CAN YOU HARVEST HONEY WITHOUT AN EXTRACTOR?

Honey extractors are the usual with regards to harvesting honey, however you’ll be able to harvest with out one. One technique of honey harvesting known as ‘crush and pressure’ affords a easy different. Preserve studying to seek out out when and why I exploit this technique, plus how I do it.

What’s the Distinction?

Honey extraction permits the beekeeper to spin the honey from the combs whereas preserving the combs intact. The beekeeper harvests frames of honey from their hives, slices off the highest of the comb (the honey cappings) and locations the frames (now with open cells of honey) in a  massive, cylindrical piece of apparatus known as an extractor. The extractor spins the honey frames, flinging honey out of the cells utilizing centrifugal pressure. The honey is now seperated from the comb and be jarred. The empty combs (stickies) are returned to the bees for reusue. This technique permits the bees to make extra honey with out having to spend time and power on rebuilding their honey combs.

The crush and pressure technique doesn’t protect the honey combs. The whole honey comb is crushed up after which strained by means of a sieve or cheesecloth which seperates the honey from the crushed comb. When you use this technique the bees should rebuild their comb befofe they’ll make extra honey. So, you is likely to be considering: why would you utilize this technique? There are a lot of eventualities the place I desire this technique. I’ll listing some under.

After I Use the Crush & Pressure Methodology:

1. I’m harvesting from a special fashion hive like a prime bar hive or warre hive.
2. I don’t have time to arrange and clear up the extractor, which is labor intensive.
3. I’m solely harvesting a small quantity of honey.
4. I need to harvest the wax, not simply the honey.
5. The comb is previous and I don’t need to return it to the colony.
6. The wood frames are previous or damaged and I don’t need to return them to the hive.
7. I’m lowering the colony and don’t intend to return the stickies to the hive.
8. It’s the tip of the season, and I don’t need to retailer empty comb over the winter.

Tips on how to Crush and Pressure Honey

1. Begin by chopping the honeycomb out the body with a knife. Do that over a clear floor or in a big shallow pan.
2. Finely crush the wax utilizing dough cutter instruments, so the honey releases.
3. Subsequent, selected a way to separate the wax from the honey. You’ll be able to filter wax out utilizing cheese fabric or a metallic sieve.
4. As soon as the honey is strained, put it in clear jars  and course of the dear wax.

Click on right here to take a look at a enjoyable video of my course of on my Instagram.

Crushing Tip

Slicing the comb into strips with a crinkle cutter earlier than crushing, as this helps make crushing simpler. When chopping, purpose for items which are in regards to the width of your dough cutter or mashing instrument. Needless to say if the comb is previous, it may be exhausting or unimaginable to crush the wax absolutely clean.

Should-Have Instruments to Crush & Stain

Most of those honey harvest instruments can be found on my Amazon Storefront.

• Knife
• Stainless Metal Dough Blender
• Stainless Metal Crinkle Cutter or Dough Cutter
• Silicone Spatula
• Massive Shallow Pan like a Bain Marie or Steam Desk Catering Dish
• Cheese Fabric or Steel Sieve
• Honey Bucket with Spout
• Massive storage bin for Frames

Cleanup

I prefer to make honey harvest cleanup simpler by masking my work floor with massive, skinny kitchen towels or parchment paper to catch drips. Cleansing as you go helps a ton too.

I additionally hold a ceramic bowl or plate close by to set my honey-covered instruments on. Any honey pooled on the plate goes into the honey bucket, so none goes to waste.

Sticky surfaces and instruments get wiped down with sizzling water, dish cloths, and a tiny little bit of cleaning soap.

Study As You Go

Each time I harvest honey, I be taught one thing useful about my instruments and strategies, or I sharpen a ability. I’ve a number of weblog posts, the place I’ve documented little issues I’ve realized alongside the best way. For instance, in Tips on how to Inform If Your Hive is Sturdy, I speak about how a number of honey isn’t at all times an indication of energy. You probably have questions or have realized one thing alongside your jouney, please share within the feedback under! And don’t overlook about my in-person and on-line lessons, for those who’re itching to be taught extra or refresh your data.