“Honey Extraction”

The aim of this session is to go through the steps to get honey from the hive to the jar. We will have a number of extractors for participants to examine, including manual and electric, radial and tangental. We will illustrate the different ways of clearing the bees and how to get the honey filled supers to the extractor. Participants will be able to experiment with different uncapping methods, including knives and heat guns and will practice loading frames into the extractor. We will discuss storing the extracted honey, filtering and putting into jars.

Session outline

How to establish that a super is ready to extract

Checking for capped cells

Clearing the bees

Using porter bee escapes and the rhombus method

Brushing away the bees

Delivering the super to the extractor

Transporting and short term storage

Different extraction methods

Gravity – no machine

Manual extractors

Electric Extractors

Uncapping

Different methods of uncapping

Using the extractor

Loading frames

Spinning and knowing when to stop

Removing honey from the extractor

Storage buckets

Filters

Jarring the honey

Choosing jars

Sterilising used jars

Lids and labels