Honeybees fill their wax comb with nectar, fanning it with their wings until the water content drops and it thickens into honey. Once the comb is sealed with a thin cap of wax, the beekeeper knows it’s ready to harvest.
But how does it get from a frame of capped honeycomb into the jar you bring home? That’s where honey extraction comes in. Modern extraction methods let us remove honey while preserving the comb, so bees can refill it again and again.
🐝 Step 1: Collecting the Frames
Beekeepers begin by lifting frames — the wooden slats that hold honeycomb — out of the hive box. Each frame can weigh several pounds when full.
At this stage, the beekeeper gently brushes off any remaining bees, covers the frames to keep them clean, and transports them to an extraction area (often indoors to control temperature and avoid attracting bees).
🔪 Step 2: Uncapping the Comb
The thin wax “caps” that seal ripe honey cells need to be removed. Using a heated knife or an uncapping fork, the beekeeper slices or lifts off this wax, exposing the liquid honey beneath (University of Georgia Extension).
Nothing is wasted here — the wax cappings can be rendered into candles, lip balms, or reused in the hive.
🌀 Step 3: Spinning in the Extractor
Uncapped frames are placed in a piece of equipment called an extractor — a large stainless-steel drum. As the drum spins, centrifugal force pulls honey out of the cells, where it drips down the walls of the extractor (National Honey Board).
Because the comb itself remains intact, the beekeeper can return the frames to the hive. The bees clean up any leftover traces of honey and start storing again — a huge energy savings compared to rebuilding comb from scratch.
(If you’re curious why honey lasts so long once bottled, check out our post on why honey never spoils.)
🌟 Step 4: Filtering and Bottling
The honey drains from the extractor into a coarse filter or strainer to remove stray bits of wax and propolis. From there, it flows into food-grade buckets or straight into jars (University of Florida/IFAS Extension).
The final product is raw honey — pure, unpasteurized, and full of natural flavor. No cooking, no additives, no refining.
🔗 Honey Extraction FAQ
How long does honey extraction take?
Most extractions last 30–60 minutes, depending on the number of frames. For group experiences, plan about 1–1.5 hours including tasting and Q&A.
Do bees get harmed during honey extraction?
No. The frames are removed from the hive carefully, and the bees are left to refill the comb. The process preserves the wax so bees don’t need to rebuild it from scratch.
Is the honey raw?
Yes. Honey from an extraction demo is unpasteurized and unfiltered, just spun straight from the comb.
Can kids take part in honey extraction?
Yes, with supervision. Kids can watch every step and usually get to taste fresh honey, but direct handling may vary by group size and age.
What do you take home from an extraction?
Each participant leaves with a small jar of fresh local honey.
👩👩👧 Why It’s Worth Seeing in Person
Reading about extraction is one thing. Watching golden honey stream from the comb, tasting it fresh, and leaving with your own jar is unforgettable. Kids and adults alike light up when they realize how simple — and magical — the process really is.
Want to know more about the beekeeper behind this program? Read our feature: Meet Jeremy Campbell: Your Guide to Hands-On Beekeeping in DFW.
🍯 See Honey Extraction in Action in DFW
Want to experience it yourself? You can book a private Honey Extraction Experience for your group — or sign up for email updates to be notified when individual ticketed events are available.
Guided by beekeeper Jeremy Campbell, you’ll see each step up close, taste honey straight from the comb, and leave with a fresh jar to take home.
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