3.0 PRACTICE OF BEEKEEPING
The candidate will be:
3.18 able to describe the process of extracting honey from combs and a method of straining and bottling honey suitable for a small scale beekeeeper;
NOTES
Extracting honey is done by first removing the wax cappings of the cells, then spinning the uncapped frames in a honey extractor. The honey is run off from the extractor into storage containers (buckets) to settle. The honey can then be “bottled” into jars.
Uncapping is done with a broad knife that slices off the cappings, or with a special fork that scores the wax so that the honey oozes out.
Honey extractors are large containers that have a revolving device that holds the uncapped frames. Depending on the device, the frames are either mounted radially, like spokes in a wheel, or tangentially. The aparatus is spun by turning a handle either manually or with a small motor. The honey is flung out of the frames as it is spun and settles to the bottom of the extractor. Frames in a tangential extractors need to be taken out and turned to get the honey out of both sides.
The extractor has a tap at the bottom (remember to close it before starting) that allows the honey to be run off into containers (honey buckets/tanks). The honey should be put through a course filter at this point to remove the bits of bee, wax, etc. that have come out of the extractor process. The honey will settle out in the bucket with air bubbles and some more debris will rise to the surface.
Ideally the honey buckets also have a tap on the bottom so that the settled out honey can be poured out into jars. More filtering can be done here and various grades of filters are available.
All of these processes work more easily if the honey is warmed so that it flows better – so choose a warm day or a warm place to do it. However don’t artificially heat the honey too much or it degrades and loses flavour.
All of these processes have the potential to be very sticky and messy!
