DIY Beeswax Food Wraps Tutorial
Beeswax Food Wraps
By Cara Corey
Keep your kitchen green!
Learn to make reusable food wrap to replace single use plastic.
I started making my own beeswax wraps a few years ago because I was buying them often and they were expensive. So, I learned how cost-effective and easy it was to make them myself! Now I'm passionate about reducing plastic waste, and I use my wraps every day in my kitchen.
Gather Your Materials
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- 9” x 9” Pre-washed cotton fabric square
- 3 T Beeswax pellets mixed with 1/2 tsp jojoba oil
- Parchment paper sheets
- Needle, embroidery floss, and buttons for optional button closures
- Pinking shears or fabric scissors
- Iron, covered with foil
- Cup or plate and spoon to further mix up the pellets
- Ironing board or table w/towel
ECO-FRIENDLY HOME GOODS
Tips Before We Begin
- You can use old shirt sleeves to make tubes - simply sew one end shut to make a pouch.
- Thin fabric absorbs the wax a little better than thick fabric.
- Jojoba oil has antibacterial properties and does not go rancid like other oils.
- You can buy beeswax bars with jojoba oil or pine rosin already mixed in - check out this wax from Etsy!
Step 1: Cut Your Fabric
Start by cutting your fabric pieces. Use pinking shears if you don't want your ends to fray. Think about the sizes and shapes you use most in your kitchen (bowl covers, cheese wraps, snack bags, etc.).
Tip: Use a pot lid to trace a perfect circle on your fabric.
Step 2: Prepare Your Iron and Work Surface
Cover the bottom of your iron with a layer of foil and heat it to a medium setting.
Set up your ironing board or cover a table with an old towel. Place a 1 or 2 pieces of parchment paper on your work surface.
Step 3: Mix Your Oil and Wax
For each wrap, you will need
- 3 T Beeswax Pellets
- 1/2 tsp Jojoba Oil
Place the wax and oil into a cup or on a plate and mix them up nicely, so all the oil is evenly distributed.
Sprinkle the mixture on top of a prepared fabric piece.
Step 4: Melt Your Wax
When your iron is hot, leave it on top of some pellets until they start melting (about 10 seconds). Then move to another spot and repeat the process until the whole surface is melted.
Iron both sides, just to make sure the fabric is fully covered. If not, you can always add a few more pellets.
Carefully pick up the fabric (it's hot!) and move it to a prepared surface-make sure this spot is OK to get wax on it. Allow it to cool for a few minutes.
If your parchment sheet has minimal residue and no color bleed, you can reuse it. Otherwise, use a fresh sheet for your next wrap.
Step 5: Finishing
When your wrap cools, you can sew a button on one side and a piece of string on the other to make a cool button closure.
Caring For Your Wraps
Rinse your wraps with cold or slightly warm water and a little soap. Over time they will start to crack and chip.
When this happens, place them on a lined cookie sheet in a 300-degree oven until the wax re-melts and keep using them!
CARA COREY
knit and crochet designer and instructor specializing in oversized knitting and home goods. After nine years in the Bay Area, Cara relocated to Saint Paul, Minnesota in 2019.
Comments
Jane Wong said:
Hi! Does Cara have any tips on removing wax from the iron? My wax bled through the foil!