Beeswax Food Wraps

Not all DIY food wrap recipes are the same. My first attempt at making beeswax wraps was messy and not a complete success. The wraps were beautiful, but a bit thick and very sticky. Do not fret if this was your first experience too! I was gifted a beautiful set this Christmas and they were absolutely perfect.

After several attempts, my sister found the perfect recipe which she only slightly adapted. The results are outstanding. The original recipe came from the Mountain Rose Herbs Blog, thank you for sharing! They also tried making the wraps several times before perfecting them.

Here is our tweaked version of the Mountain Rose Herbs recipe:

Beeswax Food Wraps

Makes 2 to 3 12x12 inch cloths but you can easily double the recipe for more wraps

Ingredients:

50 g pine resin 105 g beeswax 35 ml jojoba oil

Tools:

Stir stick Parchment paper (cut a few inches larger than your largest piece of cloth) Paint brush (for food) Organic cotton fabric, washed and dried Clothing drying rack covered with parchment

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 300 F

2. Cut fabric into desired shapes and sizes

3. Add pine resin, beeswax and jojoba oil into a double boiler. Note: If you do not have a double boiler, put the mixture into a glass measuring cup and put in a sauce pan. Add enough water to double boiler or sauce pan so that the water line is above your mixture of ingredients.

4. Slowly heat stirring frequently for about 20 to 25 minutes until the ingredients melt into a golden liquid.

5. Cover baking sheet with parchment paper.

6. Lay one piece of fabric flat on the parchment.

7. Lightly brush mixture from double boiler or measuring cut onto fabric. It may solidify, but do not worry, it will even out when heated in the oven. Less is more, you can always add more if needed.

8. Place baking sheet in oven for 2 minutes until fabric looks wet.

9. Remove from oven. If there are any dry spots, brush more of the mixture onto these areas and put back in the oven.

10. When fabric is ready, gently lift fabric off the baking sheet. Hold two corners on one end and lightly sway it back and forth to cool for one minute. This prevents the mixture from pooling. If you are working with a friend, you can pass the fabric back and forth each holding the corners on opposite ends.

11. Hang the fabric on drying rack. It will be dry and ready to use in a few minutes. If you notice any imperfections such as pooling, uneven distribution, or cracks, repeat steps 8-10, adding more of the mixture if necessary.

12. Repeat steps 7-11 until you have used all your mixture and fabric.​

Beeswax wraps are perfect for wrapping food such as sandwiches or produce. They even keep cut avocados fresh for days! You can also use them to cover bowls or glasses. Simply use the warmth of your hands to shape the wrap over the top of the container. The wrap will hold its shape when it cools, creating a seal. Wipe with a damp cloth, or wash with cool water and gentle soap if necessary. Let air dry. Enjoy!