Harvested honey on Sat. took the box back out to the hive for them to clean it. Put the super back on and left it until monday evening and then shook the bees off and put the frames int he freezer. Today, wed evening, there is still some honey in a few of the cells on 4/5 frames. Should I take them back out for further cleaning or should I go on an bag them for the winter? Will the remaining uncapped honey draw mold? will it ruin my pulled wax?
Honey does not mold. Higher water content nectar and syrup will mold and mildew. I would put it back on the hives for a couple more days. Maybe your bees have been busy outside the hive.
took another look and it is just a small amount on two frames. think I can just rinse it out, let it dry and store for the winter?
If it is honey, I would not wash it out, just leave it in there. If you seal the boxes up well so nothing can get in there, everything will be fine. If I have frames with honey, I leave them in a deep freezer all winter, just in case for the bees. When storing frames, just make sure they are dry when you put them up to hold off the mildew.
you have a small amount you will be fine-the only thing i worry about with crystalized frames is there is a potential during next harvest that you will seed your fresh honey and promote crystallization (same process they use when they make creamed honey )
8-) RDY-B
Quote from: rgy on August 26, 2010, 02:51:55 PM
took another look and it is just a small amount on two frames. think I can just rinse it out, let it dry and store for the winter?
Don't do it unless you're absolutely sure you can get them really dry before storing.
Take it from someone who has spent the last month cleaning frames infested with ridonkulous amounts of mold after hubby left 60 boxes out for the bees to clean up... for two weeks.... and didn't put any rain protection over them.... and then put them away wet for a couple months.