15 Best Honey Extractor For The Money of 2022 – Reviews and Buying Guide

If you’ve just picked up on the honey extracting business, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re a rookie who just wants to try out this hobby or if you’ve made up a solid business plan and are ready to hit the market, we’ve got you covered.

Top 5 Best Honey Extractor For The Money: Editor’s Pick

For your convenience, we’ve decided to scrounge the market in pursuit of the best honey extractor models the money can buy. Our research produced a list of the finest and sturdiest ones, so without any further ado, let’s dive right into it, and then let’s focus on a few other things you might want to consider.

15 Best Honey Extractor For The Money Reviews:

1. Vivo Two-Frame Stainless Steel Honey Extractor BEE V002

Let’s open up our review of the best honey extractors with Vivo’s 2-frame BEE V002. In essence, this is a very portable and durable honey extractor that performs exceptionally great for the money.

The Vivo’s BEE V002 can fit two frames at a time and it can accommodate shallow, medium, or deep types.  It’s great for hobbyists as it’s incredibly easy to use, but experienced beekeepers love it as well because of its large cylinder drum. Being 24 inches tall and 15 inches in diameter, it can muster up quite a bit of honey in one go.

The economic efficiency of the Vivo’s BEE V002 is absolutely staggering. It comes supplied with a honey gate which is barely half a inch above the very floor of the drum, so you can rest assured that you’ll get the most out of it every time you use it.

On top of that, this honey extractor features a see-through lid made of Plexiglas, which means that you can observe what’s going on as the process takes place. It’s made of highly robust stainless steel and it was obviously built to last. On top of that, it weighs only 20 pounds and comes supplied with three steel legs for added stability.

Overall, the Vivo’s BEE V002 is one of the best honey extractor models you can find in the price range – it’s incredibly durable, stable, and on top of all, reliable.

Highlighted Features:

• Made from stainless steel material
• Drum is 24 inches tall and 15 inches in diameter
• Outfitted with three steel legs
• Weighs 20 pounds

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2. Happybuy Electric Honey Extractor

Next up is Happy Buy’s electric honey extractor. This is the first ‘automatic’ honey extractor model in our review, and suffice to say it’s faster, supports a bigger workload, and it’s a bit more expensive than most models we’ve covered so far.

First of all, the Happy Buy’s electric extractor can hold up to three frames and it packs a huge 24-inch drum which is 15-inches in diameter. Furthermore, it packs a 120 watt 1300 rotations per minute motor supplied with several speed options.

It comes outfitted with two Perspex see-through lids that serve two functions. Firstly, they prevent the debris from going out during the draining process, and secondly, you can easily observe what’s going on as the machine is operating. Moreover, the barrel, as well as the inner frames, is made from food-grade and anti corrosion and rust stainless steel material.

The honey gate is merely 2 inches away from the cylinder floor, so you’ll still get to utilize the machine’s efficiency at a high level.

In essence, it’s very easy to operate the Happy Buy’s electric honey extractor. It features a stop/power on switch (which is covered in plastic to prevent accidental powering of the machine) and the speed control wheel. It does cost slightly more than your average honey extractor, but the benefits it provides more than make up for it.

Highlighted Features:

• Can support up to three frames
• 120 watt motor with 1300 rotations per minute
• Three stainless-steel leg supports
• Made from food-grade stainless-steel material
• Dimensions of the drum measure 24 inches in height and 15 inches in diameter
• Two Perspex see-through lids

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3. Vivo Electric 4-Frame Stainless Steel Honey Extractor BEE V004E

Here we are looking at another Vivo honey extractor, the BEE V004E. Some of the most discernable differences between the BEE V004E and V002 revolve around how the machine is designed. First, and most notably, the V004E is an electric honey extractor whereas the BEE V002 is a manual one. Additionally, the newer V004E version can hold up to four frames while V002 can hold only 2.

In terms of design, this particular model doesn’t deviate far from the original – it packs a cylinder drum made of stainless steel and a clear see-through lid made of plastic. Additionally, it also features three steel leg supports that heavily reinforce its stability.

However, since it was made with a capacity of 4 frames, it’s more than obvious that the BEE V004E is a bit larger than most Vivo’s honey extractors. It’s 27.75 inches tall and 18.5 inches in diameter, which basically means that you’ll be able to make huge portions of honey with it.

Moreover, the honey gate was positioned in the same spot as it was with the previous model we’ve reviewed – it’s just half an inch away from the barrel’s floor.

All things take into account, the Vivo’s BEE V004E is an exceptional honey extractor. It’s perfectly suited for larger batches of honey, it packs a transparent plastic lid, a food-grade steel drum, and it can accommodate up to 4 frames.

Highlighted Features:

• Outfitted with a powerful 120 watt automatic motor
• Food-grade stainless steel construction
• 75 inches tall and 18.5 inches in diameter
• Can fit up to four frames at once
• See-through lid made of plastic

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4. Goodland Bee Supply Hardin Professional  2-Frame Manual Honey Extractor

Here we are looking at Goodland Bee Supply 2-frame honey extractor. This model was intended for non-commercial use as it only features two frames, which makes it absolutely ideal for entrepreneur beekeepers and hobbyists.

First of all, the Goodland Bee Supply’s honey extractor is fairly big, so you should think ahead about where you will store it. It measures 15 inches by 45 inches by 24 inches and weighs approximately 30 pounds, so it will take up quite a bit of space.

This model comes supplied with a big 16-gauge storage tank made from stainless steel. It’s incredibly durable and was obviously built to last.

It packs a clear top end made from robust Plexiglas which allows you to observe the process at your leisure. On top of that, the see-through top eliminates the need of removing it every once in a while to check if the bees have done filling the frames and capping the wax cells.

In terms of price, it belongs to the middle bracket of the medium price point category, meaning that it’s neither too expensive nor too cheap.

Most people who’ve used it point out that it’s easy to use and assemble, remarkably easy to maintain and to clean. On the flip side, there are a couple of things that people didn’t really like about it. It won’t work unless you attach both frames and if they’re not equally weighted. This makes it a bit harder to use for inexperienced beekeepers.

Overall, Goodland Bee Supply’s honey extractor packs quite a punch for the buck though as it offers premium performance, durability, and to some extent even portability due to its lower-than-average weight.

Highlighted Features:

• 16-gauge storage tank made from stainless steel
• Steel gears outfitted with sealed bearings
• Plexiglas top
• Optional legs

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5. Hardin Professional 3-Frame Manual Honey Extractor

Hardin’s professional honey extractor is everything its name implies. It’s ‘hard’ as a brick house as it’s made from 16-gauge stainless steel materials, and it’s a professional extractor that can fit up to three frames at a time.

One of the biggest benefits Hardin’s honey extractor brings to the table is durability. It can withstand all kinds of abuse without cracking or warping. Additionally, it packs three stainless-steel legs which grant additional stability to the construction.

Its dimensions measure 15 inches by 45 inches by 24 inches and it weighs 26 pounds. In terms of design, it’s not exactly compact per se, but it doesn’t take up too much storage space. With 26 pounds of weight, you shouldn’t have any problems moving it from place to place.

What’s more, there’s a Plexiglas see-through lid on the top so that you can easily monitor the honey making process. The honey gate is at the very bottom of the barrel which means that you’ll be able to get the most of your extractor with minimal waste.

Some would argue that Hardin’s honey extractor isn’t that well suited for rookies and beginners because it features a bigger-than-average storage capacity. Manually spinning two frames is already a hard job, and inexperienced beekeepers might really find it rough to spin three. Regardless, if you don’t mind putting in some extra effort, this might be a perfect solution for you.

Highlighted Features:

• 16-gauge stainless steel construction
• Clear see-through Plexiglas top lid
• Sealed bearings for improved reliability
• Three stainless steel leg supports
• Dimensions measure 15 inch by 45 inch by 24 inches
• Weighs 26 pounds

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6. Vingli 2-Frame Honey Extractor

Vingli’s model is possibly the best manual extractor in its price range. It packs an exquisite and innovative crank design, height-adjustable legs, it can support up to two frames regardless of their size, and it’s made from premium food-grade stainless steel materials.

Firstly, the handle of this honey extractor was designed with a square-screw dent for easier installation, it will stop at the exact same moment you release it. It boasts smooth operation and drastically reduces the effort (and strength) you need to put in the honey making process.

Secondly, the Vingli’s honey extractor packs three height-adjustable legs made from stainless steel. Removing them (as well as re-assembling them) is a breeze as they’re complemented with premium quality hardware.

The barrel of this honey extractor boasts anti-rusting properties and is made from food grade stainless steel. It can accommodate up to two deep, medium, and shallow frames at once. Its honey gate was purposefully positioned at the very bottom of the barrel to ensure superior honey extracting efficiency.

Moreover, it’s incredibly easy to maintain and clean as the honey doesn’t adhere to the side walls much. Overall, it doesn’t get much better for the price.

Highlighted Features:

• Supports up to two frames of shallow, medium, or deep size
• Anti-rusting stainless steel construction
• Height-adjustable stainless steel legs
• Uniquely designed spinning crank

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7. BestEquip Electric Honey Extractor With 2-Frames

Next up is BestEquip’s Electric honey extractor. This brand mainly specializes in DIY crafts and gadgets that come along that way, so it’s only obvious that the technologies they pack and the features they have supplied to their electric extractor are of exceptional quality.

First of all, this is a mid-sized honey extractor which measures 24 inches in height and 15 inches in diameter. Sadly, it’s incredibly heavy with 36.8 pounds of weight, but once you set it up you won’t have any reason to move it anyway unless you’re relocating.

It packs two separate clear see-through Perspex top lids that you can use to block the debris from coming out while observing the honey making process. Additionally, it rocks a 120w motor with 1300 RPM at peak (with selectable speeds). One of the biggest advantages of this motor is that it’s powerful, but incredibly quiet.

The entire construction is comprised of food-grade stainless steel material which brings plenty of benefits onboard. Firstly, this type of stainless steel is characterized with anti-rusting properties and it will never spoil your batch. Secondly, it makes the maintenance process a breeze since the bulk of the honey will make it to the drain, and thirdly, it’s as robust as a brick house.

If you’re able to look past its heaviness, it’s probably one of the best electric honey extractor in the price range.

Highlighted Features:

• Fits two shallow, medium, or deep frames at a time
• Electric honey extractor
• Two clear see-through Plexiglas top lids
• Weighs 36.8 pounds
• 120 watt motor with a quiet method of operation
• Measures 33 inches by 14 inches by 14 inches

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8. XtremepowerUS 2-Frame Stainless Steel Honey Extractor

Next up is Xtreme power US’s 2-frame honey extractor. In a nutshell, it features a decently big drum, it’s made of premium-quality stainless steel material, and can hold up to two frames.

The construction of this honey extractor packs an anti-rusted structure which substantially helps with the maintenance process. Of course, you’ll still need to scrape off the residual honey after each use, but since it’s made from stainless steel, it doesn’t linger on to the walls as much.

One of the best things about Xtreme power US’s honey extractor is its versatility. IT can fit all kinds of frames, such as shallow, medium, or deep frames.

The dimensions of this extractor measure 31 inches in height and 16 inches in width, which basically means that it’s quite portable and compact. On top of that, it rocks a handle on both sides so you can easily carry it from place to place since it weighs only 26 pounds.

Its capacity measures 45 to 50 kilograms of honey, so it can potentially be used by smaller entrepreneur beekeepers, but since it can fit just two frames it’s ideally used by beginner beekeepers and hobbyists.

The main problem with Xtreme power US’s honey extractor is its stability. It doesn’t come supplied with any legs, so it’s virtually unusable on uneven terrain. Other than that, it’s one of the best honey extractors in the price range.

Highlighted Features:

• Dimensions: 36.2 inches by 2 inches by 16.2 inches
• Weighs 26 pounds
• Made from highly durable stainless steel material
• Anti-rusted interior
• 45 to 50 kilograms of capacity
• Holds up to two frames at a time

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9. Best Choice Products 2-Frame Stainless Steel Honey Extractor

Next up is Best Choice Products’ 2-frame honey extractor model. Basically, this model is decently portable, it doesn’t weigh much, and it comes outfitted with features of phenomenal quality. It’s not too expensive either, which makes it great for beginner beekeepers.

It features three removable metal supports, although disassembling (and re-assembling them back) might take some time as the screws need to be tightened quite a bit.

The cylinder drum’s dimensions are 16 inches in length, 16 inches in width and 38 inches in height. This extractor is quite big, so in terms of storage you’re probably going to need to make some space for it.

The Best Choice Products’ model can accommodate two frames only, but the good thing is that the crank is incredibly comfortable to use and it won’t fatigue you as much due to its ergonomic design.  It’s made from exceptionally robust stainless steel which can withstand quite some punishment, even by a long shot.

Even though it’s big and somewhat unwieldy, the Best Choice Products’ honey extractor is relatively light, weighing only 21 pounds.

All things considered, this honey extractor is one of the cheaper options in our review, and even so it outshines some of the mid-priced models with its solid performance. We highly recommend it to every entrepreneur beekeeper, regardless of the level of experience he or she has.

Highlighted Features:

• Dimensions measure 16 inches in length, 16 inches in width and 38 inches in height
• Holds up to two frames
• Ultra comfortable metal crank
• Durable stainless-steel construction

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10 Go Plus g Honey Extractor

Go plus is a very versatile brand, and in your catalog you’ll find all sorts of quality wares, over compact luggage bags, to bed canopies, over construction tools, to guitar bundles. Since they’re pretty famous on online marketplaces such as E-bay and Amazon, we’ve decided to take a look at their G Honey Extractor to see how it would fare ‘against’ some of our other top picks.

Basically, the G Honey extractor is a real gem in this particular price range. It’s more versatile and provides more options than most similarly priced models. It packs a highly robust 201 stainless-steel construction and a huge capacity barrel.

The Go plus honey extractor can fit 4 deep, medium, or shallow frames at once. It measures 24 inches in height by 20 inches in depth while weighing only 26 pounds. It’s incredibly easy to use it, but we recommend it to more experienced beekeepers, as the four-frame capacity isn’t something a beginner could utilize to the fullest.

Regardless, it holds a huge value for the money as it’s built to last, decently compact, plain to use, and it can support a huge workload.

Highlighted Features:

• Weighs 26 pounds
• 201 stainless-steel construction
• Fits up to four deep, medium, or shallow frames at a time
• Three stainless-steel leg supports

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11. Mann Lake HH130 2-Frame Plastic Extractor

The Mann Lake’s HH130 is the only plastic honey extractor in our review. It has its own benefits and drawbacks, but we think it’s absolutely amazing for beginner beekeepers and hobbyists as it’s incredibly compact, decently sturdy, and it basically does the same job as steel-construction models.

First and foremost, the Mann Lake HH130 doesn’t require any setup. It comes pre-installed and you can use it straight off the bat.

Furthermore, you don’t need to trouble yourself with assembling and reassembling all the bits and pieces whenever you’re moving it. In fact, it’s a great tabletop extractor that weighs only 10.1 pounds, so it’s easily the most transportable extractor in our honey extractor reviews.

It is a bit lacking in terms of durability (as plastic is substantially less robust than steel), but it’s made from food-grade materials that prevent the honey from sticking to the sides (too much, some honey will still stick to the surface). That being said, maintaining it is all too easy, even with the simplest of tools.

The Mann Lake HH130 measures 25.5 inches by 16 inches by 16 inches, so you can rest assured that it will take up the least bit of space possible. The only bad thing is that the top isn’t transparent so you won’t be able to see through it. Other than that, it does quite a bang for the buck.

Highlighted Features:

• Made of food-grade durable plastic material
• Weighs 10.1 pounds and measures 26.5 inches by 16 inches by 16 inches
• Durable and comfortable handle
• Can accommodate up to two frames at once

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12. Goodland Bee Supply 2-Frame Honey Extractor GL E2 UR/STR

The Goodland Bee Supply’s 2-frame extractor comes outfitted with some of the most exquisite features. It’s a tangential extractor supplied with a double-sieve, a de capping roller, and a couple other bonus accessories that will help you hasten the extracting process up.

It’s made from polished stainless steel and packs two Plexiglas lid pieces, it’s incredibly robust, and it sports three removable stainless steel legs.

Now, the complementary features are the reason why this extractor is so different (and perhaps better) than most similarly priced models. The de capping roller allows you to quickly and precisely de-cap the wax cells while the double-sieve allows you to separate clumps into smaller, more consistent parts.

The only bad thing about Goodland Bee Supply honey extractor is that it weighs 33.5 pounds. However, that’s only to be expected since it’s quite huge. IT measures 34.3 inches by 16.7 inches by 13.7 inches, which basically means it can be great for up to 10 hives.

In terms of price, it’s neither expensive nor cheap. We think it’s one of the best honey extractor models on the market simply because this ‘bundle’ of sorts features everything a beekeeper needs to start straight away. The extractor cylinder requires some minor assembly though.

Highlighted Features:

• Tangential honey extractor
• Comes with a double-sieve and a de capping roller as bonus features
• Can accommodate up to two frames
• Made from food-grade stainless steel material
• Three leg supports (removable)
• Comfortable handle

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13. Happy Buy Electric Honey Extractor With 4 Frames

The Happy Buy electric 4-frame honey extractor does wonders for the buck. It can fit up to four frames and it packs a silent 120w motor with selectable speeds (up to 1300 rotations per minute). It’s made from food-grade stainless steel material and measures 24 inches in height and 20 inches in diameter. The Happy Buy electric honey extractor can fit shallow, medium, or deep frames.

It weighs 37.5 pounds which doesn’t really help its portability, but it’s so big that you’ll be able to muster up mountains of honey in no time. It also comes supplied with two see-through lids made from Perspex.

Highlighted Features:

• Weighs 37.5 pounds
• Measures 32 inches by 20 inches by 20 inches
• 120w motor with selectable speeds
• Fits up to four frames

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14. Build a Beehive Honey Extractor

The Build a Beehive’s honey extractor is a very plain and simple extractor model. It operates in a very straightforward way as it comes outfitted with a very comfortable manual crank, it’s decently big, and it boasts a solid level of versatility.

First of all, this honey extractor is made from ultra sturdy stainless steel. It can hold up to two frames, but it doesn’t matter which size they are.

The biggest benefit Build a Beehive’s honey extractor provides is the fact that it’s exceptionally easy to use. It’s best suited for beginners mainly because of the comfortable crank it comes supplied with – you don’t need to us as much force as you normally would, which basically means that you’ll be less fatigued by the time the process is finished.

Additionally, this honey extractor comes with a top lid which is pretty decent in terms of quality. The good thing about it is that you can see through it and observe the process, but the bad thing is that it’s made from relatively cheap plastic material.

Even so, it does hold quite a value for the cash – it’s built like a brick house, can accommodate frames of all sizes, and it’s incredibly easy to use.

Highlighted Features:

• Top lid made of plastic
• Approximately 44 pounds shipping weight
• Holds up to two frames
• Stainless steel construction
• Easy to use crank handle

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15. Harvest Lane Honey Extractor With 2 Frames

Let’s wrap it up with Harvest Lane 2-frame metal honey extractor. It’s a relatively basic model meant for smaller companies and hobbyists, even though it could yield quite a lot of honey due to its large capacity cylinder.

The first thing that you’ll notice about this honey extractor is that it’s incredibly light. In fact, it’s lighter than most models we’ve included in our review, weighing only 12 pounds. Even so, it’s highly durable as it’s made from exceptionally durable stainless steel materials.

The Harvest Lane Honey extractor can fit two deep and medium frames at a time, but even though this does mean a slightly lower yield in comparison to 4+ frame extractors, its honey gate is incredibly well designed, so at least the extraction process is fast and clean.

Speaking of ‘clean’, this honey extractor does require quite a bit of maintenance. It’s pretty big, measuring 17 inches by 17 inches by 28 inches, so you should expect that there will be certain hard-to-reach spots.

Overall, the biggest benefits this honey extractor model provides include its lightweight, yet sturdy build, superb stability provided with three reliable metal legs, and how easy it is to use it. The downsides, though, are that it’s a bit more expensive than average and that it requires slightly more effort to clean.

Highlighted Features:

• Stainless steel construction
• Weighs 12 pounds
• Dimensions measure 17 inches by 17 inches by 28 inches
• Three metal legs

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Buying Guide: Thinks to Consider When Select Honey Extractor

There are just a couple of things you should consider before buying a honey extractor, and in this section, we’re going to talk about them in detail. Without any ado, let’s dive into this one.

Construction – What Material is it Built From

The vast majority of honey extractors are made from stainless steel. However, there are different ‘types’ of stainless steel, which is what differentiates ‘decent’ models from the best honey extractor models.

Without going too far into the topic of what types of steel exist, you should be looking for ‘food grade steel’. Basically, this is your ‘safest’ option as it eliminates the risk of spoilage while ensuring that the maintenance process is as simple as possible.

This, however, does not mean that the stainless steel is the best possible option when it comes to the material choice. There are great extractors that are even made from (food grade) plastic, such as Mann Lake HH130 extractor. As far as the type of material is concerned, it’s only mandatory that it’s ‘food grade’, it doesn’t really matter whether it’s made from steel or plastic.

Durability – How Sturdy it is

While the construction side deals with the type of the material, the ‘durability’ refers to the extractor’s capability of standing the test of time (and use).

There are a few questions you should ask yourself before you should decide how durable your extractor needs to be.

Firstly, hobbyist beekeepers usually use the extractor every once in a while, so there’s really no need to be overly concerned with how sturdy it is. On the flip side, professionals tend to work around the clock, so a robust extractor is an absolute must – you shouldn’t settle for less than the sturdiest steel construction.

Aside from that, you should think about the conditions you want to use the extractor, as well as where you intend to store it. If you don’t have a designated space for it, you will probably leave it outside, which takes plastic extractors out of the picture.

Certain honey extractor models feature anti-rusting stainless steel construction, and these are generally your best option if you don’t have a damp, dry room where you would storage your extractor.

Portability and Support – Can You Move it Around

Honey extractors are generally pretty bulky and unwieldy, so unless you’ve prepared a spot where you’ll use them, you’re in for a nasty surprise. Some extractors weigh well above 50 pounds, so moving them from place to place is usually tough.

On a brighter note, there are compact honey extractors that generally weigh 20-25 pounds, and some are even 10 pounds ‘light’, such as Mann Lake HH130 for example. Lighter extractors are not necessarily less durable.

Capacity – What Workload Can it Support

Honey extractors are generally split into various categories, and one of them is ‘commercial and household production’. If you’ve started a small honey business (or if you intend to), household extractors can get you started, but their limit is usually 2 frames at best.

On another hand, commercial extractors are usually outfitted with a tank that can accommodate up to 8 frames at once, which makes them suitable for larger operations.

The capacity of the extractor defines the highest workload it can support, so even if you have a huge honey extractor, it wouldn’t really help much if it didn’t have the features to support more than just two frames, for example.

How to Clean a Honey Extractor?

Properly cleaning the honey extractor is one of the most important jobs of a beekeeper, so let’s address it in a bit more detail. This type of beekeeping equipment is more expensive than any other and it deserves utmost diligence. On top of that, if you don’t clean the extractor well, your next batch will certainly lose a good portion of its quality.

Some people have been completely misguided by the notion that you can simply leave your extractor cleaning job ‘to the bees’. Bees do, in fact, take care of the extractor in terms that they’re helping you keep it in a functional order, but letting such a vital part of the maintenance process to them might or not might work for your model in particular.

So, how do you clean the honey extractor ‘properly’?

Once you’ve used the extractor, there will be plenty of leftover honey on the floor and the extractor’s sidewalls. You can clean it the old-fashioned way by scraping the leftover honey with a silicone spatula. This is the easiest, and the messiest way as you are bound to be completely covered in honey.

The longer, but more efficient way is to heat the extractor up indoors after tipping it at a relatively steep angle. This way the honey will drip in the direction of the gate. You should wait for a night until the honey drains down the gate, after which you can simply scrape off the rest.

How Does a Honey Extractor Work?

Simply put, a honey extractor works through centrifugal force. Extractors are outfitted with cylindrical drums which hold the basket, so when you spin the drum the honey is extracted from the combs.

These devices come in two types which are called tangential and radial honey extractors. The main difference between these two types can be seen in the manner by which the frames should be assembled.

Radial honey extractors are supplied with a top frame which is facing outwards while the Tangential honey extractors feature one comb side which is facing outwards.

After placing the frames into the extractor you should either start spinning it or activate it, depending on the model you have (electric or analogue). When the drum is spinning, the honey gets forced from wax cells if you’ve previously removed the caps. Note that you will get no honey from the cells that still have their caps intact.

Generally speaking, the method by which honey extractors work largely depends on the category under which they fall under, which are digital and manual.

Electric Honey Extractors

Electric extractors are sometimes called ‘automatic’ honey extractors, and even though they still use centrifugal force to extract the honey, the process is operated by a pre-built program. These are substantially easier and less fatiguing to use than manual extractors.

This type of honey extractor comes supplied with a motor which is directly wired to the electric supply. The speed at which the frames turn is variable and controllable, although the maximum speed is capped at a certain point so as to prevent potential damage to honey combs.

Electric extractors are generally used by bigger companies because they’re faster and more suitable for higher workloads.

Manual Honey Extractors

Generally speaking, the interior of a manual extractor resembles that of an electric extractor which means that most of the integral components are identical. The first and main difference between them is that manual extractors utilize kinetic force which later converts into centrifugal force.

In plain words, manual extractors come equipped with a crank which is used to turn the frames. Since the process is not automated, you need to be careful with how long you turn the frames and how much force you apply. Your input directly affects the speed by which the frames spin, which means that applying too much force could lead to potential damage of the wax cells.

How Long to Spin Honey Extractor?

There’s a very simple trick which will help you know when you should stop spinning your extractor (and when it’s time to harvest the honey).

First of all, you shouldn’t worry about this issue at all if you own an automatic honey extractor as the machine will simply stop when the process is completed. On another hand, if you own a manual extractor, you should spin the machine’s crank in intervals of thirty to sixty seconds. This process should be repeated for each set of frames your extractor has.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Best Honey Extractor?

The answer to this question largely depends on a couple of factors – how big is the workload, what’s your skill level, do you intend to use it indoors or outdoors, and such.

One of the best portable extractors is the Mann Lake HH130. It’s incredibly light as it’s made from food-grade plastic, and it’s perfect for smaller operations. On another hand, if you’re looking for a model with a bigger barrel capacity, the Happy buy’s electric honey extractor is an easy choice in our humble opinion.

How do You Extract Honey?

After the entire process is finished, the honey will start piling up towards the bottom of the barrel. Every honey extractor comes outfitted with a neat feature called the ‘honey gate’ which is basically a tap which, when opened, allows you to collect your honey.

What is a Honey Bee Extractor?

The honey bee extractor is a contraption that allows beekeepers to work on the wax cells and extract honey in the simplest manner possible. It basically ‘houses’ the bees and provides a safer environment to collect honey, lowering the risk of getting stung in the process.

How Does a Beekeeper Extract Honey?

Traditionally, beekeepers used to tend to the bees, practically ‘befriending’ them. In turn, the bees become less hostile and less inclined to sting – the traditional method of collecting honey involved simply cutting up the hive and collecting honey from the pieces.

With the advances of technology, people have almost completely abandoned this way and now use honey extractors.

When Should I Extract Honey?

The bees ‘label’ the cells that are filled up with honey that is ready for extraction, and there’s an easy way to spot these cells – they’re substantially ‘whiter’ than the rest of the cells.

Final Verdict

The market is brimming with brands which specialize in making beekeeper gear or have just happened to have some on stock, but that doesn’t change the fact that your choices are virtually limitless. This, however, means that picking the best honey extractor from the bunch isn’t as easy as it might initially seem.

We’ve tested out a couple dozen honey extractors and have compared them to the most popular ones, so you can rest assured that the models on our list are substantially superior than average. Kick back and take your pick, we wish you all the luck with your future beekeeping endeavors We hope you found our guide useful and that you’ve learned something new. Any feedback is always welcome, of course, feel free to let us know what you think. Stay safe, guys!