Freezing Comb Honey?

[Ben Framed]

I would assume freezing comb honey may have some benefits?  Upon freezing comb honey, will this postpone the chemical change in natural honey that occurs when honey turns to a sugar type substance, thus will the freezing help  keep said honey ''fresh'' and from turning until thawing?  I would also think freezing comb honey should insure that any SHB egg that might have been laid will be killed as well?  If are these are a plus, are there negatives to freezing comb honey?
Thanks, Phillip

[Ben Framed]

Bump

[van from Arkansas]

Good afternoon Mr. Ben: I freeze honey in both framed capped comb and bottle.  Remains thick liquid and does not crystallize.  I currently have some 2016 Tupelo honey and 2018 acacia honey in the freezer, plus a few bottles of my own local honey that are without crystals.  See note below@

Comb honey frozen.  Careful handling the frames as frozen wax will shatter, easily breaks, or cracks.  Wax is so delicate when frozen that Mann Lake will not ship wax foundation during winter months.  I want to emphasize the frozen thin wax will shatter into a gazillion little pieces if bumped or dropped.

Frozen honey: I know of zero negatives.  The frozen honey is unbelievable thick, kinda of a candy treat.

@I have only frozen the high fructose honeys listed above that have a tendency not to crystallize at room temperature due to low glucose content.  However, my own local honey does not crystallize when frozen... I would be more confident if a few beeks added their own experiences before I say absolutely: freezing does not crystallize.

Enjoy this fine Sunday!

[BeeMaster2]

I have frozen 2 medium honey supers in the comb and old frames with and without brood and pollen and left it there from last fall until this June when we extracted the rest of the honey. The pollen and brood frames will eventually start to mold while still in the freezer. The pure honey frames looked good except they were covered in ice crystals. I kept the frozen frames separate from the newly extracted frames. I extracted the frozen frames 48 hours after removing them from the freezer. The honey was good summer honey but it read 18.9% water. I put it in a 5 gallon bucket and put it in my honey heater, set at 100 degrees, for 2 days. It is now at 18.4% water. It is very good honey and you cannot tell the difference from it and the honey I extracted last summer
Jim Altmiller

[van from Arkansas]

Mr. Jim, is your freezer frost free and was the honey capped?  Appears the honey gain moisture in your freezer.  Is this correct assumption?

[BeeMaster2]

Mr. Jim, is your freezer frost free and was the honey capped?  Appears the honey gain moisture in your freezer.  Is this correct assumption?

The freezer is not frost free and most was capped. There was so much water on the comb that it probably absorbed into the uncapped honey. Some of the cappings were damaged in handling.
Jim Altmiller

[2Sox]

When I cut my comb honey, I place it directly into the containers I will sell it in.  I place all these containers into the freezer for a minimum of 48 hours.  No more wax moth issues - or SHB issues either.  I seldom see these anyway here in NY.

I also place my extracted frames inside the freezer for a day or two, if I don't feed give them to the bees right away to clean up, for the same reason.  In fact, anything I place inside the hive that has any debris or comb on or in it, I put into the freezer too. (I use empty styrofoam meat trays to freeze cutout honey - an example.)

[Ben Framed]

Thanks Mr Van, especially about the delicate condition of frozen comb. Thanks for the well wishing on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, and It was beautiful here also! We did enjoy it very much. I hope you and Mrs Tamplin enjoyed yours just as much if not more.  Blessings

Jim, I will keep in mind about the mold problem with pollen. Mr Van brought up a good point about frost free. Perhaps that might have some bearing on the results? Irregardless, I will keep the good advise in mind. Thanks, Phillip

Mr 2Sox, Last night I had 3 frames that I snuck out of a hive inspection from yesterday. Just so happened that I hadn't taken the time to add fishing line to one of these frames and I am glad that I did not. The comb honey was absolutely picture book beautiful! Beautiful white cappings. I just did not have the heart to extract, (using Don ketchihour) method or any other for that matter, though It works wonderfully. My wife and I made a quick trip to The Dollar Tree and bought some containers and basically did as you. It looked great and will make good gifts! Thanks for you input.
Phillip

[Ben Framed]

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This is one of the chunks that we cut out last night and placed in a container. It has been in the freezer since. I took this one out for a photo.  Does look kinda frozen 
Phillip

[Ben Framed]

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[2Sox]

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This is one of the chunks that we cut out last night and placed in a container. It has been in the freezer since. I took this one out for a photo.  Does look kinda frozen 
Phillip

My frozen comb doesn't look much different from unfrozen.  If you've got it in for 48 hours you're safe.

[TheFuzz]

Freezing is needed to preserve the quality of the comb and to kill off wax moth eggs before they hatch.