DIY Beeswax Food Wraps

If you want to reduce plastic in your home, follow these instructions for DIY beeswax food wraps and ditch cling wrap for good! This simple project will reduce your plastic waste and keep your food fresh and delicious.

Cheese partially wrapped in beeswax food wrap with a bowl covered with beeswax food wrap

When it comes to being creative around the home, I love figuring out new ways to minimize plastics, reduce waste, and save money! When I heard about beeswax wraps, I knew this was something I had to make.

Not only is this a fun DYI project, but these beeswax wraps are so practical. I now use them daily, and I’m thrilled that there’s one less plastic thing we use in our home!

This post contains affiliate links which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure  here.

Hand covering bowl of grapes with beeswax food wrap.

Why You’ll Love DIY Beeswax Food Wraps

Reduce plastic in your kitchen – Getting rid of plastic can be tough, but this is an easy replacement for plastic cling wrap.

Easy DYI project – This is the perfect fun and practical DYI!

Save money – You can cross plastic cling wrap off of your shopping list for good!

Cheaper than premade beeswax wraps – If you want to try beeswax food wraps, but don’t have lots of extra money to spend, making them yourself is the perfect option.

3 natural ingredients – Made with beeswax, pine resin, and jojoba oil, you can feel great about what’s touching your food.

Perfect DIY gift – Anyone who strives for a natural and sustainable life would love to receive a few of these beeswax food wraps!

Cheese wrapped in beeswax food wrap with half of an avocado on a piece of beeswax wrap with a covered bowl and stack of food wraps.

Ways to Use DIY Beeswax Food Wraps

You can use these however you would typically use plastic cling wrap! These beeswax food wraps are perfect to cover bowls or containers of leftovers, wrap up a sandwich, or store fruit.

They can be used with any food other than raw meat. If you want to store raw meat, glass food storage containers are a great option.

Stack of beeswax food wraps with two flowers on top.

How to Store DIY Beeswax Food Wraps

Beeswax food wraps can be stored anywhere in your kitchen that’s cool and dry, such as a cabinet drawer. Since the beeswax will melt if it gets hot, keep them away from the oven and other warmer areas of your kitchen.

You can fold them or roll them up and store them upright in a jar.

How to Clean DIY Beeswax Food Wraps

Simply gently scrub your beeswax wraps with cold water and a mild soap such as Castile soap. Afterwards, hang to dry before storing or reusing.

Beeswax, jojoba oil, and pine resin are all naturally anti-fungal and antibacterial which helps these beeswax wraps stay sanitary. If you want an added layer of protection, you can make these wraps with linen fabric which is also anti-fungal and antibacterial.

Cheese block partially wrapped in beeswax food wrap.

How Long Do Beeswax Food Wraps Last?

If properly cared for, beeswax food wraps can last 1-2 years. If it start to feel like the wax is wearing off, you can apply more of the wax mixture and extend their life even longer.

Once they’re completely worn out, you can either compost the wraps or use them as a natural fire starter.

Hand folding beeswax food wrap around block of cheese.

Tips for Making Beeswax Food Wraps

Keep everything hot – The beeswax mixture hardens quickly, so you’ll want to keep it hot throughout the entire process. It also works best if the baking sheet is hot when you lay the fabric on it and spread on the beeswax.

Use pinking shears to cut the fabric – While you can use regular scissors, this will lead to fraying. Pinking shears completely prevent that from happening.

Stir the beeswax mixture each time before spreading it – The pine resin tends to sink to the bottom of the mixture, so you’ll need to stir it each time before you spread it on the fabric.

Save extra beeswax mixture for repairs – If you have leftover beeswax mixture, simply pour it into a heat-safe container, and keep it on hand for when your beeswax food wraps start to wear out.

Bowl covered with beeswax food wrap.

FAQs

Can I freeze food in beeswax food wraps? – Yes, however, since they’re breathable, the food will eventually get freezer burnt. To avoid this, simply freeze food stored with these wraps for a month or less.

What types of food can I store in beeswax wraps? – You can use these to store any type of food except for raw meat.

What kind of fabric should I use? – In order for the fabric to absorb the wax mixture, you have to use either 100% cotton or 100% linen fabric.

How do I make these wraps into a bag? – First cover the fabric with the beeswax mixture and let it dry completely. You can then sew it into bags for snacks, sandwiches, or anything else you can think of!

Printable patterns for beeswax food wraps and scissors on a table.

Tools You May Need

Free printable beeswax food wraps patterns – Enter your email address below to download patterns for every size and shape of beeswax wraps you’ll need!

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Free Printable Beeswax Food Wraps Patterns!


All-purpose scissors

Clear tape

Sewing pins

Pinking shears – You can use regular sewing scissors if you prefer, however, the edges of the beeswax food wraps will fray slightly. Using pinking shears keeps the edges nice.

Tablespoon measuring spoon

Double boiler or a small bowl that fits on top of a regular saucepan

Small spoon – I just use a regular dinner spoon.

Silicone brush – For spreading on the beeswax mixture onto the fabric. You can also use a new paintbrush, but the wax will ruin it. You’ll be able to wash the wax out of the silicone brush with no problem.

Supplies for beeswax food wraps

Supplies for Beeswax Food Wraps

Fabric (washed and dried) – Use either 100% cotton or 100% linen. If possible, organic fabrics are best though they can be tougher to find! I also prefer to use fabric that hasn’t been dyed, however, you can use whatever color you want. For this tutorial, I used linen due to its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties.

Beeswax pastilles – Organic is best since it will be touching food. You can use white or yellow beeswax, however, keep in mind that yellow beeswax will color your wraps.

Jojoba oil – This makes the beeswax food wraps flexible so you can wrap them around food without them cracking.

Powdered pine resin – Pine resin gives the wraps their ability to stick to themselves, ensuring a secure seal.

Note: Some tutorials use only beeswax without jojoba oil and pine resin, however, this results in food wraps that won’t stick to themselves or anything else. They may also crack depending on how much beeswax is used. If you’re going to take the time to make DIY beeswax food wraps, you must use all of these ingredients to create practical, easy to use wraps.

How to Make Beeswax Food Wraps

Square piece of white linen fabric with pinking shears and pins.

First, cut out the fabric using the free printable patterns. Or, if you prefer, you can cut it into your own shapes and sizes. Don’t worry if your shapes aren’t perfect – as long as the pieces are in convenient sizes it won’t really matter in the end.

Beeswax pastilles, jojoba oil, and pine resin in a bowl.

Next, in a double broiler (or a small bowl that fits on top of a saucepan with water), melt together the beeswax, jojoba oil, and pine resin.

While it’s melting, preheat your oven to 300 degrees and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the baking sheet in the oven while it’s preheating to warm.

Lay a piece of fabric (or a few small ones if they fit in one layer) on the baking sheet.

Spreading beeswax mixture on a piece of fabric with a silicone brush.

Then stir the melted beeswax mixture and spread it lightly across the fabric using a silicone brush. Don’t worry about covering every section with the wax right now.

Place the baking sheet in the oven for 2 minutes for the wax to melt and then use the brush to make sure every section has wax on it. If you need to, you can add more wax at this point, or, if there’s too much, use the next piece of fabric to sop some of it up.

The wax spreads easier when it’s hot, so I often leave it in the oven while I’m spreading the wax. However, you can take it out of the oven – just work quickly before it hardens.

Put the baking sheet back in the oven (or close the door if you never took it out) for another 2 minutes.

Beeswax food wraps hanging to dry on drying rack in kitchen.

Now all it needs to do is cool! Remove the food wrap from the oven and hang it on a drying rack or clothesline to dry. Then repeat the process for the rest of your fabric pieces.

If you make these DIY beeswax food wraps, let me know in the comments! Tag me on Instagram @violet_rightathome

More Natural DYIs

How to Make Homemade Face Wash with Free Printable Labels

How to Make Hand Sanitizer Spray – Simple & Healthy

Closeup of cheese wrapped in beeswax food wrap with half of an avocado on a piece of beeswax wrap with a covered bowl and stack of food wraps.

Beeswax Food Wraps

Yield: Approximately 3 food wraps (will vary depending on sizes of wraps)
Active Time: 45 minutes
Drying Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Difficulty: Moderate
Estimated Cost: $$

These beeswax food wraps are a fun DIY that will reduce your plastic waste and keep your food fresh and delicious!

Materials

  • Cotton or linen fabric, washed and dried
  • 4 tablespoons beeswax pastilles
  • 3 tablespoons powdered pine resin
  • 2 tablespoons jojoba oil

Tools

  • Pinking shears
  • Tablespoon measuring spoon
  • Double boiler or a small bowl that fits on top of a regular saucepan
  • Small spoon
  • Silicone brush

Instructions

  1. Cut the fabric into your preferred shapes and sizes.
  2. In a double broiler, melt together the beeswax, jojoba oil, and pine resin.
  3. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the baking sheet in the oven while it's preheating to warm.
  4. Lay a piece of fabric on the baking sheet.
  5. Stir the melted beeswax mixture and spread it lightly across the fabric using a silicone brush. Don't worry about covering every section with the wax right now.
  6. Place the baking sheet in the oven for 2 minutes for the wax to melt and then use the brush to make sure every section has wax on it. If you need to, you can add more wax at this point, or, if there's too much, use the next piece of fabric to sop some of it up.
  7. Put the baking sheet back in the oven for another 2 minutes.
  8. Remove the food wrap from the oven and hang on a drying rack or clothesline to dry while repeating the process for the rest of your fabric pieces.

Notes

These beeswax food wraps are perfect for storing any type of food except for raw meat. To wash, lightly scrub with cold water and gentle soap.

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