Honey Extractors

A honey extractor (honey centrifuge, sometimes loosely called a honey extracting machine) is a harvesting machine that spins uncapped frames of comb and throws the honey out of the cells by centrifugal force, while leaving the comb intact. When it is loaded correctly and accelerated slowly, the comb does not break, the honey does not foam and the empty comb can be given back to the bees. This page covers setting up the machine, using it step by step, cleaning it and the hygiene rules for shared machines.

How does a honey extractor work?

The frames are placed in the rotating basket in the middle of the machine. As the basket spins, the honey in the cells is flung outwards, hits the wall of the drum and runs down to the bottom. The honey that collects at the bottom is drawn off through the honey gate into a bucket with a strainer.

There are two basic types of machine: the tangential, which empties one side, and the radial, which empties both sides at once. A detailed comparison of the types and the difference from a press can be found on the “Honey extracting machines” page. Here we focus on how to use the machine.

How do you prepare the extractor before extracting?

1. Location: Put the machine on a level, solid floor in a warm, dry, bee-proof extracting room. If possible, fix its legs to the floor or to a board.
2. Height: A bucket with a strainer should fit comfortably under the honey gate. If necessary, raise the machine on a sturdy stand.
3. Cleanliness check: The drum, baskets and honey gate must be dry, odourless and clean. If there is dust, honey or mould left from the previous season, wash with warm water and dry completely.
4. Honey gate: Make sure it is closed and that its seal is sound.
5. Warmth: If the supers are left in a warm room for a while before extracting, the honey flows more easily. Do not put honey or comb close to a heater or in the sun.

How do you use a honey extractor step by step?

1. Check ripeness: Most of each frame should be capped; for partly capped frames, measure moisture with a refractometer.
2. Uncap: Remove the cappings from both sides with an uncapping knife or uncapping fork.
3. Load evenly: Put frames of similar weight in opposite baskets. If you are left with an odd number of frames, balance it with an empty or light frame opposite.
4. Start slowly: Spin at low speed for the first turns. A full side is heavy; sudden speed presses the comb against the basket wire and breaks it.
5. “Half–full–half” sequence in a tangential extractor: Empty the first side halfway; reverse the frames and empty the second side completely; reverse again and finish the first side. This way the weight of the full side does not crush the emptied comb wall.
6. In a radial extractor: Increase speed gradually; on a motorised model use the soft start and programmes. Follow the machine's manual for the direction in which to load the frames.
7. Check: Hold the frame up to the light; if honey is left in the cells, give it another short run.
8. Draw off the honey in time: Before the honey collecting at the bottom gets close to the baskets, open the gate and drain it into the bucket with a strainer.

Protecting honey quality in the extractor

• Do not make it foam: Excessive speed and honey sloshing in the drum mix air into the honey, and settling then takes longer.
• Do not heat it: Heating the machine or drum directly means loss of enzymes and a rise in HMF. A warm room is enough.
• Keep the lid closed: Honey absorbs moisture; the lid keeps out moisture and dust, as well as any bees that get into the room.
• Extract separately: Extract honey from different apiaries and periods in separate batches; scrape the machine out between batches.

How many frames should my extractor take?

The deciding factor is how many frames you will process on a harvest day. A rough guide:

At every scale the same rule applies to the machine's body material: every surface that touches honey must be stainless steel or food-grade plastic.

How do you clean and store a honey extractor?

1. Scrape out the honey: Collect the honey left on the bottom and walls of the drum with a spatula.
2. Wash with warm water: Very hot water melts the wax and sticks it to the surface. If detergent was used, rinse with plenty of water.
3. Take off the honey gate: The gate and its seal are washed separately; this is where honey builds up most.
4. Dry completely: A drum left damp develops odour and mould, and corrosion can start at the welds.
5. Store covered: Store in a dry, dust-free place, with the lid slightly open or under a breathable cover.

If the gears and bearings need lubricating, use the food-compatible lubricant recommended by the manufacturer and make sure the lubricant does not reach the drum.

Hygiene with a shared extractor

An extractor is expensive and runs only a few days a year; this is why many beekeeping associations and cooperatives keep a shared machine. It is a sensible solution for small producers, but it carries a risk: spores of the American foulbrood pathogen can be carried in honey and comb residues. Clean the machine before you take it and before you hand it back; do not extract frames from colonies suspected of disease in a shared machine. Only give extracted wet combs to colonies in your own apiary to clean out.