Uncapping

nounStandard termFarming

The process of removing the wax seal from honeycomb cells before extracting honey.

The act of slicing or scratching off the thin layer of beeswax that honey bees build over cells of ripened honey. Beekeepers perform this step using a heated knife or a specialized scratching fork so the honey can flow out freely when the frames are spun in a centrifuge.

Heard on the job

I'll start uncapping the frames in the honey house while you bring in the last few supers.