DIY Project: Easy Eco-Friendly Beeswax Food Wraps
There's no point paying for lunch wrap when you can easily and cheaply make your own at home
Jade Rennie
21 March 2017
Houzz Australia Contributor, Creator/Founder of Havven DIY and lifestyle site, graphic designer for The Brain Child. Mother of two and wife of a medical student. I greatly believe the saying: 'state of home, state of mind' so I try to collect memories; not things.
Houzz Australia Contributor, Creator/Founder of Havven DIY and lifestyle site, graphic... More
Want to know how to do away with single-use plastic wrap, and make a bunch of cute, reusable beeswax fabric food wraps that will last for months instead? Follow these simple step-by-step instructions and you’ll be saying goodbye to cling film in no time.
What you’ll need:
What you’ll need:
- Organic 100% cotton fabric
- Fabric shears or sharp scissors
- Certified-organic beeswax (about $9 per 50 grams)
- Grater
- Chopping block
- Iron
- Baking paper
Step 1: Trim your fabric to size
Trim your organic cotton to the size you prefer, the one pictured is 30 x 30 centimetres.
Tip: For perfect results it is best to work with very thin 100% cotton, roughly the same weight as fabric used for bed sheets.
Trim your organic cotton to the size you prefer, the one pictured is 30 x 30 centimetres.
Tip: For perfect results it is best to work with very thin 100% cotton, roughly the same weight as fabric used for bed sheets.
Step 2: Grate the beeswax
Grab your block of organic beeswax and, using an old grater (that you won’t use again for food purposes), grate it using the finest side.
Grab your block of organic beeswax and, using an old grater (that you won’t use again for food purposes), grate it using the finest side.
Tip: 1/3 cup is perfect to cover a 30 centimetre square of fabric.
Step 3: Sprinkle on the wax
Evenly scatter the grated beeswax all over the fabric.
Evenly scatter the grated beeswax all over the fabric.
Step 4: Cover
Cover the cotton with a sheet of parchment/baking paper to protect your iron. It is also a smart idea to put a sheet underneath, sandwiching the fabric in between, to protect your working surface and for a fast clean up.
Cover the cotton with a sheet of parchment/baking paper to protect your iron. It is also a smart idea to put a sheet underneath, sandwiching the fabric in between, to protect your working surface and for a fast clean up.
Step 5: Iron
Using a hot iron, press down until you see the wax has completely melted and then gently move the liquid wax around until all of the fabric is covered.
Using a hot iron, press down until you see the wax has completely melted and then gently move the liquid wax around until all of the fabric is covered.
You will see the areas of fabric that the wax hasn’t covered. To rectify this, sprinkle some more wax over those areas, cover with the same baking paper and iron over again until all the fabric is covered.
Step 6: Hang to dry
These sheets dry very fast, so they should be ready in about 10 minutes, depending on the climate.
These sheets dry very fast, so they should be ready in about 10 minutes, depending on the climate.
You are now ready to start using your alternative to plastic cling wrap. These are ideal to cover casseroles, leftovers, for use in lunch boxes and for short-term food preservation.
The final result isn’t very clingy, but with the heat of your fingers the wax will seal onto itself. I found with soft foods it’s best to fold under itself, as pictured, like a present.
After use, handwash the fabric in warm water with a very small amount of dish soap; Dr. Bronner’s liquid castile soap is perfect. Let it dry on the dish rack, then fold it away until next use.
Tip: These are not recommended for use with meats or cheeses due to harmful bacteria that could grow on the wrap. Each wrap will last several months.
Tell us
Have you made yourself some eco food wraps? Tag @havven and @houzzau in your creations; we love to see your take on our projects.
More
Browse more fun DIY projects
Have you made yourself some eco food wraps? Tag @havven and @houzzau in your creations; we love to see your take on our projects.
More
Browse more fun DIY projects
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@Peppi Wilson I'm with you. I've used waxed wrapping for cheese forever. I think the author is erring on the side of caution because of cheese being high in protein.
Think about it though - cheesemakers have been using wax for centuries. It's one of the prime uses
Fabulous and Eco-friendly idea! Thank you for sharing this lovely article!