Explore Guides

How to Extract Honey

Start the Guide ›
Extract Honey

How to Extract Honey

There are 3 main stages for extracting honey from a hive. 1st is getting the frames off the hive. 2nd is the actual extraction. 3rd is bottling the honey. This guide pertains to stages 2 and 3.

7.8k Views
Step 1 of 18
Bring your honey frames into the room where you will be extracting. Make sure your space is clean, warm, and has running water. You should be away from bees and insects. I like to use my kitchen.

Bring your honey frames into the room where you will be extracting. Make sure your space is clean, warm, and has running water. You should be away from bees and insects. I like to use my kitchen.

Step 2 of 18
This is a manual 3-frame extractor. To protect the floors and countertops, I like to put down drop cloths and plastic sheets. This also makes it easier to clean up when you are finished.

This is a manual 3-frame extractor. To protect the floors and countertops, I like to put down drop cloths and plastic sheets. This also makes it easier to clean up when you are finished.

Step 3 of 18
Have a 5 gallon bucket ready, with a nylon strainer placed inside. You can purchase a bucket with a spigot from a beekeeping supply company. It makes bottling much easier then with a regular bucket.

Have a 5 gallon bucket ready, with a nylon strainer placed inside. You can purchase a bucket with a spigot from a beekeeping supply company. It makes bottling much easier then with a regular bucket.

Step 4 of 18
This is an uncapping knife. You can use anything from a fancy electric, heated model to a plain serrated bread knife. Offset handles will not bump your knuckles on the frame as you remove the wax.

This is an uncapping knife. You can use anything from a fancy electric, heated model to a plain serrated bread knife. Offset handles will not bump your knuckles on the frame as you remove the wax.

Step 5 of 18
This is an example of a sufficiently capped frame. A frame should have at least 80% capped honey. Uncapped honey has high moisture content. If the yield is too moist, it could ferment.

This is an example of a sufficiently capped frame. A frame should have at least 80% capped honey. Uncapped honey has high moisture content. If the yield is too moist, it could ferment.

Step 6 of 18
Here is a close up of the capped frame.

Here is a close up of the capped frame.

Step 7 of 18

Place the frame in a bucket or extracting tank. Run the knife down the frame, letting the cappings fall.

Step 8 of 18
Some honey will drip into the extracting tank or bucket. A tank will separate the honey from the wax, which can be drained via the valve. If using a bucket, drop the entire contents through a strainer

Some honey will drip into the extracting tank or bucket. A tank will separate the honey from the wax, which can be drained via the valve. If using a bucket, drop the entire contents through a strainer

Step 9 of 18
When you have uncapped both sides of the frame, place it in the extractor.

When you have uncapped both sides of the frame, place it in the extractor.

Step 10 of 18
Make sure all slots are full before you begin.

Make sure all slots are full before you begin.

Step 11 of 18
The cover should be on.

The cover should be on.

Step 12 of 18

Spin the crank for 30 to 60 seconds. A tangential extractor requires that you take out each frame, flip it around, and then spin again. You will then return it to the first position for another spin.

Step 13 of 18

Remove each frame from the extractor once the honey has been spun off. If there is still honey on the comb, repeat the last step.

Step 14 of 18

Open the gate periodically to let the honey pour out. If you wait too long, it will rise so high you can't spin the extractor. I open it after each set of frames, while I'm uncapping the next batch.

Step 15 of 18
Let all the honey go through the preliminary strainer. I triple strain my honey, which involves transferring back and forth between 2 clean buckets lined with new mesh strainers.

Let all the honey go through the preliminary strainer. I triple strain my honey, which involves transferring back and forth between 2 clean buckets lined with new mesh strainers.

Step 16 of 18
After you have strained the honey, put it on a scale and see how much you ended up with!

After you have strained the honey, put it on a scale and see how much you ended up with!

Step 17 of 18
Make sure the honey is transferred back to the pail with the spigot. Put a lid on the bucket. Let the honey sit overnight, so the air bubbles can float up to the top. Now it's time to start bottling!

Make sure the honey is transferred back to the pail with the spigot. Put a lid on the bucket. Let the honey sit overnight, so the air bubbles can float up to the top. Now it's time to start bottling!

Step 18 of 18

Open the spigot and let the honey flow into the containers. Make sure there is a heavy pour, to prevent air bubbles. Remember that honey flows better in warm temperatures, so turn up the heat!

Start Over

173
19 Comments
Supplies
Embed

1 Extractor

1 Bucket with spigot

3 Plastic or canvas drop cothes

1 Uncapping knife

2 Bucket

3 Nylon mesh strainers

1 Spatula

Glass jars

Frames filled with honey

Janice Kessler

This is basically what we do with our four hives. My question is how to clean the wax particles out of/off of the equipment used? Also, we heat ours to 110* then let it cool to remove wax and stray "bee parts" that leave dark specks in bottled honey. We use chiffon to strain honey - available from fabric stores like JoAnn Fabrics. It can easily be washed if you purchase the polyester type.

Janice Kessler 3 months ago

Sara Paul Raffel

@barron that is so nice to hear!! I hope beekeeping brings me as much joy for a long time, as well.

(author) last year

Barron Sawyer

Cool guide. My parents were beekeepers here in Santa Barbara (CA) for 10 years. They still have 4 hives and a small extractor. Love seeing them acting like kids operating it.

Barron Sawyer last year

Prair Dulyathamapirom

Great !

Prair Dulyathamapirom last year

Jazz Pulmano

Hi! How can i order for the honey extractor? Im also looking for bee's so i could start raising my own.. Can you help me out? Thanks..

Jazz Pulmano last year

Sara Paul Raffel

@Brent I rented the extractor for $25. Extractors are rather expensive, and since I only need it once (or twice, if it happens to be a very productive season) a year, it makes sense to rent. Some beekeeping associations make one available to members, so it is worth checking to see if that is a possibility where you live. The other items needed for extraction (buckets, strainers, knife, etc) can run quite a range. You can do it pretty bare bones, like I do, and get away under $50. If you purchase a fancy heated uncapping knife, and a real uncapping tank, you can easily spend a couple hundred dollars.

(author) last year

Sally P

Love this! Hives on the way!

Sally P last year

Brent Friddle

I'm looking forward to raising my own bees for the honey. We love honey of all types. How much does all that equipment cost that is featured in the video? Great video

Brent Friddle last year

Sharon Chan

Very cool!!

Sharon Chan last year

Greg Leggett

You got to love the spelling errors with the iPhones Siri

Greg Leggett last year

Greg Leggett

Thanks for that, I'm starting to beehives this year.

Greg Leggett last year

Robin Allenson

Looks great. Thanks for the interesting guide.

Robin Allenson last year

Shamsul Amar

Nice to know it.

Shamsul Amar last year

Jasper Tsai

It looks so yummy... Drops of heaven I'd say...

Jasper Tsai last year

OutThere Labs

Cool - that's how it's done.

OutThere Labs last year

Day McDonald

I want to go to a bee farm and see what's up thanks to this! My friend is a bee keeper and he's made me think about it for a while, but I'd love to do this sometime! :D

Day McDonald last year

Sara Paul Raffel

Thanks!

(author) last year

Ashley Bennett Ewald

Neat guide, Sara!

Ashley Bennett Ewald last year

Greg Cohn

Mystery solved.

Greg Cohn last year

Be first to comment on Step 1.

Be first to comment on Step 2.

Be first to comment on Step 3.

Be first to comment on Step 4.

Tim Heuser

Then you bottle it and call it mead. Yum

Tim Heuser 7 months ago

Be first to comment on Step 6.

Be first to comment on Step 7.

George Murray

This is my favorite step out of all the guides so far

George Murray last year

Be first to comment on Step 9.

Be first to comment on Step 10.

Be first to comment on Step 11.

Be first to comment on Step 12.

Be first to comment on Step 13.

Be first to comment on Step 14.

Sara Paul Raffel

Most of the beekeeping books I have say to double strain honey, which I am sure is totally sufficient. I am just paranoid about gifting someone honey with little bits of wax, propolis and bee parts in it. So, I guess the reason is just for my own peace of mind!

(author) last year

Ashley Bennett Ewald

How did you decide on triple straining versus double or quadruple, etc.?

Ashley Bennett Ewald last year

Steve Krulewitz

That's quite a haul!

Steve Krulewitz last year

Kyle Greenwood

Mmmm looks lush x

Kyle Greenwood 5 months ago

Be first to comment on Step 18.

Related Guides

Make Flower Towers
Make Flower Towers
by Jan Doran
Make Your Own Herb Garden
Make Your Own Herb Garden
by Annie Lackner
Create a Spring Floral Arrangement
Create a Spring Floral Arrange...
by Real Simple Promotio...
Explore More Guides ›

©2013 Heavy Bits, Inc. | All guides ©2013 their respective authors

Sign In

Create a New Account

Join Snapguide and share what you know. Already have an account?

Why be old fashioned?
It's easier to sign in with:

By submitting this form you agree to Snapguide's
Terms of Service & Privacy Policy