How to Extract Honey From a Wax Comb

The wax combs are made hanging down from the beehive.

Honey is one of nature's sweeteners. It is often used in drinks, on toast or even in recipes. Extracting honey happens in many different ways depending on the type of hive it is coming from. Wax combs are often used in top bar hives, the wax comb hanging from the top. Honey can only be removed from the wax comb by destroying it. This can be done by melting or crushing the wax to separate the honey from the comb.

Things You'll Need

• Microwave
• Microwave-safe dishes
• Strainer
• Jars

Instructions

1. Cut the wax comb into smaller pieces and place the pieces into a microwave-safe container.

2. Microwave the wax comb for a minute at a time, checking it after each minute. Some of the wax can be scooped off of the honey as it melts. The goal is to liquefy the wax comb and the honey. Do not allow the comb to catch on fire.

3. Run the melted wax and honey through a fine-mesh food cloth strainer into jars, to separate the remaining wax from the honey.

4. Cool the honey quickly by placing the jars in a refrigerator.

References

• Bad Bee Keeping: Handling and Extracting Honey
• Mother Earth News: Keeping Bees Using the Top-Bar Bee Keeping Method