As a new beekeeper, you’re likely managing just one or two hives, with only a few frames of honey to harvest. When the time comes to collect that liquid gold, you might find yourself wondering how to get the honey out of the comb and into a jar. Many beekeepers rely on honey extractors for this task, as they’re efficient and preserve the combs for reuse.
However, a honey extractor is a significant investment, and some beekeepers may not be ready to make that financial commitment—especially when space and storage are limited. If you’re tending to just a small number of hives and don’t have plans to expand anytime soon, it may make more sense to harvest your honey without an extractor.
Whether you’re still deciding how deep you want to go into beekeeping or just want a simpler method, here are several techniques you can use to extract honey from the comb without an extractor.
When should I collect the frames from the hive?
The night before you plan to harvest the honey, visit your hive and carefully remove the frames. It’s best to store the frames in a secure location, such as your garage or a shed, where the bees won’t be able to reach them. Bees have an incredible ability to find their honey and return it to the hive, so it’s important to keep the frames out of their reach to avoid any attempts at retrieval.
Method 1: Cut Comb Honey
Cut comb honey is a visually appealing and simple way to harvest honey, requiring no special equipment or advanced techniques. It’s one of the most economical methods, making it a great option for new beekeepers. With this method, you simply cut the honeycomb from the frame and then cut it into smaller, manageable pieces—typically squares or rectangles. These pieces can then be packaged in plastic wrap or containers for sale or personal use.
Important Tip: To harvest cut comb honey, avoid using plastic foundation. Instead, use frames with ultra-thin foundations or foundationless frames, which allow bees to build natural combs.
Freezing the Honeycomb: To prevent wax moths and hive beetles from ruining your honeycomb, it’s essential to freeze the comb at some point during the harvest process. Freezing kills any pests at all stages of their lifecycle. You can freeze the comb before or after packaging, but if you freeze the entire frame, wrap it in plastic first. This helps prevent condensation from forming inside the comb. Typically, place the frame in the freezer overnight.
Tools Needed:
- A kitchen knife
- A baker’s cooling rack
- A baking sheet or tray
Instructions:
- Set Up: Place the cooling rack on top of the baking sheet or tray to catch any dripping honey.
- Remove the Comb: Lay the honey frame on top of the cooling rack. Using a sharp kitchen knife, cut the honeycomb out of the frame, leaving the comb on the cooling rack.
- Cut the Comb: Slice the honeycomb into 4-inch squares. Wipe the knife clean after each cut to maintain neat, clean edges.
- Drain the Honey: Allow the cut pieces to drain overnight. The honey will flow out, leaving you with beautiful comb sections.
- Wrap and Store: Once drained, you can wrap the comb pieces in plastic wrap or store them in containers for later use.
Note: Don’t forget to freeze the comb at some point during the process. This ensures that any potential pests are eliminated before storage.
Method 2: Crush and Strain
The crush and strain method is a straightforward way to extract honey from the combs. It’s a great option if you don’t have an extractor and still want to harvest honey in an efficient manner. With this method, you simply crush the combs to release the honey and then filter out any remaining wax. This technique works well for beekeepers who don’t mind some wax in their honey, but if you prefer clear, pure honey, filtering is essential.
Tools Required:
- A bowl or pan
- A baking sheet or tray
- A bucket
- Cheesecloth or any fine mesh strainer
- (Optional) Potato masher or wooden spoon
Instructions:
Prepare the Comb: Cut the honeycomb out of the frame and place it in a bowl or pan. If using a plastic foundation, scrape the comb off both sides and place it in the bowl.
Crush the Comb: Use a potato masher or wooden spoon to crush the honeycomb until there are no large chunks remaining. If you don’t have these tools, you can also crush the comb with your hands, but make sure to break up every cell to release the honey.
Strain the Honey: Place the cheesecloth or mesh strainer over a bucket. Pour the crushed comb into the strainer, allowing the honey to drip through. You can cover everything with a cloth to keep dust away during the process.
Let it Drain: Allow the honey to drain for several hours or overnight in a warm area. This gives the honey time to flow out of the comb and through the strainer.
Wrap the Wax: Once the honey has fully drained, you can remove the wax from the strainer and wrap it for later use, such as in candles or balms.
Method 3: Ross Round
Ross round honey is becoming increasingly popular due to its convenience and appeal for packaging and selling. Ross round supers are specially designed frames that create disc-shaped honeycombs, making each comb individual and ready for packaging. These supers are easy to assemble, reusable, and eliminate the need for straining or extra wait time. Once the bees fill the combs with honey, all you need to do is remove them from the frame and package them—simple and efficient!
Tools Required:
- Ross round frames
- Packaging materials (e.g., plastic wrap or boxes)
Instructions:
Place the Ross Round Frames in the Hive: Install the Ross round frames in your hive, and allow the bees to build the combs and fill them with honey.
Freeze the Frames: Once the frames are filled with honey, remove them from the hive and wrap them in plastic. Place the wrapped frames in the freezer for at least 24 hours. Freezing ensures that any potential pests or eggs are neutralized, and it helps preserve the honey.
Remove the Combs: After the frames have thawed, gently separate the honeycombs from the frame. Since they are pre-formed into round discs, they should come off easily without much effort.
Package the Honeycombs: Once separated, package the round honeycombs in the appropriate packaging. Ross rounds are often sold as whole combs, so ensure that the packaging is airtight to preserve the honey.
Method 4: Chunk Honey
Chunk honey combines the best of both worlds: extracted honey and comb honey. This method involves placing a piece of cut comb into a jar and filling the remaining space with strained honey. The result is a beautiful, visually appealing product that is perfect for gifting or selling.
Tools Required:
- Wide-mouth mason jars
- Honeycomb (cut into pieces)
- Strained honey
- (Optional) Melted beeswax (for sticking the comb to the jar)
Instructions:
Prepare the Jars: Estimate the size of the honeycomb pieces and ensure they fit comfortably inside your mason jars.
Place the Comb in the Jar: Carefully hold the comb sections by the cut sides to prevent damage to the wax caps. Place the comb in the jar, ensuring it’s positioned properly.
Secure the Comb: To prevent the comb from floating in the jar, you can use a small amount of melted beeswax to attach it to the bottom. This will help keep the comb in place once the honey is added.
Fill the Jar with Honey: Slowly pour the extracted, strained honey into the jar, covering the comb. Be sure to pour gently to avoid creating air bubbles inside the jar.
Freeze the Jars: Once filled, place the jars in the freezer for 24 hours to help remove any remaining impurities and ensure the honey sets properly.
Final Thoughts
While honey extractors are efficient and help preserve the comb, they can also be a significant investment and take up valuable storage space. For hobbyist beekeepers with only a few hives, using an extractor may not be necessary. There are several simple and effective methods for extracting honey that require little more than common household items. Some of these methods do take time—anywhere from 8 to 24 hours—to allow the honey to fully drain from the combs, but they can be just as rewarding.
Additionally, since you’re not preserving the combs for reuse, you can make the most of the leftover wax. Many beekeepers turn to creative projects like candle-making or lip balms, making sure that no part of the hive goes to waste. Beeswax is a valuable byproduct, and there are countless ways to repurpose it.
In the end, the method you choose depends on your level of commitment and how much honey you plan to harvest, but know that there are options for every beekeeper—whether you have an extractor or not.
If you’re interested in learning more about the benefits of using extractors, check out our post: Honey Extractors: How to Extract Honey from the Comb.
