A press extracts honey from comb by pressure rather than centrifugal force. The comb is destroyed in the process.

When pressing is used

• With fixed-comb hives: The comb cannot be removed and cannot be spun
• With comb too fragile for the extractor
• With honey that will not spin out, such as some very viscous types
• For pressing cappings wax on a small scale

The difference from extracting

This is the point that determines everything.

• Extracting leaves the comb intact; it is returned and filled immediately at the next flow
• Pressing destroys the comb; the colony must rebuild it, costing energy that does not go into stores

Drawn comb is among a beekeeper's most valuable assets. Destroying it is a real cost.

The honey

Pressed honey contains more pollen and wax particles and is cloudier than extracted honey.

That is not necessarily a defect: more pollen also means the geographical origin is better demonstrable. It does require more careful straining.

Practical points

• Work at room temperature; cold honey does not flow
• Do not heat to speed it up — enzymes break down
• Strain coarsely afterwards; do not over-filter
• The pressed wax is rendered

Materials

Stainless steel or food-grade plastic on everything touching honey. Galvanised metal and untreated steel are unsuitable.

Cleaning

Warm water, dry completely, no detergent residue. Pressing leaves more wax behind than extracting; the cloth or strainer needs particular attention.

The practical line

Where movable frames are available, extracting is almost always the better route. The press belongs to situations where extracting is not possible.