DIY Beeswax Wrap for Food Storage

I'm a big fan of beeswax wraps as an eco-friendly packaging option for leftover food or DIY beauty products.

Not only are they great for wrapping up food, but they're also a great way to reduce waste in your home.

You can also use beeswax wraps as sandwich wraps or bread wrappers. In fact, they're a great alternative to plastic wrap in general.

What are beeswax wraps?

Beeswax wraps are wax-coated pieces of cloth that you can use similarly to plastic wraps. They're flexible enough to be versatile, but stiff enough to stay in place.

They're made of natural materials, so they won't leave a chemical taste or smell on your food. And, since beeswax is a renewable resource, they're eco-friendly and earth-friendly as well.

How does a beeswax wrap work?

Beeswax is a hard, food grade wax that melts at high temperatures and solidifies again when it cools. The beeswax fills in the cloth's weave, creating a sheet that will keep your food fresher than cloth alone.

Why use beeswax wraps?

They're reusable (compostable if they get too dirty or wear out), sustainable, and are totally chemical free, with no weird plastics or chemicals leaching into your food or products, and they

As it turns out, you can make your own with 100% cotton cloth and - you guessed it - beeswax.

Ingredients

• 100 percent cotton fabric - like a cloth napkin
• 1.25 oz. Beeswax pastilles or grated beeswax 

 Instructions:

1. Cut the fabric into the size wraps you want.
2. Set up your double broiler - or if you don’t have that, then you can heat up a pan of water, when it starts boiling put a smaller pan or heat-safe bowl above it.
3. Add beeswax to the second pan/bowl.
4. Wait until beeswax melts completely.
5. Dip fabric to the second bowl, removing the excess wax as you take it out.
6. Hang fabric on a rack to cool completely.
7. If needed, iron on low to distribute wax.

Don't throw out the excess wax!

Store in an airtight container or other container with a sealable lid - you can use it to make more beeswax cloths in the the future, since you can melt and harden beeswax over and over again.

Beeswax wraps are a great alternative to plastic wrap because they're made of natural materials and won't leave an unpleasant taste or smell on your food. If you want to make beeswax wraps for yourself, all you need is 100% cotton fabric and some beeswax pastilles (or grated beeswax if that's easier). You can use the excess wax you get from making these in future batches. Beeswax wraps are reusable, sustainable, chemical-free - what more could you ask for?

What are your best tips for reducing waste?