Comb honey is the purest and most useful beekeeping product, which does not come into contact with metal when pumped out. This means that the substance retains the maximum amount of beneficial substances. However, sometimes the question arises of how you can separate honey from honeycombs at home. This is done in different ways - manually or using a honey extractor. Each procedure is characterized by its own characteristics.
How to get honey from honeycombs
Extracting nectar from honeycombs is quite difficult. To obtain a small amount of honey mass, it is permissible to use a sieve or pressing method.If there is a significant volume of the substance, it is worth resorting to the help of a honey extractor.
However, first you need to remove the honeycombs from the hive. It is recommended to begin the process of collecting honey products in sunny weather. This should be done in the morning. At this time, bees leave the hives in search of nectar.
Pumping without a honey extractor
Many beekeepers believe that it is almost impossible to obtain honey manually. Indeed, a honey extractor greatly simplifies this procedure. If the device is missing, do not despair. To pump out honey manually, it is recommended to do the following:
- Remove the collected honeycombs from the frames. They need to be broken into small pieces and placed in a bucket.
- Using a regular wooden masher, grind the mixture to a puree.
- Strain the resulting mixture. This should be done through ordinary gauze.
- Collect the remaining honey from the sides of the bucket and filter it too.
Pumping with a honey extractor
It is much easier to extract honey from honeycombs using a honey extractor. This device simplifies the process and saves time. At the same time, it is important to carry out pumping on time. If you miss the deadline, the product will become too thick and viscous. This will significantly complicate the process.
So, to pump out honey, the honeycombs need to be removed from the frames, cut off the top signet with a knife or pierced with a special brush and secured in a honey extractor. When you turn on the device, the frames will begin to unwind. Under the influence of centrifugal force, nectar will fly out of the honeycomb and flow down the walls.
The honey extractor contains a special hole at the bottom through which honey flows. Usually a large sieve is placed at the exit through which the bee nectar is filtered. This helps to clear it of large inclusions - bees, beebread, larvae.
After this, the product must be left to stand. This will cause the smallest particles of wax to float to the surface. Beekeepers usually reserve the top layer of honey for personal use. They eat it or use it to feed bees.
How to separate honey from wax
After pumping out the honey mass, it often has to be separated from the wax. To get the required result, you should prepare the following:
- wooden spoon;
- double boiler;
- suitable container;
- a filter that has a coarse and fine mesh.
To get the desired results you need to do the following:
- Remove the honeycombs from the frames and grind them.
- Heat the mixture in a double boiler to +60 degrees and stir the mixture with a wooden spoon.
- Skim off the lighter wax with a wooden spoon and transfer to a container. Honey is heavier, so it sinks down.
- When the wax acquires a solid consistency, clean it of any remaining honey. This is done in running water.
- Pass the honey mass through a sieve. First, a coarse product is used, and then a finer one.
Straining process
When pumping out honey, fragments of beebread, wax and other debris get into it. You should definitely get rid of these elements. To do this, the product is filtered. To do this manually, it is permissible to use a double sieve.In this case, the upper part should have cells with a diameter of 1.8x0.7 millimeters, and the bottom - 0.2x0.12. The elements need to be inserted into each other and fixed on containers of different diameters.
In order for the filtration process to proceed continuously, you will need 2 sieves, since wax can cause clogging of equipment. While one device is being cleaned, the second can be used.
The hole, which is blocked from below, makes it possible to control the filling of the container with honey. At the bottom of the device there is a double sieve. It helps prevent foreign objects from entering the funnel.
Such devices can be used to obtain honey in small farms. Large beekeeping farms do not use such devices because straining is too slow.
Rules of use
The honey mass is not always separated from the honeycomb. This beekeeping product can be eaten in this form. However, in this case it is important to follow certain rules. It is recommended to eat nectar in honeycombs in small pieces, chewing it thoroughly.
At the same time, it is permissible to swallow a small amount of wax - it will not harm your health. However, it is important to avoid consuming large amounts of this substance, since in such a situation there is a risk of intestinal problems.
Adults are allowed to consume a maximum of 100 grams of comb honey per day. Children are allowed to eat no more than 30-50 grams of beekeeping product.
Separation of honey from honeycombs at home has a number of features. This process can be carried out manually or a honey extractor can be used for this purpose. Proper separation of the honey mass from the wax is of no small importance. Only compliance with the basic rules allows you to obtain a high-quality and useful product.
