How to Make Beeswax Wraps
Make your own beeswax wraps at home, using fabric and beeswax. Use these to replace plastic film and other disposable options in the kitchen.
Servings 4 wraps
Ingredients
- Scissors or pinking shears
- Baking paper
- Baking sheet
- Tightly woven cotton fabric pre-washed
- Beeswax to grate, or in small pellets
Instructions
- Cut your fabric into the desired shape and size with pinking shears or scissors. If using pinking shears, you can cut it and then wash, but either way, it should be washed and dried before adding wax.
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and heat the oven to about 70°C (150°F). If heated above around 85°C, the wax will discolour, so don't make it too hot. Beeswax melts at just above 60°C (140°F).
- Place the prepared pieces of fabric on the lined baking sheet in a single layer. You will probably need to do multiple batches depending on the size of the wraps.Tightly woven cotton fabric
- Top each with grated beeswax or pellets, sprinkling on in a thin layer. You'll need somewhere between a teaspoon and a tablespoon of wax depending on the size of the fabric (see step 1 in the post body above).Beeswax
- Place the baking sheet into the oven and wait until the wax melts. It should only take a minute or two so keep an eye on it.
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven and immediately lift the wraps with tweezers or gloved hands (unless you have heat-proof baking hands). The wax will set very quickly as it cools and the wrap will harden almost immediately once lifted. Place on a fresh sheet of parchment or a drying rack once cool enough that it's no longer floppy. I use my laundry rack. Repeat with the remaining wraps.
- Once fully cooled and set, test a wrap by folding a piece over itself and pressing with your fingers to see if it sticks to itself. If it doesn't, you probably don't have enough wax - flip the fabric over, add another sprinkling of wax (less on the second round) and repeat the melting process.
- Beeswax wraps will last for years. If yours are starting to lose stickiness or have some visible fold lines, refresh them by placing a wrap between two sheets of parchment paper and briefly ironing without steam.
- Use beeswax wraps to store sourdough bread, cover bowls, wrap vegetables, store soap for travelling, and more.
Notes
It says that this how-to makes four wraps, but it's really up to you how many you make. I recommend making a few different sizes so that you have options on hand depending on what you need them for.