Wondering if you can make beeswax food wraps? You bet you can and it's easy. Also, STOP worrying that they don't work or they're hard to clean. They do work and they're easy to keep clean. Here's how to make them.
Reduce, reuse, recycle.
I do those things. Sometimes. When I feel like it. More often than not, I do do those things, but I'm a human person living in modern times so sometimes I don't.
I'm a firm believer in doing what you can when you can. Use your recycling bins, but if you're close to a mental breakdown from cooking, working, cleaning the house, dealing with a broken toilet, a screaming child and/or a slightly insane boss ... don't beat yourself up over throwing that one recyclable container in the garbage because the ease of doing so is the only thing keeping you from jumping into the nearest volcano.
The 5 people who live in a pile of leaves and do everything possible to not make an imprint on Mother Earth - including not wearing clothing and eating only bugs, (that have died naturally) - aren't the only ones saving the planet.
Your small contribution as a regular person living in a regular home has a huge impact. Even if you don't feel like it does.
Which brings us to my next point of interest. Using beeswax wraps for storage instead of plastic bags. More specifically - making your own!
No matter how good hearted we are, we were born into a world of convenience so just because something is better for the environment doesn't mean we're going to immediately convert to it.
If something doesn't perform well, isn't easy to use or costs too much we aren't going to use it. Which is why I have this next question:
SO WHY AREN'T YOU USING BEESWAX WRAPS, YOU LUNATIC??!
Beeswax wraps are easy to use and do exactly what they're supposed to. If cost is the issue, then you can stop relying on that excuse because you can make a whole drawerful of beeswax wraps with some fabric and beeswax.
No more excuses.
Table of Contents
How do beeswax wraps work exactly??
These sheets of fabric covered in a thin layer of beeswax will warm up in your hands making them moldable. You can shape them to a fruit, bowl or cut onion just like you would cling wrap.
Beeswax wraps not only seal your food, but they also let it breathe! Plastic doesn't do that.
How to Make Beeswax Wraps
WHAT YOU NEED: Beeswax (candle remnants or a block), organic cotton fabric & an oven.
(you can use any cotton, but if you're an organic kind of person you're going to want to make sure you're using organic cotton)
- Gather a few pieces of 100% cotton fabric and put them on a baking sheet lined with tin foil.
I used leftover fabric scraps for this project and flour sack tea towels from my screen printed tea towels that didn't turn out great.
- Preheat your oven to its lowest setting. 150°F is ideal, but up to 170°F is fine too.
- Shave and then chop a couple of ounces of beeswax.
You can use an old candle or buy beeswax beads, or a whole hunk of beeswax for this.
Amazon sells Beeswax beads for $10 for a pound of them. And they claim they're cosmetic grade!!!!! (I'm feigning excitement over this. Cosmetic grade is a made up thing. It literally means nothing, it's just a marketing scheme)
- Sprinkle the fabric with a light layer of beeswax.
About this much. Maybe a teensy bit more.
You might have heard about adding pine resin to beeswax wraps. And you can! But if the thought of sourcing tree resin is what's stopping you from making beeswax wraps, good news - you do NOT need tree resin to make good wraps.
- Put them in the oven for 10 minutes (or until wax is melted).
The fabric will be soaked through with wax when you remove them.
- Take them off the hot baking sheet IMMEDIATELY.
If you leave them on for even a few seconds they'll cool down and stick to the tin foil or the beeswax will become clumpy.
They're beautiful. I love them.
Now it's all about finishing them.
You can leave them just as they are as squares or you can finish the edges with pinking sheers.
I've also added a couple of buttons and some butcher twine for closing one of mine to make a beeswax sandwich wrap or snack bag.
I know you're worried about the ick factor. Don't be.
Are beeswax wraps hygienic?
You bet they are. I know, it seems weird to reuse something over and over but beeswax wraps have the benefit of being partly made by the world's most magical creature. The bee.
Beeswax is a natural antibacterial. See here for scientific reference on that.
How long do beeswax wraps last?
If you take care of them and learn to revive them (you learn how to revive your old beeswax wraps in this post) these wraps will last for years. I'm personally on year 7 of some of mine.
Care. All you need to do is rinse the wraps under warm water and give them a rub with a dishcloth and some mild soap. Don't use really hot water or your beeswax might melt but warm water is fine.
If your beeswax wraps (homemade or purchased) start to get dry or cracked you can revive them to their original state using this method.
Use. I've used my original wraps since 2013 and revived them once. They're still performing perfectly. I use the Beeswax wraps to wrap cheese, sandwiches, carrots, Portobello mushrooms, bowls of soup cut vegetables and more.
Just ignore the text in the video below, I grabbed it from my Instagram account to show you how easy they are to use and how well they work.
Opinion. They're great. They really do work. The warmth of your hands allows you to mould the beeswax to whatever shape you want and it stays there. Everything has stayed as fresh as can be with the exception of a sandwich I left wrapped for 2 days, which started to get stale around the edges.
Problems. They smell like beeswax. I do NOT see this as a problem but if you have an aversion to how beewax smells you won't like it.
How to Make Your Own Beeswax Food Wraps.
Easy, fast beeswax wrap tutorial for the DIYer.
Materials
- 100% cotton fabric cut into squares or rectangles.
- 100% beeswax (beads, blocks or candle remnants)
Tools
- Oven
- Knife
- Scissors
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to its lowest setting. 150°F is ideal, but up to 170°F is fine too.
- Gather a few pieces of 100% cotton fabric and put them on a baking sheet lined with tin foil.
- Shave and then chop a couple of ounces of beeswax.
- Sprinkle the fabric with a light layer of beeswax.
- Put them in the oven for 10 minutes (or until wax is melted).
- Take them off the hot baking sheet IMMEDIATELY.
- Hold the wraps up until they cool and solidify (this will just take a few seconds) then lay them down flat.
Notes
If your wraps get cracked or worn over time, just stick them back in the oven at the lowest temperature and remelt them. They'll come out like new!
Some people add resin to their wraps. This helps the wraps to "cling" to glass and itself. It isn't mandatory to use resin! They work extremely well without it.
→Follow me on Instagram where I often make a fool of myself←
is it possible to melt the wax first and brush it on? Maybe a quick trip in the oven just to make sure it's all even and soaked in?
I'm not sure, I've never done it. It seems like it would work though. :) ~ karen!
I can't remember what form my beeswax is in, I think big chunks or a block that's hard to cut off of. Might be hard to grate too. I'll maybe give it a try, and use an iron to help it soak in. Not turning the oven on, it's going to be HOT here today. I had been making hard lotion bars before, so I DO just have beeswax lying around! :D
I hope to make these this weekend. Do you know how big you made them? Also where did you place the buttons? I found some great fabric and want to make these for friends! Also did you brush the beeswax or just lightly sprinkle the wax evenly?
Hi Joylynne! You can make the ones that fold with buttons any size you want. Just take out whatever type of bread you use and fold a piece of fabric around it so you know how large to make it. Everything else is done exactly as it's shown in the photos. You can see where the buttons go from the pictures. Ditto for the beeswax, no brushing, just sprinkling. ~ karen!
Great. Thanks Karen!
Why does it have to be 100% cotton?
Because cotton (or any other natural fibre like linen) will absorb the beeswax right into its fibres, as opposed to anything with nylon or polyester where the beeswax will just sit on top and eventually break off. ~ karen!
So you couldn’t use cotton & polyester together?
What sizes did you find most useful?
What are your pros and cons of the circular shaped wrap?
Thanks in advance :)
They're really all useful Brittney. I mean, the smaller ones are perfect for over mason jars or small bowls and larger ones are great for over bowls. I haven't found it makes any difference in terms of square or round. If I had to choose which shape I like best I'd probably say square but I have absolutely no reason for that preference lol. ~ karen!
I've just purchased a new fabric covered gazebo and wanted to do something to make it last longer. Here in Texas our days are around 100 degrees, we joke about cooking eggs on the sidewalk. I'm curious if I can simply rub the fabric with the beeswax on a hot day and achieve the same result. Also not sure if the high temperatures will cause the beeswax to eventually drip from the canopy? Any thoughts?? Thanks
Hi Raquel! It's a great idea, but that would take a lottttt of beeswax. I actually think they used to treat clothing with beeswax to make it waterproof. But you're right about the 100 degree heat. I'm not sure what the exact melting point of beeswax is, you'd have to look that up. At least your canopy would smell great as it dripped! :) ~ karen
I have a pile of quilting cotton fabric leftovers. Is that suitable for this project (food worthy?). I see some folks recommend 'organically grown cotton only' to avoid chemical dyes on food. Is this really potential for contamination?
I wouldn't have any qualms at all about using it Laurie. :) I've used the exact thing myself. ~ karen!
So I want to make these. I realized there are different types of organic cotton fabrics. Does it matter as long as it is 100% cotton? Idk the difference besides knits, but there's poplin, broad cloth, barkcloth (? I think). Do you know if it matters?
You can also get deodorized beeswax. Same awesome stuff, doesn't smell like honey.
I just love the idea of reusable bags for lunches for kids and adults. Just think of all the plastic bags that wouldn't make landfills. Making sure your fabric is food safe is key!
What a great way to reduce plastic in your household! I bet this technique could be applied to different projects too! Thanks for sharing!
all the ones that can be purchased say they use jojoba oil and tree resin with their beeswax. Do you? What is the difference? Is there a reason for that? do I need to look for tree resin?
Peg
Hi Peg! You definitely don't need to look for jojoba oil or tree resin! Those two things just help keep the fabric pliable when it's at room temperature. So it helps you be able to form it around your bowl or cut vegetable. All you have to do with the homemade beeswax fabric is rub it between your hands for 30 seconds or so to warm the beeswax up and make it more pliable and then form it around whatever you're putting it on. :) ~ karen!
so how much of the jojoba oil and tree resin do I add - and to what amount of beeswax?
What are the proportions?
thanks!
You do not need to add either of those things. Just make the fabric like I've described with only beeswax and you'll be fine. ~ karen!
Hi Karen,
I love these wraps and use them all the time, all different shapes and sizes, thanks for sharing this great idea.
I'm wanting sew a sweet little button on some of my larger wraps, do I need to wax the cotton first? I'm just thinking it may break down faster than the waxed wrap of perhaps become a tiny bacteria breeding ground. Have you found any of these problems with yours?
Smiles,
Jaimee
I'm wondering about the smell. Did it dissipate, or change the way the food tasted? I'm afraid my kids won't each a sandwich wrapped in these. I love the way they smell, but it doesn't jive with food for me lol.
Hi Victoria. For whatever reason the smell doesn't transfer to the food and the food smell doesn't transfer to the beeswax. Even after wrapping something stinky like lasagna or cheese, you can wipe the wrap, smell it and all you smell is beeswax. I still love mine after several years. And my mother even bought me some of the official ones that I link to in my post. Do it! :) ~ karen
After reading this article, I went downstairs and made these immediately. I used an old pillowcase. They are wonderful!!!
LOL! I'm surprised you had any beeswax laying around. Not many people do. You must be one of "us". You know. The kind of people who have spare beeswax. :) Glad you like them. I'm still using my original ones. THey're just about due for a rewaxing. ~ karen!
Hey Karen,
I wanted to let you know that your blog post about DIY beeswax food wrap has sent dozens of people to my website. I love that your sharing of a "how to" and that is has prompted others to explore natural food wrap. Get in touch! I'd love to hear how your wraps are holding up. And in case your followers want so new ways to use their wraps here is a video from our Abeego It! series:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUZiP1JufgE
Thanks again for the love and happy waxing everyone!
Best,
Toni - the gal behind Abeego
Toni! Thanks so much for commenting! I have a funny story for you. My mother went to the One of a Kind Show a month or so ago, (I think that's where it was) and she came home with your food wraps! She was going to give them to me but figured I'd just make them myself so she gave them to my sister for her birthday. (she didn't remember I had done a post on them a while ago) I could have KILLED her, lol. I really wanted them. The ones I made are still working but need a rewax. Yours are much prettier. I love the colour of them and the decorative stitch is a great touch. At least I got to see them up close before my mother gave them to my sister, lol. ~ karen!
I love this idea - found out about it from a member of our bee guild. The one thing I'd like to remind people (sorry for the downer but education is good, right?) be sure to bee careful about the source of your beeswax. Most commercial beekeepers use nasty chemicals on their hives and these chemicals are retained in the wax. Try to obtain your wax from organic beekeepers. (But not uptight self-righteous ones!)
LOL. That's O.K. Allie, you've saved yourself with your well written comment. Weirdo. ;) Understood. Organic bees. ~ karen!
I just made my first one and I think I used too much beeswax, so I put that bad boy back in the oven, pulled it out, dabbed it with a leftover napkin, and stuck it back in the oven to fix the "finish". I used some scrap material from an apron and was sad that the pink flowers bled, but I'm really pleased with how it turned out. I can't wait to use linen! Any other suggestions from you long-time users? How long do they last? Do you occasionally have to stick it back in the oven ? Any hints on folding? I just made a random rectangle, but I'd love to be able to fold it into the shapes you have pictured! Just found your blog, but I love it! :)
Thanks Vanessa! Just follow what I've done with mine. It's basically just a rectangle, with the ends folded in on points. My fabric wrap is still going strong, but it could use another quick coating of beeswax which I plan to do in the next week or two. ~ karen!
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Oh, I soooo loved your blog! My family calls me Mother Earth, with derision, I might add! Your blog will remind me not to take things too seriously. I CAN throw out plastic once in a while without feeling super guilty! Thank you!
Your article is insulting. I live off grid. I have a REAL house and actually pack Real lunches for my Real family before I haul my self off to my Real job. Daily.
I have made these wraps for years, long before the cutesy bloggers learned of them. Difference is, my wax comes from my organic bee hives that sit in the middle of my 300 acre organic farm. Organic farm? That is my second job which as a farmer never ends. No time for a self indulgent break down.
I don't eat bugs, never have.
I don't have tv or web. Don't miss the garbage. Am currently with my brother who doesn't live off grid. He pointed out your old post. Felt I needed to comment even though this post is a year old.
Then clearly you're not one of the 5 people living off the grid who eat bugs. Good to see that living off the grid has obviously led you to be a happier more well balanced person! You seem like a real fun gal. ~ karen
Reason #2761 why I <3 Karen!