use oil dispensers for honey. Those dispensers have smaller pour spouts, designed for oil that flows easily and smoothly, not for the viscous texture of honey, maple or chocolate syrup.
Why Trust Us
Our commitment to the consumer begins with product selection and ends with the last word we write in each article. Each honey dispenser is carefully vetted quantitatively through star ratings and the number of reviews and qualitatively through careful examination of reviews and the features each one has to offer. Leveraging our team of bargain hunters, we’re always sure to keep your budget in mind while finding the best honey dispensers on the market. Our team of experts is dedicated to accurately depicting the pros and cons of each honey dispenser, translating technical product specifications into information you can understand. We aim to provide you with the finest honey-dispensing products to improve your cooking and dining experience.
More From Money:
The Best Espresso Machines for Your Money