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DIY Beeswax Food Wraps

Wrap your food in a beeswax food wrap; an all-natural reusable food storage alternative to plastic wrap while keeping your food fresh.

By Lisa Bass
Published on October 13, 2020
article image
Lyons Press

I find freedom in a simple and minimal lifestyle. Freedom to live on a little less, and to have the time and resources to enjoy the simple things in life a little more. I hope my passion for creativity and handcrafting will inspire you to create a home and lifestyle that you love too.

Glass storage containers and a small collection of beeswax wraps are all you need for all-natural food storage. As a reusable alternative to plastic wrap, these wraps are perfect to throw over a plate or bowl that doesn’t have a lid. The beeswax on the fabric creates an airtight seal, so the food inside stays fresher, longer.

Use the wraps for sandwiches, blocks of cheese, sliced vegetables and fruits, and more. You can mold the wraps with the heat of your hand to conform around any plate, cup, or food item, and they’ll hold their shape as they cool.

To clean the wraps, wash them in cold water with a mild soap. Never wash the wraps using hot water, as the beeswax will melt and break the airtight seal on the fabric.

These instructions will make five wraps, each measuring 12 inches square. They’ll last for up to a year.

Tools & Materials

  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Scissors
  • Measuring tape
  • 100 percent cotton fabric (1 yard)
  • Grated beeswax (5 ounces)
  • Paintbrush
  • Large button and jute twine, optional

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 170 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Cut five 12-by-12-inch squares from the fabric.
  3. Place one fabric square on the baking sheet. Sprinkle it with 1 ounce of grated beeswax. Bake for 7 minutes, or until the wax is melted. Spread melted wax around the fabric with a paintbrush, covering any spots that aren’t coated. Return to the oven for another 1 to 2 minutes to ensure that everything is melted evenly.
  4. Immediately remove the fabric from the baking sheet, and hang it on a clothesline for a few minutes, or until the wax has fully hardened.
  5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 with the remaining fabric squares.

NOTE: To create an airtight sandwich storage bag, sew a large button near the top center area of the wrap. Fold the wrap around the sandwich, and secure it shut with jute twine.


Lisa Bass developed a passion for a simple lifestyle after becoming a mom in 2008, and started her blog, Farmhouse on Boone, in 2015. She lives with her husband and five kids in Troy, Missouri. This article is excerpted with permission from her book, Simple Farmhouse Life (Lyons Press).