How do I extract and store honey?
Uncap the comb, spin the frames in an extractor, strain out the wax, and let the honey settle for a day or two so air bubbles rise before you jar it. Store in sealed containers away from light and heat. Honey does not spoil, but it absorbs moisture from the air, and damp honey ferments.
Step by step
- Uncapping knife or fork
- Extractor
- Coarse and fine strainers
- Settling tank
- Jars
- Take only fully capped frames and keep them warm until you spin them — cold honey will not leave the comb.
- Uncap both faces with a knife or an uncapping fork, working down the frame in one pass.
- Spin the frames in the extractor, building speed gradually so the comb does not blow out of the frame.
- Strain the honey through a coarse filter and then a fine one to take out wax and debris.
- Let it settle for a day or two so air bubbles and fine wax rise, then skim the surface.
- Jar it, seal it, and store it cool and dark. Honey absorbs moisture from the air, and damp honey ferments.
The full lesson
Before extraction, the white wax caps on the honeycomb are carefully removed using an uncapping fork or a heated knife. The uncapped frames are placed into a honey extractor, which uses centrifugal force to spin the honey out of the combs.
Honey flowing from the extractor gate passes through a double-layer stainless steel strainer to remove wax particles. The strained honey sits in settling tanks
for at least two to three days, so air bubbles and micro-debris rise to the top. After settling, the layer of foam on the surface is skimmed off with a sterile spatula
to achieve crystal-clear honey. The healthiest options for storing honey are food-grade glass jars or stainless steel drums. Avoid plastic.
Honey should never be stored in direct sunlight. UV rays destroy the beneficial enzymes inside the honey. The ideal storage temperature for honey is room temperature between 18 degrees Celsius and 24 degrees Celsius.
Extreme temperatures damage its structure. Honey is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture from the air. Keep lids tightly sealed and airtight at all times. Real honey may crystallize over time.
This is not spoilage but proof that the honey is pure and natural.
This lesson is also in the app, along with the other twenty-nine.
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1:40Lessons and forum answers describe beekeeping practice and peer experience, not veterinary guidance. Treatment thresholds, inspection timing and disease management vary by climate, subspecies and local regulation. Diseases that are notifiable where you live must be reported to your national bee inspectorate.