Best Honey Bottling Tanks for Extraction and Storage

Truth be told, very few ventures can be compared to beekeeping. This is one of those activities that can be transformed within no time from a hobby to a commercial grade enterprise. Most pro beekeepers started off as hobbyists and eventually scale up. Beekeeping equipment including honey bottling tanks are essential for success in any beekeeping venture. This is one of those implements that come in handy once you have harvested your honey. It preserves the honey and keeps it away from any potential contamination. Honey never goes bad and that can explain why it is used as a preservative in most industries. It is also repellent to contaminators such as bacteria and fungi, hence the reason why it is used for treating wounds. It is very easy to store honey. In fact, honey that has crystallized can easily be restored with the use of a honey bottling tank.

Honey Storage

Honey in itself is a preservative but it has to be kept in a cool location where there is no direct sunlight. The honey bottling tank should be well sealed as well so as to prevent any unwanted materials from contaminating the honey. Food safe plastics and glass containers are ideal for honey storage. Metallic containers are not ideal for storing honey since most of them can oxidize. However, rust resistant and food safe metallic tanks can be the best for storing honey.

Refrigerators are not recommended for honey storage since extreme cool conditions solidify honey. You will therefore be forced to warm it up whenever you need to use it. Honey may also be frozen but this is not necessary since it never goes bad even under normal conditions.

Heat and Moisture

Heat and moisture are the greatest enemies to stored honey. Never expose honey to heat or allow moisture to build up in the bottling tank. Honey is best kept under normal room temperatures. If you reside in a house that is warm, then lookout for the coolest places within the building and keep the honey bottling tank there. It should also be stored away from any heat-producing appliances such as stove, sunlight, and others. The best way to keep honey free from moisture is by storing it in an airtight container. Fortunately, most honey bottling tanks have tight seals. You should also use a dry spoon whenever you dip into the tank.

Honey bottling tanks have become essential items to beekeepers since they help keep the honey fresh and safe from contamination. Most honey houses have at least five or even more honey bottling tanks. If you are a small scale beekeeper then one or two honey bottling tank suffice. You can start out with one then add one later on when your enterprise expands. Check out the top brands and choose those that offer the best quality products.

 

Overview of the Best Honey Bottling Tanks

There are many brands out there that manufacture beekeeping equipment including the honey bottling tanks. Let’s check out the best honey bottling tanks.

8. Harvest Lane Honey Bucket, 5 Gallon

Beekeepers looking to store honey in containers that they can handle with ease often go for 5-gallon buckets. The Harvest Lane Honey Bucket is one such addition to your beekeeping operation that will serve you well in honey bottling and storage. The bucket is made using plastic and stainless steel. Only food safe materials are used. They do not corrode or release ay harmful compounds into the honey. This bucket therefore keeps your honey fresh for long with its natural flavor and smell. It measures 12 x 12 x 15.5 inches and weighs 3 pounds when empty.

The Harvest Lane Honey Bucket comes fitted with a draining honey gate at the bottom. The honey gate is made in the popular butterfly design. It is a great addition to the bucket since it makes fetching honey from the bucket easy. The size of this honey bucket is small enough to allow it to go under your honey extractor. Where it does not, slight elevation of the extractor allows enough space under it for the honey bucket. You can thus extract honey directly into the bucket and minimize the number of times you transfer honey from one container to another between extraction and storage. It saves you honey wastage and reduces the number of honey containers to wash after honey extraction.

Pros

• This honey bucket is suitably sized for use with many extractors in both small and large beekeeping operations. It is also not too heavy for handling once it is filled with honey.
• Both small and experienced beekeepers are able to use this bucket in their honey harvesting and storage. They are provided with a simple and convenient means of fetching honey from the bucket too.

Cons

• You may need to replace, repair or fix the honey gate on this bucket once you receive it. Honey leaking from the bucket due to various defects in this Harvest Lane Honey Bucket honey gate, causes you losses and problems with insects coming to eat up the honey.

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7. Little Giant Plastic Honey Bucket Bucket with Honey Gate, 5 Gallon

Use this cylindrical honey storage bucket in your beekeeping operation for great results preserving honey in its natural state. The Little Giant Plastic Honey Bucket with Honey Gate is made using food safe plastic. It comes in a white color. Both beginner and experienced beekeepers are suited to use the bucket. It fits well under most honey extractors used in beekeeping. The bucket has a very secure lid that covers the top tightly. It does not allow air and moisture to get into the bucket once you have covered it with the lid. This bucket has a capacity of 5 gallons. It measures 12 x 12 x 15 inches and weighs 3.41 pounds when empty.

The Little Giant Plastic Honey Bucket with Honey Gate is a worthy investment in your beekeeping operation. It has a metal handle for use when carrying. At its center where your hand goes, the handle is shaped and covered with plastic to give you best grip and handling. The bucket is also fitted with a honey gate for when you need to draw honey. This honey gate is made using high quality plastic and stainless steel in the butterfly design. It is easy to use and seals up the bottom opening of the bucket well. Packaging honey from the bucket and drawing some for your use is easy with the butterfly honey gate.

Pros

• High quality food safe materials including plastic and stainless steel are used to make this bucket. The bucket comes from a reliable manufacturer of beekeeping supplies.
• This bucket is suitable for honey storage and is long lasting. It allows easy and convenient honey bottling when you need to. The bucket keeps honey fresh for long and does not allow easy spoilage.

Cons

• You have to open this bucket to know how much honey is left in the bucket. The Little Giant Plastic Honey Bucket with Honey Gate is an opaque white bucket.

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6. House Naturals 2 Gallon Plastic Bucket with Honey Gate (Pack of 2)

The House Naturals Honey Food Grade 2 Gallon Bucket is a great option for beekeepers who need a small and convenient way to store and dispense their honey. This product is made from high-quality food-grade plastic and comes with a number of useful features that make it a great choice for beekeepers of all skill levels.

One of the standout features of the House Naturals Honey Food Grade 2 Gallon Bucket is its compact size. This makes it a great option for beekeepers who have limited storage space, or for those who only harvest small amounts of honey at a time. The honey gate is also a great feature that allows for easy and efficient dispensing of honey.

Another great feature of this product is its lid with an airtight seal. This helps to keep the honey fresh and prevents contamination, ensuring that it stays safe to consume. The pack of two buckets is also a great value, providing beekeepers with two convenient storage options for their honey.

Pros

• Compact size is great for beekeepers with limited storage space or small harvests.
• Honey gate for easy and efficient dispensing of honey.
• Food-grade plastic construction ensures safety and durability.
• Lid with airtight seal keeps honey fresh and prevents contamination.
• Pack of two buckets is a great value.

Cons

• The honey gate may be difficult to clean, requiring extra care to prevent the build-up of honey residue.
• The plastic construction may not be as durable as metal options.

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5. House Naturals 4 Gallon Plastic Bucket with Honey Gate

The House Naturals 4 Gallon Square Bucket with Honey Gate is a great product that provides beekeepers with a convenient and easy-to-use storage option for their honey. The bucket is made from high-quality materials and features a number of useful features that make it a must-have for beekeepers of all skill levels.

One of the standout features of the House Naturals 4 Gallon Square Bucket is its honey gate. The gate is designed to allow beekeepers to easily and efficiently dispense honey from the bucket, without having to open the lid.

Another great feature of this product is its size. The 4-gallon capacity is great for small to medium-sized beekeeping operations, providing plenty of storage space for honey without taking up too much room. The square shape of the bucket also makes it easy to stack and store multiple buckets, making it a great option for beekeepers who need to store a large amount of honey.

Pros

• The honey gate for easy and efficient honey dispensing.
• 4-gallon capacity is perfect for small to medium-sized beekeeping operations.
• Square shape allows for easy stacking and storage of multiple buckets.
• High-quality materials ensure durability and long-lasting use.
• Lid with airtight seal keeps honey fresh and prevents contamination.

Cons

• Some beekeepers may prefer a larger or smaller capacity bucket depending on their needs.
• The honey gate may be difficult to clean, requiring extra care to prevent the build-up of honey residue.

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4. House Naturals 5 Gallon Plastic Bucket with Honey Gate

The House Naturals 5 Gallon Plastic Honey Food Grade Bucket with Honey Gate is a great option for beekeepers who need a reliable and convenient way to store and dispense their honey. This product is made from high-quality food-grade plastic and features a number of useful features that make it a great choice for beekeepers of all skill levels.

One of the standout features of this product is its 5-gallon capacity. This is a great size for beekeepers with larger operations, as it provides plenty of storage space for honey without taking up too much room. The honey gate is also a great feature that allows for easy and efficient dispensing of honey, without having to open the lid.

Another great feature of the House Naturals 5 Gallon Plastic Honey Food Grade Bucket is its easy snap lid. This lid is designed to securely seal the bucket, keeping the honey fresh and preventing contamination. The easy snap design also makes it easy to open and close the lid, even when wearing gloves.

Pros

• 5-gallon capacity is great for larger beekeeping operations.
• Honey gate for easy and efficient dispensing of honey.
• Food-grade plastic construction ensures safety and durability.
• Easy snap lid securely seals the bucket and prevents contamination.
• Lightweight and easy to transport.

Cons

• The honey gate may be difficult to clean, requiring extra care to prevent the build-up of honey residue.
• The plastic construction may not be as durable as metal options.

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3. House Naturals 4 GallonPlastic Square Bucket with Honey Gate (Pack of 2)

The House Naturals Honey Food Grade 4 Gallon Square Bucket with Honey Gate is a great product for beekeepers who are looking for a convenient way to store and dispense their honey. This bucket is made from food-grade plastic and features a honey gate and lid that make it easy to use and highly functional.

One of the standout features of the House Naturals Honey Food Grade 4 Gallon Square Bucket is its square shape. This shape makes it easy to stack and store multiple buckets, which is great for beekeepers who need to store a lot of honey in a small space. The 4-gallon capacity is also perfect for small to medium-sized beekeeping operations, providing plenty of storage space without taking up too much room.

The honey gate is another great feature of this product. It allows beekeepers to easily and efficiently dispense honey from the bucket without having to open the lid.

Pros

• Square shape allows for easy stacking and storage of multiple buckets.
• 4-gallon capacity is perfect for small to medium-sized beekeeping operations.
• Honey gate for easy and efficient honey dispensing.
• Food-grade plastic construction ensures safety and durability.
• Lid with airtight seal keeps honey fresh and prevents contamination.
• Comes in a pack of 2.

Cons

• The honey gate may be difficult to clean, requiring extra care to prevent the build-up of honey residue
• The plastic construction may not be as durable as metal options.

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2. House Naturals Plastic 5 Gallon Bucket with Honey Gate and Gamma Lid

The House Naturals Plastic 5 Gallon Bucket with Honey Gate and Gamma Lid is a great product that provides beekeepers with a convenient and reliable way to store and dispense honey. This product is made from high-quality food-grade plastic and comes with a number of useful features that make it a great choice for beekeepers of all skill levels.

One of the standout features of this product is its 5-gallon capacity. This makes it a great option for beekeepers who harvest larger amounts of honey, or for those who need to store honey for an extended period of time. The honey gate is also a great feature that allows for easy and efficient dispensing of honey.

Another great feature of this product is its Gamma lid, which provides an airtight seal that helps to keep the honey fresh and prevent contamination. This makes it an excellent choice for beekeepers who want to ensure the quality and safety of their honey. The bucket is also made from durable plastic that is designed to withstand the rigors of beekeeping, ensuring that it will last for years to come.

Pros

• Large 5-gallon capacity is great for beekeepers with larger harvests or long-term storage needs.
• Honey gate for easy and efficient dispensing of honey.
• Gamma lid provides an airtight seal to keep honey fresh and prevent contamination.
• Food-grade plastic construction ensures safety and durability.
• Easy-to-clean design.

Cons

• The bucket may be too large for beekeepers with limited storage space or smaller harvests.
• The honey gate may be difficult to clean, requiring extra care to prevent the build up of honey residue.

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1. ApiHex Stainless Steel Honey Settling Tank (70L)

The ApiHex Stainless Steel Honey Settling Tank is a food grade stainless steel storage tank for honey. The tank is safe for storing honey over long periods of time. It is built with a controllable honey gate valve for when you need to get honey from the tank. This honey gate valve is made using the same stainless steel as the rest of the tank. The gate valve is easy to work with and seals up well. It does not allow any honey to leak from the tank and get wasted. This tank comes with conical bottom. It is great for the complete emptying of the tank. The conical bottom allows you to get up to the last drop of honey from the tank.

Two yellow strips of metal are used to reinforce this metal honey storage tank. One strip is at the top and the other is at the bottom. The strips do not hamper use of the tank in any way. This honey tank is made with a beautiful mirror finish. It can be heated at the bottom using a burner with no damage to the tank. Heating is needed to de-crystallize honey. It is also done if you use this tank to make some sugar syrup for feeding honeybees in your beekeeping operation. This honey storage tank has a large capacity of 220 lbs. You also have the option of getting a 110 lbs tank from the same manufacturer.

Pros

• The ApiHex Honey Settling Tank 220 lbs (70L) has a large capacity. Small beekeeping operations have the option of a smaller sized tank from the same manufacturer.
• Materials used to make this honey storage tank are not corrodible. The stainless steel keeps your honey in its pure and natural form despite the length of time you store the honey in this tank.

Cons

• Some beekeepers have had a problem with the honey gate valve of this tank not sealing up well. Test the tank for proper functioning once you receive it upon purchase before putting it to use storing honey.

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Conclusion

The best honey bottling tanks are ideal and well built. They each cater to beekeepers at different levels. They are not created equal and therefore you have to check out each individual unit before making your purchase. Choose a unit that offer the best in price, quality and meets the needs of your operation.

Do you own any of the honey bottling tanks on this list? Which honey bottling tank(s) do you think should be added to this list? Leave a comment below and let us know.