Cut Comb Storage

[Swift Nick]

I inserted some wireless thin foundation for cut comb honey in the middle of some of my supers this year. The bees have drawn the comb, filled and capped these frames.
I am going to use clear plastic containers for the cut comb, I wondered how I should store it? Is it more susceptible to granulating than honey in the jar?
I thought I remembered reading once of someone freezing the cut comb in containers and thawing it to sell.
Last year my honey in jars started to crystallise after 6 months (our house is old & quite cold), I put it in a warmer for 24 hrs and it returned to liquid state and has stayed so ever since.
Any info on cut comb storing appreciated, thanks.

 

[Ian123]

Freeze in comb or in container, personally I prefer frames in a box but it depends on space. Freezing stops any crystalising whilst its frozen. So just take frames out as and when required. Also freezing prevents wax moth finding your frames.

 

[For want of a better word]

We freeze it in the frames at minus 18 degrees.

As there has been a bit of a backlash on single use and non recyclable plastic, we have invested in 100% biodegradable cut comb containers ... all be it with a PET clear lid with the recyclable logo on it... sold out at the Royal Cornwall Show!

Yeghes da

 

[Beefriendly]

Any info on cut comb storing appreciated, thanks.

As per first advice freeze. But is this spring rape honey...???
If so it will set within a week or so of thawing....
I only do cut comb from Borage, Mid summer blossom (that I know is slow to set) and Heather honey.
It pays to know your nectar flows and their setting times after extraction.
It's a Good seller these days....becoming really popular with kids due to various utube visa....or so the kids tell me.

 

[Swift Nick]

Thanks Gents, Freezing it is then, I like the idea of the biodegradable containers.
I sell my 12oz jars for £5, what should I be charging for 8oz of cut comb? I was thinking £6 or £7.
I am pretty small scale, just sell at work, at the door and word of mouth.

 

[Swift Nick]

As per first advice freeze. But is this spring rape honey...???
If so it will set within a week or so of thawing....
I only do cut comb from Borage, Mid summer blossom (that I know is slow to set) and Heather honey.
It pays to know your nectar flows and their setting times after extraction.
It's a Good seller these days....becoming really popular with kids due to various utube visa....or so the kids tell me.

I am not near any rape flower, it is spring honey, dandelion, fruit blossom, last years spring honey took 6 months to start to go cloudy, just like the summer honey, which is a high proportion of blackberry for me.

 

[Ian123]

You are probably about right on price but don’t be afraid to bump your 12oz price up if you are shifting what you have even if it’s 50p. I was told years ago 8oz comb for same price as 1lb jar but always found you could bump that up a bit. Plenty down my way getting £6-£7 for 12oz. If you end up storing in frames frozen you really need to completely defrost and get to room temp. If you try and cut whilst still chilled the wax cracks/breaks easily rather than cutting.

 

[Swift Nick]

Thanks Ian, all my questions answered in one evening. Can’t wait to get started on it now.
Cheers Nick

 

[Barbarian]

I stored my packs of cut comb in the freezer. My labels did not do well in the freezer. I found it better to label after thawing.

 

[For want of a better word]

I stored my packs of cut comb in the freezer. My labels did not do well in the freezer. I found it better to label after thawing.

If stored in the plastic clam packs in the freezer, there is a propensity to have a bit of condensation held within the container on defrosting... which can ruin the product.

We found best way to avoid this was to open the plastic clam packs and put the dehumidifyer on...

or store in the frame and defrost and cut as required.

Chons da

 

[Murox]

You are probably about right on price but don’t be afraid to bump your 12oz price up if you are shifting what you have even if it’s 50p. I was told years ago 8oz comb for same price as 1lb jar but always found you could bump that up a bit. Plenty down my way getting £6-£7 for 12oz. If you end up storing in frames frozen you really need to completely defrost and get to room temp. If you try and cut whilst still chilled the wax cracks/breaks easily rather than cutting.

I reckon thats about right. For what its worth, a long time ago when honey was £1 per 1lb I sold 4oz cut comb for one and half times the price of a jar. It still went like hot cakes.

 

[bontbee]

If stored in the plastic clam packs in the freezer, there is a propensity to have a bit of condensation held within the container on defrosting... which can ruin the product.

We found best way to avoid this was to open the plastic clam packs and put the dehumidifyer on...

or store in the frame and defrost and cut as required.

Chons da

Put your containers in freezer bags (i know, more plastic, but they can be reused and reused). I pack bags with eight containers together.

Once they are out of the freezer, don't open the bag until the pack has completely defrosted. (What a faff I hear people saying, but I guarantee that there will be no condensation in or on your containers.... It isn't too onerous for small quantities).

 

[Ian123]

Nick when cutting up your combs save any off cuts for chunk honey. Any areas not good enough for the box or uncapped even a couple of strips squeezed together make a filler for the jar, honey hides a multitude of sins. If you decide it’s not up to scratch it’s home consumption. Don’t go mad bottling loads of chunk though as I find the addition of the comb/wax bits tends to start it crystalising faster than normal.

 

[Swift Nick]

Nick when cutting up your combs save any off cuts for chunk honey. Any areas not good enough for the box or uncapped even a couple of strips squeezed together make a filler for the jar, honey hides a multitude of sins. If you decide it’s not up to scratch it’s home consumption. Don’t go mad bottling loads of chunk though as I find the addition of the comb/wax bits tends to start it crystalising faster than normal.

Thanks Ian, good shout on the chunk honey, my initial thoughts was to put it in with the cappings for separation to become cooking honey, but this would be a much better use. Last year was my second season, first crop, still much to learn.

 

[Swift Nick]

Put your containers in freezer bags (i know, more plastic, but they can be reused and reused). I pack bags with eight containers together.

Once they are out of the freezer, don't open the bag until the pack has completely defrosted. (What a faff I hear people saying, but I guarantee that there will be no condensation in or on your containers.... It isn't too onerous for small quantities).

I will try the bag method out with a small quantity from the batch first, if it works for me go that route, if not, revert to freezing the whole frame, thanks.

 

[Swift Nick]

One further question on cut comb

I have purchased the crystal containers from Thornes for the cut comb, I presume I should get 4 consistent blocks from a super frame to fit these containers, and then as the previous poster said use up the off cuts, is that what people get 4 blocks at approx 8 oz ? I presume people write the weight on by hand or say minimum, as it’s going to vary a bit due to comb width.

 

[Newbeeneil]

I've just cut up some comb, I get 5 per super frame and keep the off cuts for chunk honey or for tasters at the shows.

 

[devonsimon]

Hi
I was reading through the beekeeping forum looking for better ways of presenting cut comb. You mentioned that you have switched to biodegradable containers. Could you let me know which ones you are using as I have been looking for a while and havn't found anything I thought was suitable.
Thanks