Honeycomb harvesting is the culmination of a beekeeper’s season, representing the sweet surplus the colony has produced from local nectar sources. This process involves carefully removing frames heavy with sealed honey while ensuring enough remains for the colony’s sustenance through the winter months. The goal of the harvest is to acquire a stable, high-quality food product for human consumption while maintaining the health and productivity of the bee population. The procedure requires preparation, precision, and respect for the intricate work done by the bees.
Pre-Harvest Assessment and Necessary Equipment
Before approaching the hive, a beekeeper must confirm the honey is fully “ripened,” indicated by a low moisture content. Bees achieve this by fanning their wings to evaporate excess water from the nectar until the moisture level drops into the ideal range of 17% to 18%. To prevent fermentation, which occurs when moisture content is above 19%, beekeepers look for a visual cue: capping.
The honey is considered ready to harvest when at least 80% to 90% of the cells on a frame are covered with white beeswax capping. For a precise measurement, a beekeeper can use a refractometer to test the moisture content of the uncapped honey. Necessary equipment includes a working smoker and fuel to calm the bees, a hive tool for prying apart supers and frames, and full protective gear. A lidded, food-grade transport container is also needed to safely move the heavy, honey-filled frames from the apiary to the indoor processing area.
Removing Full Frames from the Hive
The removal process begins with the careful use of the smoker, puffing cool, white smoke into the hive entrance and under the outer cover to disrupt the bees’ communication. The smoke mimics a forest fire, prompting the bees to gorge on honey, which makes them more docile. After a few minutes, the beekeeper can gently use the hive tool to pry off the honey super containing the harvestable frames.
Once the super is accessible, frames are carefully lifted one at a time, checking the percentage of capped honey on each side. Frames must be removed without crushing any bees or damaging the wax comb. Bees clinging to the frame must be cleared either by giving it a sharp, downward shake or by gently brushing them off with a soft bee brush. These cleared frames are immediately placed into the sealed transport container to prevent the scent of exposed honey from attracting “robbing” bees.
Processing the Comb: Extraction Methods
After the frames are moved to a clean, indoor location, the honey must be separated from the wax comb using one of two primary methods. The Centrifugal Extraction method is the standard for most commercial and mid-scale operations because it preserves the structural integrity of the comb for reuse. This process requires the beekeeper to first remove the wax cappings from both sides of the frame using a hot uncapping knife or fork, exposing the liquid honey.
The uncapped frames are then placed vertically inside a motorized or hand-cranked extractor, which uses centrifugal force to sling the honey outward against the drum wall. The liquid honey collects at the bottom of the extractor, leaving the comb intact so it can be returned to the hive for the bees to refill. This method conserves the bees’ energy, as they do not have to expend resources to rebuild the comb, a process estimated to cost the colony about eight pounds of honey for every pound of wax produced.
The alternative is the Crush and Strain method, a simpler, low-cost option often favored by small-scale beekeepers or those using foundationless frames. This technique involves cutting the entire comb out of the frame and placing it into a food-grade bucket. The comb is then crushed to rupture the wax cells and release the honey, creating a sticky mixture of liquid honey and beeswax. The resulting slurry is poured through a mesh screen or filter cloth, allowing gravity to separate the honey from the wax particles. While Crush and Strain is less efficient and sacrifices the comb, it yields a larger amount of raw beeswax as a valuable byproduct.
Handling and Storing the Harvest
Once the liquid honey is extracted, it undergoes a final filtration step to remove any remaining fine particles of wax or debris. This is achieved by passing the honey through a coarse mesh strainer or a double-sieve system, which produces a clean yet minimally processed product. The degree of filtration can be adjusted; a finer filter will create a clearer honey but may remove more of the naturally occurring pollen.
The filtered honey should be poured into clean, food-grade containers, such as glass jars or approved plastic buckets, and sealed with airtight lids. Honey is hygroscopic, meaning it readily absorbs moisture from the air, so proper sealing prevents fermentation. For long-term preservation, honey should be stored in a cool, dark, and dry environment, ideally kept at a consistent room temperature to slow crystallization.
Handling Leftover Beeswax
Leftover beeswax, whether from uncapping or the Crush and Strain method, can be cleaned by melting it in a double boiler and straining it through a fine cloth. The cleaned wax is then poured into molds to solidify, ready for use in making candles, balms, or other wax-based products.