How to Load a Honey Extractor

Prepare the hand-cranked honey extractor by cleaning it thoroughly of potential contaminants. Hand-cranked extractors hold a minimum of two frames. The maximum number of frames is dependent on the extractor's design.

Remove the frames from the hive. Wear your beekeeper protective gear, goggles and gloves.

Uncap the honey in the frame by using a hot knife to slice through the wax. Use an electric hot knife if you're near a source of electricity. If not, boil a pot of water and repeatedly dip a large kitchen knife into it. The heat from the blade helps slice through the wax and uncaps the honey, releasing it from the comb.

Load the uncapped frames into the hand-crank extractor by slipping them into the designated slots. In a two-frame extractor, be sure that the top of each frame faces the opposite direction to create a balance. In a multiple-frame extractor, this is not an issue.

Place the two-frame extractor in a large, clean garbage bin. Multiple frame extractors usually have a container or bin where the frames are held.

Crank the extractor by hand. The honey flies against the wall of the bin and slowly drains to the bottom. Continue to crank until the frame is emptied of honey.

Filter the honey to extract any pieces of honey comb or dirt that may have been collected during the extraction process. Use a filter cloth. After, jar your honey.