DIY Beeswax Food Wraps

I’ve recently completed a new project that I’m so excited about: Beeswax Food Wraps! My first interaction with beeswax wraps was with the brand BeesWrap. I loved using them as a replacement for plastic wrap. If you’re unfamiliar with beeswax wraps, they’re essentially pieces of fabric coated in beeswax. They’re used as food savers: they seal bowls, Tupperware, or wrap sandwiches, produce, cheese, & bread. These are just examples of how they’re used. The heat of your hands allows the wrap to become moldable, then the wax hardens in order for the wrap to keep its shape.

I’ve seen DIY versions of BeesWrap on the internet before, but it wasn’t until my sister asked me to make some with her for Christmas gifts, that I realized how simple of a project it actually is!

VERY IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER: Do be careful about where you source your beeswax from. I browsed Amazon for a long time for beeswax pellets (pellets are the simpler route), but so many product reviews showed that a majority of the pellets sold online end up smelling toxic or smoky when melted (also releasing toxic fumes), which suggests that they’re a chemical or paraffin blend. I wanted to make sure the beeswax I used for products that will be around my food is as natural as possible, so I didn’t order pellets from Amazon. I found my 1lb of beeswax from a small business of bee farmers (eBee Honey) from Ohio. They only ship within the U.S., but all of their beeswax is natural & made of 100% beeswax rather than a blend. A lot of blends that are said to full beeswax are actually just 51% or so beeswax.

Materials:

• Beeswax (100% beeswax, no blend, cosmetic-grade). I bought a 1lb block, but definitely only used about a quarter of it. eBee Honey sells 1oz bar options as well. If you use blocks or slabs, freeze it for a few hours, then grate it into small pellets
• 100% cotton fabric cut into square or large rectangle sheets
• Iron & ironing board
• Parchment paper

Process:

1. Lay a sheet of parchment paper down
2. Center a piece of fabric (PATTERN SIDE DOWN) on the parchment paper
3. Sprinkle some beeswax bits on the fabric (be generous)
4. Place another sheet of parchment paper on top
5. Iron without steam (I put mine on the cotton setting)
6. Iron until all the wax is melted. Check for empty spots (since the beeswax is tinted yellow, it’s easier to see spots that need wax, since they won’t be colored yellow)
7. Remove the top parchment sheet
8. Pick up the wrap by the corners and wave in the air until it cools down
9. Voila!

Care:

After using a beeswax wrap, wash gently with soap & cold water. Do not expose wraps to heat. When not in use, keep folded & stored in a cool, dry space.