You've been asking for ages, well it's finally here - a DIY beeswax wrap recipe! This easy recipe uses beeswax, resin and jojoba oil, to create a pliable beeswax wrap to use in place of single-use plastic cling wrap.
Reusable food wraps are the best way to wrap sandwiches and rolls, cover plates and bowls, leftovers and much more.
Here we explain how to make beeswax wraps with a recipe tested by the Biome team (be warned: getting the mix right can be tricky!) and links to the ingredients. There is a vegan food wrap recipe too.
DIY Beeswax Wrap Recipe
Achieving the perfect beeswax wax wrap consistency can be tricky. The wax coating needs just the right amount of stickiness to grip, and just the right amount of flex so that it does not crack when moulded. The type of beeswax you use can also make a difference. We therefore recommend starting with just a small quantity at first to trial your mixture.
All three ingredients are needed for this homemade beeswax wraps recipe that works: the wax, whether beeswax or vegan candelilla wax, provides firmness, gum rosin will make your wraps the right kind of sticky, and jojoba oil provides the flexibility.
So, how to make a beeswax wrap?
Ingredients
- Cotton fabric cut to desired size (this recipe makes enough to approx. cover one 25cm x 25cm piece). Use pinking shears to reduce frayed edges.
- 17g beeswax - either beads or grated from a beeswax block. Or for a vegan version, use Candelilla wax.
- 5g gum rosin (pine resin) - read more below about what this is*
- 1/2 tbsp jojoba oil
- A glass bowl or jar
- Saucepan
- Spoon to stir
- Oven and oven tray
- Baking paper
- Paint or basting brush (keep this brush for this purpose only)
- Clothes hanger or stainless steel pegs for drying
Method
- Preheat your oven to 150 degrees C.
- Place the beeswax, rosin and jojoba oil into a mason jar and set that mason jar into a saucepan filled with about 5cm of water. Place the saucepan onto the stove, turn to medium heat so the water is simmering, and melt the ingredients, stirring occasionally. Resin takes longer to melt than beeswax, so it's best to have the heat on medium to high initially to speed up the process.
- Lay baking paper over the oven tray and place your fabric flat on top.
- Once the beeswax mixture has completely melted, use a spoon and drizzle the mixture evenly over the fabric.
- Place the tray into the pre-heated oven for about 2 minutes to reheat. This is necessary for ease of spreading in the next step.
- Carefully pull the oven tray out and use your basting brush to spread the mixture quite thick and evenly over the fabric. Don't forget the edges and corners.
- Pop it back into the oven for a minute to melt out any uneven bumps or clumps.
- Remove from oven and hang up with pegs to allow to set and dry.
If you feel your wax wraps are too sticky, use a little less pine resin next time. For a pictorial tutorial, visit Style Curator's How to make DIY beeswax wraps.
How to Make a Vegan Wax Wrap
For a vegan version you can substitute candelilla wax for the beeswax, but the amount to use may take some experimenting. Biome has only trialled this recipe using beeswax.
How To Use & Clean Beeswax Wraps
These reusable beeswax wraps are an excellent alternative to plastic cling wrap and zip lock bags. Wrap up cut up fruit and veggies, sandwiches and rolls, and cover plates and bowls.
To store: fold neatly and keep in a cool dry place such as a kitchen drawer.
To clean: wipe down your wax wrap after use with a damp cloth and allow to air dry. To wash, use a mild natural detergent in tepid water. Pat dry with a clean tea towel and air dry. Do not use warm and hot water as it will melt the wax. Not suitable for the dishwasher or washing machine. Do not heat or microwave. Do not use with raw meat. Keep out of direct sunlight.
Please note: as our beeswax is pure, it has a yellow tint. The yellow colour will not notice as much on a coloured fabric.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is gum rosin (pine resin) used for in beeswax wraps?
Gum rosin is a brittle, crystal like, amber substance from pine tree sap, and ours is pure, food grade, ethically sourced from India.
Gum rosin is available in a powdered form or in chunks. They are the same, but powdered will dissolve faster.
The gum rosin helps to make the wraps sticky. Without gum rosin, the surface of your wrap will be too smooth, much like a beeswax candle!
What is the best beeswax to use for a beeswax wrap recipe?
At Biome, our mission is all about living gently on the planet without harm to people and all creatures. Bees are a very special species and they play a vital role in our ecology - in fact, without bees, we would have no pollination to grow the fruits and vegetables that we eat. Bees must be treated with care. We recommend only ethically sourced beeswax Australia and honey from local, trusted beekeepers.
How to refresh an old beeswax wrap that has lost its coating?
To refresh a beeswax wraps, there are two choices.
Firstly, lay the beeswax wrap flat on baking paper on a baking tray. Pre-heat oven.
1) Finely grate some beeswax or a ready made refresher block that has all the ingredients like this one from Queen B beeswax refresher block all over the wrap, place in the oven to melt, then remove and hang to dry.
2) Follow the same recipe above but only 1/3 of the quantity, spread over the wrap, place in the oven briefly, remove and spread with a brush out to the edges, back in the oven briefly, and hang to dry.
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