Knowledge What is the process for harvesting honey from a Langstroth hive? A Step-by-Step Guide for Beekeepers
Author avatar

Tech Team · HonestBee

Updated 9 hours ago

What is the process for harvesting honey from a Langstroth hive? A Step-by-Step Guide for Beekeepers

Harvesting honey from a Langstroth hive is a two-phase process that begins inside the apiary and concludes in a dedicated processing space. First, you must safely and calmly separate the bees from the honey-filled boxes (supers), and second, you must extract that honey from the wax combs for bottling and storage.

The core principle of a successful harvest is to remove the bees' surplus honey with minimal disruption to the colony. This is best achieved using a passive method like a bee escape board, followed by mechanical extraction, which preserves the delicate comb for the bees to reuse.

Phase 1: Clearing Bees from the Honey Supers

Before you can take the honey, you must move the bees out of the way. Your goal is to remove the honey supers, which are the boxes on top of the hive, leaving the bees with their own food stores in the lower brood chamber.

Know When to Harvest: Identifying 'Ripe' Honey

The first step is ensuring the honey is ready. Bees cap honey with a layer of fresh wax only when its moisture content is low enough (around 18%) to prevent fermentation.

Harvest frames that are at least three-quarters capped. Harvesting uncapped honey can lead to spoilage unless you have a refractometer to verify its water content.

Method 1: The Passive Approach (Bee Escape Board)

This is the calmest and least disruptive method for the bees. A bee escape board, also called a clearer board, is a one-way door placed between the honey supers you want to harvest and the brood boxes below.

Bees can travel down through the escape into the main hive but cannot find their way back up. Place the board on the hive in the morning and return the following morning to find the honey supers nearly empty of bees, ready for removal.

Method 2: The Active Approach (Brushing and Shaking)

This manual method requires no special equipment beyond a bee brush, but it is more disruptive to the colony.

You work frame by frame, removing a frame of honey from the super, holding it over the open hive, and giving it a sharp shake to dislodge most of the bees. Any remaining bees can be gently swept off with a bee brush.

Phase 2: Extracting Honey from the Comb

Once you have your bee-free frames of honey, you must move to a clean, indoor space (away from bees) to process them. This phase requires specialized equipment.

Step 1: Uncapping the Wax

The wax cappings must be removed to release the honey. This is typically done with a heated uncapping knife or a specialized fork.

As you slice off the thin wax layer, let the cappings fall into a tub or a dedicated capping tank. These wax cappings are saturated with honey and can be strained later.

Step 2: Spinning in an Extractor

An extractor is a drum that uses centrifugal force to sling honey out of the comb without destroying it.

Place the uncapped frames into the baskets inside the extractor. Spin the frames for several minutes until the honey is slung from the first side. Then, flip the frames and spin again to extract honey from the other side.

Step 3: Straining and Storing

Open the gate at the bottom of the extractor to let the honey flow out. The raw honey should be poured through a strainer or filter to remove any bits of wax or other hive debris.

Once strained, the pure, clean honey is ready to be stored in food-grade buckets or bottled for use.

Step 4: Returning 'Wet' Supers to the Hive

The frames, now empty of honey but still sticky, are called "wet" supers. Returning these to the hive is a critical final step.

The bees will quickly clean every last drop of honey and repair any damaged comb. This practice prevents honey from attracting pests or inciting robbing behavior from other hives, and it gives your bees a significant head start on the next honey flow.

Understanding the Trade-offs

Harvesting is a balance of efficiency, cost, and colony health. Your chosen method reflects your priorities as a beekeeper.

The Cost of Equipment

The primary tools for this process—an extractor, an uncapping tank, and a hot knife—are expensive. They are also used for only a very short period each year, representing a significant investment for a hobbyist.

Extraction vs. Pressing

The Langstroth system is designed around extraction specifically to preserve the drawn comb. While a honey press can also separate honey from wax, it destroys the comb in the process. Bees expend enormous energy to build comb, so preserving it allows them to be far more productive.

Minimizing Colony Stress

Every interaction with the hive causes some level of stress. The bee escape board method is far superior to the brush-and-shake method in this regard. A calm harvest ensures the queen continues laying and the colony's defensive behavior is not triggered.

Making the Right Choice for Your Goal

Your approach to harvesting should align with your scale and beekeeping philosophy.

  • If your primary focus is minimizing bee stress and promoting a calm apiary: Use a bee escape board one day prior to your harvest.
  • If you have only one hive and want to minimize initial costs: The manual brush-and-shake method is effective, though more labor-intensive and disruptive.
  • If your primary focus is long-term efficiency and honey yield: Investing in a honey extractor is non-negotiable, as it preserves the bees' most valuable resource: their wax comb.

Ultimately, a successful harvest is the rewarding result of a well-managed colony and a thoughtful, methodical process.

Summary Table:

Phase Key Step Purpose/Goal
1. Clearing Bees Use a Bee Escape Board or Brushing/Shaking Safely remove bees from honey supers with minimal colony disruption.
2. Extraction Uncapping, Spinning, Straining Release, collect, and purify honey from the wax comb for storage.
Post-Harvest Return 'Wet' Supers to Hive Allow bees to clean frames and repair comb, boosting future productivity.

Ready to optimize your honey harvest?

A smooth, efficient harvest relies on high-quality equipment. HONESTBEE supplies commercial apiaries and beekeeping equipment distributors with the durable, wholesale-focused tools you need for success—from bee escape boards and extractors to uncapping knives and strainers.

Let's discuss your operation's needs. Contact our team today to learn how our products can help you maximize honey yield while maintaining a healthy, productive colony.

Related Products

People Also Ask

Related Products

Langstroth Bee Hives Bee Keeping Box for Beginners Beekeeping

Langstroth Bee Hives Bee Keeping Box for Beginners Beekeeping

Langstroth bee hives: durable and beginner-friendly. Perfect for novice and commercial beekeepers. Customizable options available. Shop now!

Long Langstroth Style Horizontal Top Bar Hive for Wholesale

Long Langstroth Style Horizontal Top Bar Hive for Wholesale

Discover sustainable Top Bar Hives for hobbyist and commercial beekeeping. Durable Fir wood, customizable sizes, and natural habitat mimicry. Perfect for high honey yield and eco-friendly practices.

Multi-Function Plier-Style Frame Grip Hive Tool

Multi-Function Plier-Style Frame Grip Hive Tool

Multi-function plier-style frame grip for beekeepers. 3-in-1 hive tool for efficiency. Durable stainless steel.

HONESTBEE Professional Multi-Functional Hive Tool with Ergonomic Wood Handle

HONESTBEE Professional Multi-Functional Hive Tool with Ergonomic Wood Handle

Professional Multi-Functional Hive Tool for beekeepers – durable stainless steel with wood handle, pry bar, scraper, and serrated hook. Boost efficiency now!

HONESTBEE Advanced Ergonomic Stainless Steel Hive Tool for Beekeeping

HONESTBEE Advanced Ergonomic Stainless Steel Hive Tool for Beekeeping

Premium stainless steel hive tool for beekeepers—ergonomic grip, multi-functional design, durable & efficient. Buy wholesale from HONESTBEE today!

HONESTBEE Professional Long Handled Hive Tool with Precision Cutting Blade

HONESTBEE Professional Long Handled Hive Tool with Precision Cutting Blade

Professional long-handled hive tool for beekeepers: stainless steel, precision blade, durable pry bar. Enhance efficiency in apiary tasks. Buy wholesale now!

Multi-Functional Sliding Hive Entrance for Beekeeping

Multi-Functional Sliding Hive Entrance for Beekeeping

Multi-functional sliding hive entrance for beekeepers – durable, adjustable, and versatile. Control access, ventilation & security with one tool. Perfect for Langstroth hives.

Professional Dual-End Stainless Steel Hive Tool for Beekeeping

Professional Dual-End Stainless Steel Hive Tool for Beekeeping

Durable dual-end hive tool for beekeepers: stainless steel, ergonomic wood handle, versatile scraping & prying. Essential apiary equipment.

Wholesales Dadant Size Wooden Bee Hives for Beekeeping

Wholesales Dadant Size Wooden Bee Hives for Beekeeping

Discover durable Dadant bee hives made from Fir wood, ideal for European beekeeping. Enjoy natural insulation, breathability, and timeless aesthetics. Start your beekeeping journey today!

Professional Stainless Steel Pry-Bar Hive Tool

Professional Stainless Steel Pry-Bar Hive Tool

Discover durable stainless steel hive tools for beekeeping. Perfect for hive inspections, frame cleaning, and honey extraction. Essential for beekeepers.

Solid Bottom Board Australian Pine Wood Langstroth Bottom Board for Wholesale

Solid Bottom Board Australian Pine Wood Langstroth Bottom Board for Wholesale

Solid bottom board for Langstroth hives, made from durable Australian pine wood. Enhances hive stability, ventilation, and inspection ease. Custom sizes available.

In-Hive Dual Compartment Frame Bee Feeder for Targeted Colony Nutrition

In-Hive Dual Compartment Frame Bee Feeder for Targeted Colony Nutrition

HONESTBEE In-Hive Frame Feeder: Dual-compartment design for safe, efficient bee feeding. Reduces drowning risk with ribbed surfaces. Durable, food-grade plastic. Ideal for commercial beekeepers.

Professional Insulated Plastic Bee Hives

Professional Insulated Plastic Bee Hives

Explore durable, insulated plastic bee hives made from food-grade HDPE. Enhance hive productivity with efficient temperature regulation and easy management. Ideal for beekeepers.

5 Frame Langstroth Poly Nuc Corrugated Plastic Nuc Boxes

5 Frame Langstroth Poly Nuc Corrugated Plastic Nuc Boxes

Corflute nuc boxes: durable, lightweight, and eco-friendly PP material for efficient beekeeping. Explore now!

Professional Insulated Winter Hive Wrap for Beekeeping

Professional Insulated Winter Hive Wrap for Beekeeping

Premium winter hive wrap for beekeepers: durable, insulated, and weatherproof. Improves colony survival with thermal efficiency. Bulk orders available.

Automatic Honey Flow Beehive 4 Frame Mini Hive for Beekeeping

Automatic Honey Flow Beehive 4 Frame Mini Hive for Beekeeping

Revolutionize beekeeping with the honey flow beehive. Enjoy stress-free, bee-friendly honey extraction using the Flow Key. Perfect for backyard beekeepers.

Stainless Steel J Hook Hive Tool for Beekeeping

Stainless Steel J Hook Hive Tool for Beekeeping

J hook hive tool: Stainless steel, ergonomic design for lifting frames, scraping wax, and prying hive boxes. Essential for beekeepers.

7 x Auto Bee Flow Hive Frames Plastic Beekeeping Hive Box Supplies

7 x Auto Bee Flow Hive Frames Plastic Beekeeping Hive Box Supplies

Enhance beekeeping with 7 Auto Bee Frames: gentle extraction, clear view, increased honey yield. Bee-friendly, durable, and hassle-free. Perfect for all hives.

Honey Flow Garden Bee Hive Flow Hive Best Beehive for Beginners

Honey Flow Garden Bee Hive Flow Hive Best Beehive for Beginners

Discover the Garden Bee Hive with Autoflow Technology—perfect for beginners and sustainable beekeeping. Easy honey extraction, durable design, and eco-friendly. Start your beekeeping journey today!

Portable Bee Mating Hive Boxes Mini Mating Nucs 8 Frames for Queen Rearing

Portable Bee Mating Hive Boxes Mini Mating Nucs 8 Frames for Queen Rearing

Optimize queen bee rearing with Bee Mating Hive Boxes. Lightweight, insulated, and versatile for efficient beekeeping. Explore now!


Leave Your Message