Quick answer: Lay 100% cotton fabric on baking paper, sprinkle it with grated food grade beeswax and melt it in the oven at 85°C for 5 to 7 minutes. Brush the wax out evenly, lift the fabric off, wave it in the air to set and hang it to cool. Washed in cold water, a beeswax wrap lasts up to a year.
What do you need to make beeswax wraps?
- Grated Natural Beeswax (Food-grade). It has to be food grade, because this wax will touch your food.
- 100% cotton fabric. Organic cotton is better if you can find it, since it avoids pesticide residue.
- Pinking shears, which stop the edges fraying. Ordinary fabric scissors work too.
- Baking paper and a baking tray.
- A paintbrush or sponge brush.
- A clothesline or drying rack.
How to make beeswax wraps in the oven
- Cut the fabric to size. Around 20 x 20cm suits small items like half a lemon; 30 x 30cm covers a bowl or a block of cheese.
- Preheat the oven to 85°C.
- Line a baking tray with baking paper and lay the fabric flat on it.
- Sprinkle the grated beeswax evenly over the fabric. You want enough to cover the whole surface, but not so much that it pools and drips off the edges.
- Put the tray in the oven for 5 to 7 minutes, until the wax has melted. Watch it. If the wax starts to smoke, it's too hot.
- Take the tray out and brush the melted wax across the fabric, right into the corners and edges.
- Lift the fabric off the paper while the wax is still liquid.
- Hold it up and wave it in the air for a few seconds. This cools and sets the wax evenly.
- Hang it on a line or rack for a few minutes until it's completely cool and dry.
How do you use a beeswax wrap?
Press it around a bowl or directly around food with your hands. The warmth of your palms softens the wax just enough for it to cling and hold its shape. Fruit, vegetables, cheese and bread all wrap well.
How do you clean beeswax wraps, and how long do they last?
Rinse them in cold water with a little mild soap if needed, then air dry. Never use hot water, because it melts the wax off the cotton. Looked after like this, a wrap lasts up to a year. When one stops clinging, you can sprinkle on a little more wax and repeat the oven step.
Why use beeswax wraps instead of cling film?
Cling film is used once and thrown away, and because it's made from petroleum it doesn't break down. A beeswax wrap is cotton and wax, both natural materials that are biodegradable and compostable at the end of their life. Most homes already have spare cotton fabric, so the only thing you're likely to need to buy is the wax.
Which beeswax should you use?
Food grade only. Our Natural Beeswax (Food-grade) is a 125g block from Apis mellifera hives, the common honeybee, not from the stingless bees that make our Trigona honey. Grate it straight onto the fabric. If you have wax left over, our guide to other uses for beeswax covers skincare, wood polish and leather conditioning.
Frequently asked questions
Are beeswax wraps safe for food?
Yes, as long as you use food grade beeswax and plain cotton fabric. Don't use craft wax or candle wax, which aren't made to touch food.
What temperature melts beeswax for wraps?
An oven at 85°C melts grated beeswax onto fabric in 5 to 7 minutes. Hotter than that and the wax can smoke, which is a fire risk.
Can I wash beeswax wraps in hot water?
No. Hot water melts the wax off the fabric. Use cold water and a mild soap, then let the wrap air dry.
How long do homemade beeswax wraps last?
Up to a year with cold water washing. When a wrap stops clinging, add a little more grated wax and melt it in the oven again.
It's a good one to do with kids on a weekend. Pick up a block of Natural Beeswax (Food-grade) and one block will coat several wraps.