Honey extraction is a well-known process for beekeepers but can be an overwhelming task when first learning. However, getting the hand of it is a worthwhile endeavor because collecting the honey is an exciting reward after tending to the bees for an entire year. In this blog post, you’ll learn more about how to extract honey while keeping the bees happy and safe.

Honey Extraction is an End-Of-Summer Reward

Most often, honey can be collected around August or September when the frames are 80-100 percent capped. This means that the bees have placed wax over their honey as a way to signal that it has been transformed from liquid nectar to thicker honey. While it can be tempting to harvest early, it is important to wait for the honey to be capped as early collection can lead to spoiled honey. 

Honey can be used by the beekeeper, given to friends as gifts, or sold to other people at farmers markets and in stores. Honey that is collected is typically filtered by the beekeeper to remove some of pollen and other small particles that are left behind by the bees.

Use Caution When Removing the Bees 

The first step in the process of extracting honey is removing the bees. There are a variety of ways this can be done, but it is important to be careful, so no harm is done to the bees. One of the most hands-on approaches to removal is using a bee brush to gently push the bees off of the frames. This is done with a gentle touch and the bees remain happy.

For a more hands off approach, you can try using a bee escape and letting it sit overnight so the bees can fly out by themselves. A fume board can also be placed within the hive which will cause the bees to leave faster. All of these methods are common and ensure the bees are kept safe. 

The Crush and Strain Method

If you are new to beekeeping, this is one of the most simple methods for extracting honey from the comb. The honeycomb needs to be scraped from the frame into a bucket where it is then crushed. You then take the crushed honeycomb and place it in a strainer, leaving it overnight. In the morning, all of the honey will have separated from the comb!

A similar method is to cut the honeycomb and package it as is. This can then be given to people as gifts or sold. For both of these methods, make sure the honey is still capped as this will ensure it will not spoil. 

A Warm Knife Makes Uncapping Easier

If you are not using one of the extraction methods mentioned above, you will need to remove the caps on the honeycomb. This can be done with an uncapping tool, or a sharp or serrated kitchen knife. Either way, a hot tool makes uncapping a lot easier. Some uncapping tools are heated through electricity, but a kitchen knife can be placed in hot water to warm the metal. 

From there the process is simple. Use the knife or uncapping tool to slice through the caps, removing them from the frame. A tool called a capping scratcher can be used to remove any caps that can not be removed using a knife. Once this is completed, the honey is ready to be harvested. The caps can be used for other products, so make sure to collect that beeswax.

The Final Step in Extraction

When using a motorized or hand crank extractor, simply place the uncapped frames into the baskets of the machine. This machine works by spinning the frames, pushing the honey out of them and into buckets below. It is important to make sure that the frames are balanced and placed well in the extractor because they can be damaged if not. Once the honey is collected, it can be strained and gifted or sold.

Using care throughout the entire extraction process is important to ensure harm does not come to the bees or the frames. It can take a very long time for bees to build their comb, so taking care not to destroy it allows the bees to put more energy into producing honey. Extraction can seem overwhelming at first, but it is easy once you get the hang of it!

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