STORING FRAMES OF HONEY

[W.Gramps]

I am a first year bee keeper,I have 10 frames of capped honey in a medium super I do not have a extrator,is it possible to freese the frames and use them for food stores in the spring. Thanks

[Barry]

You can't go wrong storing honey in the comb in the freezer. I still have sections of comb honey in my freezer from 3 years ago and it tastes as good (almost) as the day I put it in. Just be sure your bees will in fact need the extra stores in the spring. Here in the midwest, I let my bees store up on the fall flow and I've never had to feed the bees in the spring. Usually just the opposite, too much honey left over.

If you find the bees don't need it next spring you can always extract or decap and drain the honey then for your own use.

Regards,
Barry

[Juandefuca]

It would be interesting to know why honey in jars does not have to be frozen and honey in combs is different.
Depending on the source of nectar , one type of honey crystallizes almost within a week whether in comb or not. How do you conveniently liquefy / extract the honey in combs if crystallisation took place ?? Honey is antibiotic and can be stored for an unknown long period.Whether in combs or vessels.The capping of the cells effectively seals the product within and the bees do a splendid job of it.
Therefore I would like to know the reason why take valuable space in freezers ?
It is understood that honey does NOT go bad either way of storage, except when it is not cured properly , i.e. open cells.Just to throw another fly into the ointment : The other day we removed a colony from an attic which was home there for at least 5 years according to hearsay. Some of the combes were totally black and hardend containing perfectly preserved honey which is now of course in jars.
respectfully ,
Catfish

[This message has been edited by Juandefuca (edited 08-19-2000).]