Step by step 03

How to create a reusable beeswax food wraps 

What you will need

• Pure cotton fabric (thinner fabrics work well)

• Scissors

• An old pot

• Tongs

• Organic food-grade beeswax

• Jojoba oil (alternatively you could use coconut oil)

Instructions

1. Choose your fabric. You can try out a variety of patterns and colours, but note that dark fabrics tend to hold their colour better than pale or light coloured fabrics.

2. Cut your fabric to the desired size. Think about what you will be using your wax wraps for and customise the size to suit your needs. Generally square and rectangular shapes work best for these wraps, but if you need a particular shape that is different, go for it! Be creative and have fun.

3. Place the beeswax in the pot and melt at a very low heat. Add the jojoba oil.

4. Using tongs, dip your fabric into the melted wax mixture until it is fully coated. The wax will seep through the fabric, so you only need to dip one side.

5. To dry the food wrap either air dry the fabric by holding above the pot until it is dry (the wraps dry super quickly) or you can lay the wrap on a piece of baking paper.

6. Once dry, the wrap is ready to be used.

Size Guide

SMALL: 20 x 20 cm MEDIUM: 30 x 30 cm LARGE: 40 x 40 cm

Suggested measurements (makes one wrap)

Small

• 2 tsp / 10 g beeswax

• 1⁄2 tsp / 2.5 g jojoba oil

Medium

• 1 tbsp / 20 g beeswax

• 1 tsp / 5 g jojoba oil
  

Large

• 1 1⁄2 tbsp / 30 g beeswax

• 1 1⁄2 tsp / 7.5 g jojoba oil

Notes

• DO NOT use beeswax wraps to wrap meat or fish.

• You can create wraps in all sorts of shapes and sizes depending on your intended purpose. We recommend squares or rectangles as these tend to work best, but let your creativity flow and try out some different shapes.

• Make sure you protect the space you are working in. You could use some baking paper or put down drop sheets to protect the floor from any wax spillage. Also make sure you protect your clothes by wearing an old apron – or better yet, wear some old clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty.

• Think about taking a trip to your local op shop to source an old pot and tongs. We found some for this project for under $5!

• If you are worried about the hygiene of the cotton, boil the fabric in a pot prior to dipping.

• Lighter coloured fabrics tend to take on the colour of the wax. We found the best results were obtained using darker fabrics.

• To make your food wrap tackier or stickier you could also add powdered pine rosin to your wax mixture. If you are doing this add equal parts pine rosin and wax to the mixture.

• Feel free to experiment with measurements and different ingredients to find what suits you.