How to Make Beeswax Food Wraps (An Easy DIY Gift)

Beeswax wraps are one of our favorite ways to use the wax our bees make. They're pretty, they replace a lot of plastic wrap, and they take about 15 minutes to make. Wrap half an avocado, cover a bowl of leftovers, or fold one into a snack pouch. Tie a set with twine and you have a thoughtful handmade gift.

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What You'll Need

• 100% cotton fabric, thin and tightly woven, like quilting cotton. Pre-wash it without fabric softener. Thrifted cotton fabric works beautifully.
• Beeswax, grated or in pellets. About 1 tablespoon per 8x8-inch square, a bit more for larger pieces.
• Optional for extra cling: pine rosin powder and a few drops of jojoba oil
• Pinking shears (to keep edges from fraying) or regular scissors
• A baking sheet, parchment paper, and a cheap natural bristle brush you'll dedicate to wax

Choosing Your Sizes

• Small, about 8x8 inches: half a lemon, a cut onion, a block of cheese.
• Medium, about 11x11 inches: sandwiches, bowls, half a melon.
• Large, about 14x14 inches: bread loaves, big serving bowls.

Step-by-Step (Oven Method)

1. Heat the oven to 200 to 225°F and line a baking sheet with parchment.
2. Cut the fabric into squares or rectangles with pinking shears.
3. Sprinkle the wax. Lay one piece of fabric on the parchment and scatter the grated wax evenly, all the way to the edges. If you're using rosin, sprinkle about half as much rosin as wax, plus 3 or 4 drops of jojoba oil.
4. Melt. Bake for 4 to 6 minutes, just until all the wax is liquid.
5. Spread. Pull the tray out and use the brush to spread the wax into any dry spots. Add a little more wax to bare areas and return to the oven for a minute if needed.
6. Dry. Lift the fabric by two corners (careful, it's warm) and wave it for a few seconds, then hang it on a clothesline or drape it over a chair back. It's dry in a minute or two.

Why add rosin? Pure beeswax wraps work, but they're a little stiff and don't stick to themselves much. Rosin adds the tackiness that helps wraps hold their shape, and jojoba keeps them flexible. Try one of each and see which you prefer.

How to Use and Care for Them

• Use the warmth of your hands to soften the wrap and press it around food or over a bowl.
• Wash in cool water with a little mild dish soap, then air dry. Hot water melts the wax.
• Skip raw meat and fish. You can't wash the wraps hot enough to sanitize them.
• Keep them away from heat. No microwaves, ovens, or dishwashers.
• Refresh them. When a wrap gets wrinkled or loses its grip, pop it back in a warm oven for a couple of minutes, or add a sprinkle of fresh wax. With care, wraps last about a year, and worn-out ones can be cut up and used as fire starters.

Make It a Gift

Make a set of three sizes, fold them neatly, and tie them with twine and a sprig of dried lavender or rosemary. Add a handwritten care card with the washing tips above.

Start With Wax From Our Hives

Our Natural Beeswax Bar is pure wax from our own hives, rendered at our urban homestead. Grate it right onto your fabric. One bar makes several small wraps.

Want more beeswax projects? See 5 Household Fixes With a Bar of Beeswax.