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How to Extract Bee Honey

Researchers increasingly point to the health benefits of honey. Scientists at the National Institute of Health, for example, have found antibacterial properties in raw and processed honey. If you keep bees on your property, you can extract honey from the honeycombs for an economical alternative to buying honey from your grocer. Serious apiarists buy honey extractors, crank or motorized machines that deploy centrifugal force to draw honey from bees' combs. For beekeepers with a more casual, less regular approach to using their colonies' honey, investing in an extractor isn't necessary when a few household items will suffice.

Things You'll Need

Serrated bread knife
2 Glass baking dishes, 13x11
Spoon
Colander
Cheesecloth
Glass jars
Large stockpot
2 Large plastic tubs
Stainless steel spatula
Stainless steel tangential honey extractor

Instructions

Drawing honey without an extractor
- 1
  Check your honeycomb to see if individual cells are open allowing you to see into them, or capped, with a wax covering blocking them. If they're open, you can begin extracting. If they're closed, shave off the caps with the serrated bread knife.
- 2
  Warm your honeycomb to about 90 degrees. Leave the comb in the sun for about 1 hour on a day when the temperature is 80 to 90 degrees. Do not heat, bake or boil the honeycomb in a microwave or oven.
- 3
  Hold the honeycomb horizontally at a 60-degree angle at the bottom of a 13 in. by 11 in. glass baking dish. Don't use galvanized steel or aluminum baking dishes because honey is acidic and can react to the pans.
- 4
  Stroke the honeycomb strongly and slowly up and down with the backside of the spoon to force the honey out of the cells. Allow the honey to run down the honeycomb and into the baking dish. Do not let the honey trickle out, because the process will take too long and the honey could absorb too much moisture from the air and ferment within a few days.
- 5
  Line the colander with a layer of cheesecloth. Place the colander in the bottom of the second 13 in. by 11 in. baking dish.
- 6
  Pour the extracted honey into the cheesecloth-lined colander to filter it. Allow the honey in the colander to strain into the baking dish.
- 7
  Pour the honey from the second baking dish into glass jars and let it rest for a few days. Cover the jar while the honey rests so it does not attract insects.
- 8
  Scoop off any debris that has risen to the top of the jarred honey after it rests.
- 9
  Store your honey in the pantry or cellar. It will keep its flavor for up to two years.
Drawing honey with a tangential extractor
- 10
  Place the honeycomb vertically and at a slight angle inside the tangential extractor's cylinder.
- 11
  Turn the extractor's crank, which should be a white or metal lever found at the bottom of the extractor. The extractor basket inside the cylinder will spin, forcing the honey out of the combs and onto the inside of the extractor.
- 12
  Collect the honey in a 13 in. by 11 in. baking dish as it pours out of the extractor's tap, usually located on the opposite side to the crank lever.
- 13
  Place a layer of cheesecloth into the bottom of the colander. Place the colander into a 13 in. by 11 in. glass baking dish.
- 14
  Pour honey obtained directly from the extractor's tap from its baking dish into the cheesecloth-lined colander to strain debris from the honey as it drains from the colander into the second baking dish.
- 15
  Pour the strained honey from the baking dish into a glass jar. Cover the honey and let it rest for several days.
- 16
  Skim off any debris that has settled at the top of the honey after a few days.
- 17
  Store the jarred honey in your pantry for up to two years.

Insects & Science