How to Extract Honey From Frames

Before approaching the hive, make sure you're wearing your bee suit. Light the smoker and release some smoke into the hive to calm the bees. Open the top and pull out a wooden frame. Shake off the bees. Look to see that the honeycomb is fully covered with wax. Hold it up to the light to make sure there are no live larva. If you see larva, put the frame back. Place frames you're taking into a covered bin to keep the bees off them.

The bees need some honey for nourishment. It's estimated that one frame holds five to eight pounds of honey. Bees need 60 pounds to get through a winter. Leave enough frames for the bees, take the remaining filled frames and replace them with empty frames.

Back at your house or workshop, heat your uncapping knife in boiling water. Use the knife to scrape the wax off the honeycomb. Use a sawing motion to remove all the wax. Save the wax for candles.

If you do not have an extractor, place the honeycomb upside down over a bucket. Let the honey drip out of the honeycomb overnight. This process works best in rooms heated to 80 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Otherwise, place the frames in your extractor. Turn the crank slowly to start; this creates centrifugal force that extracts the honey. As honey leaves the comb, increase the speed. If you turn the extractor too fast, the weight of the honey causes the wax to break apart.

Extracted honey contains pieces of wax. It may also contain pollen. Strain the honey through cheesecloth into a clean bucket. Throw the cheesecloth away.

Pour the strained honey into sterile honey jars. Screw on the caps and store in a cool, dark place.