Easy beeswax food wraps DIY without resin.

 

I try to convince everybody and myself to live a more sustainable life. One of the natural and eco-friendly product swaps is to change to beeswax wrap and stop buying aluminum foil, and plastic wraps to cover your veggies and fruits.

Beeswax wraps are cute, reusable and can be made in less than 1 hour.

Unfortunately, in our consumer society, we forget that all plastic wraps foils and zip locks end up in our oceans and woods and can cause harm to the animals and environment.

 

What is beeswax wrap

They are made with cotton fabric and saturated in melted beeswax. Many reusable food wrap recipes mix wax with some oils and resin.

The wraps are breathable, and they easily mold over veggies, sandwiches, or pots while keeping the food fresh. The only thing I wouldn’t store in beeswax wraps is raw meat.

Reusable wraps can be cleaned with cold water and mild dish soap.

Beeswax wrap supplies and kits

Please note that this article contains affiliate links.  Please see my full disclosure at the bottom of the page.

Here are the exact products I used:

1. Beeswax from BeesWorks. I have leftover soy wax from my homemade DIY candles project, and I was wondering if you can make these wraps from soy wax too. I think I got another DIY project coming up 😉
2. Castor Oil. I have some in my bathroom all the time since castor oil is great for DIY hair masks and massage oils too.
3. 100% cotton fabrics. I’m not sure if you find the same design, but when you buy material for beeswax wraps, make sure they are cotton. I purchased mine at Walmart.
4. Small painter brush. Any small brush will work. Probably you already have one at home in the garage. Remember, after a beeswax wrap project, you won’t be able to use that brush anymore.
5. Pinking shears 8-inch scissors, a.k.a zig-zag scissors. It is recommended to cut the cotton fabric with these so that the edges won’t fray.

 

Did you know they have many cute beeswax kits on Amazon too? If you feel this DIY project is a little messy for you, these kits are an affordable and eco-friendly addition to your kitchen.

My beeswax wrap recipe

I followed this recipe below, and it turned out perfect. Of course, you can multiply the quantities but keep the ratio.

I’m bad at following recipes. BUT by not following one, I failed at my first beeswax wrap DIY. I put too much oil, and my first wrap is useless. Don’t be like Andrea, and follow your favorite recipe.

Mine is simple. I decided to use only 2 ingredients.

1. 1/2 cup of beeswax pellets 
2. 1 tablespoon of Castor oil or your choice.

Why didn’t I use resin?

The beeswax wraps made with resin are tacky to the touch.  Some people say resins are not healthy nor edible, so we shouldn’t use them making food wraps.

Some other people say if you add resin to the beeswax wrap, it will stick together better.  I decided to leave the resin out since I don’t want any unhealthy residue to get on my veggies and snacks.

My experience with the DIY wraps is that when I tried to wrap anything with them right after drying, they wouldn’t stick together well. But a couple of roughing and warming up in my hand did the trick. So, in the end, I don’t miss the resin ingredient at all.

Jojoba oil, Olive Oil or coconut oil for beeswax wraps

There are many food wrap recipes on the internet, and the oil they use varies a lot. Keep in mind Olive oil and coconut oil is edible; therefore, a popular choice of many. Plus most of the household has one or the other in their kitchen.

Jojoba oil is probably the most common one to be used in beeswax wraps. It helps keep the coating soft and supple, and it is also food safe.

 

Step by step beeswax food wrap instructions

Before we jump into the step by step written instruction, I wanted to share my youtube video on how to make beeswax wraps because I know sometimes it is super helpful if you can visualize your next DIY project.

Just a hint. I was experimenting with this DIY project. I made my beeswax wrap in a gas grill!!!! Because I wanted to be able to open the top and brush the melted mixture evenly in the fabric. It worked and I loved the process!

1. Choose and prepare your fabric

Here is the thing. You will pour hot melted wax on the cloth, and when you have a material with spandex or polyester, it can melt.

I researched and double-checked, and 100% cotton is our best choice when making these cute food wraps. Tightly woven cotton fabrics are available everywhere. I bought 3 different “fat quarters” at Walmart.

Also, after drying my projects, I realized that the color changed a little bit because of the yellow hue of the beeswax.  I’ll try to make wax wraps with white soy wax and will let you know if there is any “discoloration.”

Wash and dry your fabric before cutting. You can choose different sizes. One fat quarter will give you enough imagination to create random sizes. I made 10 inches and 13 inches and a little circle for apples and oranges from a fat quarter.

Extra tips for cutting the correct size:

1. Use your bowls and pots as a template.

2. 4-inch squares are perfect for covering glass containers of a cup size.

3. Larger 8 x 14-inch rectangles are great to wrap cucumbers, long herbs

4. I made a couple of 10-inch squares, and they are good for sandwiches, snacks, veggies, mid-size containers.

 

2. Mix beeswax and castor oil

I tried different methods, and the winner is to melt the wax and the oil together in a double boiler before you pour it on the fabric.

1st try: I brushed the oil on the fabric than sprinkled the beeswax. Heated the oven for 225F and put it in for 5 minutes. I failed at this one. I burned the oil and/or the wax, and the dried wrap smelled burned, and it had yellow spots too.

It looked like I didn’t distribute the wax correctly, and also I didn’t control how much oil I brushed on the fabric. The finished beeswax wrap wasn’t sticky at all, and the wax-oil started to shed from it right away.

2nd try: I mixed the correct ratio of beeswax and oil in a pot. Then I sprinkled the mix on the fabric. Preheated the oven for 225F and put it in for 5 minutes. It looked better but somehow still seemed spotty. Like I didn’t distribute the mixture evenly on the material.

In both methods, I took the pan out of the oven when the wax melted entirely and tried to brush the liquid to distribute it evenly on the fabric. Still, I wasn’t thrilled with my finished beeswax wraps.

3rd and favorite method: Mix the correct ratio of ingredients in a double boiler pot. I used this method when I made soy wax candles and beeswax furniture polish, and I loved it.

Since different oils have different melting points, I gave a long time for the castor oil to mix with the beeswax and dilute well before I poured it on the fabric.

3. Put the fabric and wax-mix in the oven

Preheat the oven to 225F. Since I used the double boiler method, I already had the melted mixture.

1. Place a parchment paper in the pan.
2. Place the fabric in the pan.
3. Pour the wax and oil mixture on the fabric. Or sprinkle.
4. Place the pan in the oven for 4-8 minutes.
5. Monitor it, and when the wax is completely melted, you can brush it a little bit to distribute the wax evenly on the fabric.
6. Take the pan out and brush it again.
7. Get the fabric out with thongs. IT IS HOT!

 

4. Hang it to dry

Try to shake the fabric (using the thongs) in the air to allow the excess wax to drip.

Then hang it with clothespins, preferably outside where no wax can make a mess on the floor. 

 

How to make a beeswax wrap with iron

It’s so weird, but I don’t own an iron. However, I saw a cute youtube video where the girl was making beeswax wraps with the iron. No need for an oven or double burner and pots etc.

For me, it looks easy. Putting the fabric and beeswax between 2 parchment papers and iron it until the wax evenly melts into the fabric. It looks sooo much cleaner and quicker. No mess, no pots, no oven.

 

How to use beeswax wraps

It is perfect to ditch plastic sandwich bags, foil wraps, and plastics. You can wrap kid’s sandwiches, cheeses, veggies, and fruits. You can cover a salad bowl and containers.

When you place your food wrap on the container, use the warmth of your hands to “mold” the beeswax over the top of a bowl, half an apple, or a piece of cheese.

After a couple of seconds, you can let it go and allow the wrap to cool down again. It will hold its new shape when it is cooled off.

 

Beeswax wrap with buttons

I love the idea of having a natural button on a sandwich wrap. It helps the wrap to seal better and keep the sandwich fresh for longer.

You can sew a cute button on the food wrap after it is completely dried.

 

How to clean DIY wax food wraps

Beeswax wraps care instructions are easy to follow, and not a lot to remember.

1. Wash it with cold water with mild dish soap. Remember to avoid hot surfaces when you put it to dry again.
2. Hot water, dishwasher, and microwaves are a No No. Unless you are ready to lose your beeswax wrap.
3. Air dry, fold, and store in a drawer or in a basket on the counter.

Can you freeze beeswax wrap?

Some say no, and some say yes. I’m still to try this out.

Since beeswax wraps are naturally breathable, I say we have to monitor our food’s freshness. I read that they are great for freezing pizza and bread dough, and you can store them from 2 to 3 weeks in the wrap in the freezer.

I love to make my bread, and saving the dough in a beeswax wrap sounds like a great idea.

How long beeswax wrap last

It can last for up to a year if you follow the care instructions. When the wrap is worn thin and soft and doesn’t stick to itself as it used to, it is time to replace it.

Eco-friendly and super sustainable tip: If you have a garden and make your compost, you can cut your wrap into strips and add to your compost pile. It is also a  natural and effective fire starter. Campfire or survival kit, anyone?

 

My beeswax food wraps DIY experience

Overall I had fun with my beeswax DIY project. It was a little messy, and I had to go through many trials to finally get the product I wanted. I used only beeswax and castor oil. They are sticky enough and the wax distributed evenly on the whole fabric.

No matter which method you chose to make your beeswax food wraps, make sure you follow the recipe, and if you use any oil, you need to dilute it completely.

The wrap itself is tacky and requires a little time to get used to it. Since we were using “clean” plastic wraps all the time, we have to get used to the feeling of a waxy paper in the kitchen.

BUT! It keeps my fruits and veggies fresh, and it is easy to clean and care for. I feel like we are helping our environments and saving a few turtles by reducing plastic waste and reusable food wraps.

 

Other sustainable DIY projects you want to check out

1. Homemade Beeswax furniture polish 
2. Soy wax candle DIY
3. Sustainable backyard DIY ideas
4. Frugal home decor and upcycling ideas

 

I hope you got inspired, and off you go to make your homemade beeswax wrap soon.

Don’t forget to PIN it and share it so that you can come back anytime for instructions.