Collecting and Cleaning Pollen

[Prarie]

Hi to all,

I am new to bees this year, and my hives are doing quite well right now -- so far.  I have just put on a pollen catch, and am starting to collect.  My question is how do I clean it?  I brought some in yesterday, and noticed it has some bee legs, wings, and various other parts, as well as a little propolis and even a small mite (I think).  If I am going to be able to use this for people -- how do I go about cleaning it up?

Thanks for all the help and advice.

Prarie

[Michael Bush]

Sift it through a #7 hardware cloth to get the big parts out.  Then sift it through a screen door screen to get the dust out.  A fan blowing gentle as you toss it in the air (outside of course) can also help blow the "chaff" off.  Seems like I saw a pollen sifter for sale with the fan built in.

[Mountaineerfan]

So how do you "keep" the pollen?  I know some folks freeze it, but what sort of container should it be placed in?

[reinbeau]

I've got ours in a big Tupperware container in the freezer.