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Beeswax Food Wrap: Cover Your Food with Beeswax Fabric (Tutorial)

By Mindy 28 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Beeswax Food Wrap: Cover Your Food with Beeswax Fabric (Tutorial)

I’ve been wanting to make reusable food bags to replace plastic for a while now but I was having a hard time figuring out what kind of waterproof fabric was food safe.

I wanted to make some snack and sandwich bags that can be tossed in the wash so I will continue to research food safe fabric (and I’ll keep you posted!) but for now, I’m happy with using beeswax food wrap.

Why Beeswax?

There are a number of reasons that beeswax is the best wax to use for fabric food wrap.

  • Sustainable – Beeswax does not rely on industrial processes to be harvested. If you have your own bees (or a friend with bees), you have a free supply too!
  • Edible – If you end up with some beeswax on your food, it’s okay!
  • Antimicrobial – A 2017 study found that a similar beeswax food wrap was able to inhibit bacteria growth on food.

My favorite reason to use beeswax though is that it can be “grown” on the homestead, making it a perfect wax for those looking for a more self-reliant life.

Beeswax Food Wrap Tutorial 

Beeswax fabric is non-toxic, reusable, washable and, because of the nature of wax, can be molded around food or dishes. They’re also very inexpensive to make (ya gotta love that!).

Supplies:

  • Cotton fabric (I used leftover craft fabric from OG’s birthday banner)
  • Beeswax (I used these beeswax pastilles but you could use leftover candles or shavings from a bar like this one)
  • An old cookie sheet (that can be reserved for beeswax only)
  • A paintbrush (that can be reserved for beeswax only)

Directions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 150 degrees (or lowest setting).
  2. Lay a piece of fabric on the cookie sheet (It can be doubled over if needed). Spread beeswax pastilles or shavings over the fabric. How much you need depends on the size and thickness of the fabric.
  3. Put the cookie sheet in the oven and wait a few minutes for the beeswax to melt.
  4. Use the paintbrush to spread the beeswax to coat the whole piece of fabric. I found that it worked best to leave the cookie sheet in the oven while doing this but you can take it out too as long as you work fast.
  5. If you need more beeswax to coat the fabric, add it now and allow to melt again.
  6. When the fabric is covered in beeswax peel it off of the cookie sheet and hang to dry/cool (this takes just a few minutes).
  7. Now you can use pinking shears to cut the edges or just start using your beeswax fabric food wrap!

Beeswax Food Wrap Washing and Care

Spot clean with cool water (warm water will melt the wax). 

It would also make sense to keep this beeswax food wrap out of the sun or other sources of heat.

I had thought about sewing this fabric into bags for snacks it’s really unnecessary. The fabric folds and stays in place well without sewing it. It’s also easier to clean when you fold food into the large square of fabric rather than stuffing food into a pouch.

I also found this crafter who makes beeswax food wrap and has them for sale in her shop. 

Have you tried making your own beeswax food wrap or bags? How did you do it?

This beeswax food wrap is a safe and sustainable alternative to plastic wrap and is really easy to make. Find out how I make it in this post. #diy #beeswax

Filed Under: Homesteading Tagged With: DIY tutorial

About Mindy

Mindy Wood is the founder of Our Inspired Roots, the place to go for inspiration and instruction on growing food & medicine in a way that is healthy for people and the planet.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Andrea says

    April 1, 2013 at 3:51 pm

    Wow, what a great idea!! I wouldn’t have ever thought that you could make this, and create less plastic waste. That’s awesome! I will be trying it. :)

    Thanks for sharing on Natural Living Monday!

    Reply
    • Mindy says

      April 2, 2013 at 12:32 pm

      Every little bit helps, right? :)

      Reply
  2. Loriel @ Healthy Roots, Happy Soul says

    April 1, 2013 at 3:55 pm

    SOOOOO cool!!! Love this!

    I would love if you would come and share this on my Tuned-in Tuesday blog hop tomorrow! http://www.healthyrootshappysoul.com/2013/04/tuned-in-tuesday-blog-hop-3.html

    Reply
    • Mindy says

      April 2, 2013 at 12:31 pm

      Thanks for the invite!

      Reply
  3. Gloria says

    April 2, 2013 at 2:24 pm

    Very neat idea! I’ll have to give it a try!
    Blessings,
    Gloria @ resourcefulgals.blogspot.com

    Reply
  4. Kristen @ Smithspirations says

    April 3, 2013 at 2:41 pm

    This is a fascinating idea! I wash and reuse our plastic bags, but they eventually do get holes in them and can be a pain to wash. I love the idea of using fabric and beeswax that I already have, and avoiding plastic in a whole new way!
    Found your great post through Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways. :)

    Reply
  5. Kathleen | Becoming Peculiar says

    April 3, 2013 at 6:24 pm

    I totally have this same project on my to-do list! Awesome! Thanks for the tutorial — I’ll have to reference it when I make my own!

    Reply
  6. Julie says

    April 3, 2013 at 7:41 pm

    I’ve been wanting to make my own chapstick but have waited because I didn’t want to buy beeswax for just one project. Thanks for this idea!

    Reply
    • Mindy says

      April 3, 2013 at 9:52 pm

      That’s what I bought my beeswax for originally too :)

      Reply
  7. KC @ The Real Thing with the Coake Family says

    April 3, 2013 at 9:21 pm

    Wow! That is so neat! I didn’t know you could make this kind of thing. I wonder if it would work to sew it into snack or sandwich bags…do you think? or do you think the wax wouldn’t work with the needle of a sewing machine and such. Thanks for the idea
    I would love if you would share this at my link party. http://www.realcoake.com/2013/04/real-family-fun-8.html
    Take care,
    KC

    Reply
    • Mindy says

      April 3, 2013 at 9:51 pm

      I think it would work to sew them. I plan on doing that sometime so I’ll let you know how it goes :)

      Reply
    • Alexandra says

      April 13, 2016 at 2:04 pm

      If you’re worried about wax in your sewing machine, you could create the bag first then add the bees wax. Though if you use plasic snaps I’d suggest waiting to add those until after you’re done with the oven

      Reply
      • Mindy says

        April 13, 2016 at 3:18 pm

        Great idea!

        Reply
  8. Jennifer Shelby says

    April 7, 2013 at 12:14 pm

    fantastic! I’ve been looking for a solution like this for a while. Thank you so much for sharing this! Going to share this on facebook and pinterest too!

    Reply
    • Mindy says

      April 7, 2013 at 7:57 pm

      You’re welcome :)

      Reply
  9. Amanda @Natural Living Mamma says

    April 7, 2013 at 1:35 pm

    I love this idea! And so simple! Thanks so much for sharing on Natural Living Monday! I have not posted this weeks yet but Ill share a secret… you were our top featured post. :)

    Reply
    • Mindy says

      April 7, 2013 at 7:57 pm

      Awesome! Thanks for letting me know :)

      Reply
  10. Jerica @ Sustain, Create and Flow says

    April 11, 2013 at 3:13 pm

    This is great! We have a ton of beeswax since we keep bees, and I am always looking for fun ways to use the wax. I am going to try this! Thank you so much :)

    Reply
  11. Leonora Shahon says

    June 22, 2014 at 4:56 pm

    Hi there,
    I was wondering if you ever sewed this fabric into snack bags?
    I want to do this but I also do not want to gum up my sewing machine.
    Thanks,
    Leonora

    Reply
    • Mindy says

      July 3, 2014 at 2:01 pm

      No, I haven’t yet :( If you do give it a try I’d love to hear about it!

      Reply
  12. Meredith says

    August 9, 2015 at 12:41 am

    Hi, I have just tried making these using “Melted down from candles used at worship in a Russian Orthodox Church” – sold on ebay as “pure, certified genuine beeswax”. Anyway it didn’t work – the fabric (plain calico) dried stiff and not flexible, and not sticking to itself, like the beeswax wraps I had seen at a market. I am wanting some advice – do you think it was the wax that was the problem? If I get pure cosmetic-grade beeswax will it work properly?

    Reply
    • Mindy says

      August 10, 2015 at 2:35 pm

      Yikes! It sounds like it may be the wax. I’ve never heard of that happening with pure beeswax.

      Reply
  13. Teyla says

    February 12, 2018 at 12:06 am

    I love making these!
    The method I use includes the same materials, just add a couple drops of jojoba on top of the bees wax…it has antibacterial properties and adds extra stick.

    First I lay a towel, then a piece of parchment paper (bigger than the size of your cloth), then the cotton cloth, on this you shave the bees wax on until covered, then a couple drops of Jojoba, another layer of parchment to cover. Now to melt it, I use an Iron over the parchment. Slow and steady will get the best results to make sure it spreads to the edge. Then, peel the top parchment layer off, and separate the cloth and hang to dry for one minute or so until cool! Happy making!!

    Reply
    • Mindy says

      February 15, 2018 at 1:32 pm

      Great idea to add jojoba oil, thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  14. Kelley Patient says

    November 28, 2021 at 11:08 am

    Do you paint wax on both sides of the cloth or just one side?

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Mindy says

      November 29, 2021 at 9:50 am

      I do one side but it kind of soaks into the fabric so it doesn’t feel like it’s only on one side. You could definitely do the other side too though!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 40 Holiday Homemade Gifts - Edible Harmony says:
    December 8, 2013 at 8:03 pm

    […] Easy Ways to Turn a Mason Jar Into a Christmas Present by Learning and Yearning Beeswax Fabric (plastic wrap replacement) by Purposefully Simple Cinnamon Ornaments by Natural Living Momma […]

    Reply
  2. 21 Awesome Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas That Can Be Made in a Day says:
    August 16, 2021 at 3:07 pm

    […] Eco-Friendly Wrap […]

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Mindy Wood is the founder of Our Inspired Roots, the place to go for inspiration and instruction on growing food & medicine in a way that is healthy for people and the planet. Read More…

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