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How to Remove Honey From a Comb

Honey is a natural sweetener produced by bees of the nectar cultivated from flowers. Honey is produced inside a comb made up of tiny holes that the bees cap with wax when honey production is complete. In order to enjoy liquid honey, the honey must be removed from the combs carefully to preserve the flavor and quality of the honey. You can purchase an extraction machine for the job or do it yourself with a few kitchen items.

Things You'll Need

Large pot
Bread knife
Glass of hot water
Glass baking dish
Metal spatula
Cheesecloth or nylon hosiery
Storage jars

Instructions

- 1
  Place the entire honeycomb inside a large pot. Use the bread knife to slowly remove the wax caps that seal the honey in the comb. Dip the knife into the hot water periodically to keep the blade warm. A warm knife makes it easier to cut through the wax.
- 2
  Allow the wax caps to fall into the bottom of the pan. Set aside for later use.
- 3
  Hold the honeycomb vertically on a glass cookie sheet or baking pan so that all leaking will be caught.
- 4
  Press the metal spatula against the honeycomb with slow but forceful strokes to slowly squeeze the honey from the comb. Repeat this process several times until all honey is extracted.
- 5
  Pour honey into cheesecloth or nylon hosiery to strain wax and other particles from the honey. Strain the honey into a dry sanitized jar for storage.
- 6
  Form a ball with the remaining honeycomb and place inside the cheesecloth or nylons and squeeze to extract the rest of the honey from the comb.

Insects & Science