If you’re looking for ways to reduce your single-use plastic, beeswax wraps are a great place to start! They are easy to make, affordable and will last a very long time.
Jump to RecipeWhat Is A Beeswax Wrap?
Beeswax wraps are a sustainable option for wrapping and storing your food. They can be made out of 100% cotton, linen or even hemp fabrics. If you have old t-shirts lying around that are not being used, those can also be turned into wraps as well!
Using organic material helps the beeswax absorb evenly into the fabric.
Ideally, you want to choose a fabric that is relatively thin as this will make the wrap more pliable (think the same thickness as a tea towel).
I’ve been on a mission the last few years to work on reducing my single-use consumption and have found these wraps help to reduce the need of using plastic baggies, plastic wrap and aluminum foil in the kitchen.
Beeswax wraps are reusable, compostable and also nontoxic! With proper care, they can last years of use.
If you notice the wraps are starting to lose their luster, you can refresh them by adding on more beeswax pellets and baking them in the oven again.
I think these also make wonderful gifts and I will be making a few to give away during the holidays this winter!
This recipe does not have pine resin, which is said to make the wraps a little more sticky and tacky. I have found without using the pine resin mine does stick, just not as much as you would find with the resin. You can warm the wraps up in your hands to make the wrap a little more pliable as well prior to using.
How To Clean Beeswax Wraps
Caring for your beeswax wraps is incredibly easy. All you have to do is rinse them under cold or lukewarm water with a mild soap, and then let them air dry.
You want to be careful to never wash them with hot water as this could melt the wax.
With proper care and storage, your beeswax wraps can last years!
It is also important to note, beeswax wraps should NOT be used for covering and storing meat, as they cannot be sanitized with hot water.
Also, for precautionary measures, do not use beeswax wraps to cover food meant for infants.
Buy on Amazon
If you’re having difficulty sourcing the beeswax pellets locally, you can also purchase some online. I was able to find some beeswax pellets and materials on Amazon!
Beeswax Wraps without Resin
Equipment
- 1 Pair of scissors
- 1 Foam brush
- 1 Cookie or baking sheet
Materials
- 1 piece 100% cotton fabric The amount will depend on how many you want to make, and the size of each beeswax wrap you make. I ended up using less than half a yard of fabric.
- 1 piece parchment paper You can reuse the same piece of parchment paper for several wraps.
- 1 bag beeswax pellets
Instructions
- Cut your cotton fabric into desired sizes. (ie. 7×7, 8×8, 10×10, 14×14, 16×16)
- Preheat oven to 200℉.
- Place parchment paper down onto cookie or baking sheet
- Place your cut fabric onto the parchment paper (if doing more than one at a time, make sure they are not touching).
- Sprinkle a handful of beeswax pellets onto fabric. (You do not need a lot!)
- Bake in oven for 5 minutes.
- Immediately take foam brush and smooth out the beeswax onto fabric.
- Allow to cool on the cookie/baking sheet for 4-5 minutes.
- Your wrap is now ready for use!
Notes
This post contains some links to some products on Amazon I use in case you are interested! If you end up making a purchase I get a tiny commission, so thank you kindly!