This post may contain affiliate links, please see the privacy policy for details.
With this guide to making beeswax wraps, you can make your own wraps to use or give as an unusual gift. Beeswax wraps are a natural alternative to using plastic wrap, and they make handy reusable food wraps. You can choose from various sizes ranging from small 6-inch squares to large 15-inch square bowl covers, depending on what you want to use them for. You can also go even smaller or larger and make your desired shapes however you wish. Although DIY beeswax wraps do create a seal, they’re still breathable, meaning beeswax wraps keep food fresher for longer than plastic wrap would.
It’s easy to make some homemade DIY beeswax wraps with all-natural materials. Reusable food wraps are so useful in the kitchen.
If you love crafting you might also like to try your hand at making a succulent centerpiece, a hot chocolate gift set or what about homemade bath salts or DIY shower steamers?
Why You’ll Love It
All-natural: Plastic wrap is probably one of the worst things for the environment and these DIY beeswax wraps offer an all-natural replacement.
Fun craft project: If you enjoy crafting, you should also enjoy making these beeswax wraps. When you’re done you can try making an orange garland!
Simple to make: The instructions for making DIY beeswax wraps are fairly straightforward and the items you need aren’t hard to find.
Pro Tip: The wraps are not meant for raw meat or hot things that could melt the wraps.
Ingredients for Do It Yourself Beeswax Wraps
To make beeswax wraps you will need cotton fabric pieces, white beeswax pellets (here), pine resin (here), and organic jojoba oil (here).
The other equipment you will need includes a microwave-safe container, an art brush, baking tray, parchment paper, fabric scissors (or pinking shears), and a measuring tape.
How to Make Beeswax Wraps
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable instructions card.
Cut the fabric: Cut circles, squares or rectangles out of the fabric pieces using pinking shears.
Make the resin mixture: Melt the resin in the microwave (or a double boiler) and then stir in the beeswax and jojoba oil, and microwave the mixture again until everything has melted together.
Get the fabric pieces ready: Arrange the fabric on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
Add the beeswax mixture: Brush the wax evenly over the fabric pieces with an art brush or paint brush.
Bake in the oven: Preheat oven and give the beeswax wrap about 5 minutes in there, then brush from the middle to the edges to ensure the fabric is completely covered.
Tidy them up: Let them cool, then peel off the wraps and either hang to dry or dry on more parchment paper, then trim off any loose strings or uneven parts.
Standard Sizes for Homemade Beeswax Wraps
Small wrap: 6”x6” – For things like halved lemons, limes, avocado, a small prep bowl or cups
Medium wrap: 10”x10” – For things like a wedge of cheese, bell peppers, smaller melons like cantaloupe, small mixing or serving bowl
Large wrap/sandwich wrap: 13”x13” – For things like half a cabbage or watermelon, medium mixing bowls and sandwiches
Snack bag: size: 8”x4.5” – For things like grapes, crackers, nuts, or raisins
Large bowl cover: 14.5”x14.5”, or 14.5” circle – For a 12-inch salad bowl
XL bowl cover: 16.5”x 6.5”, or 16.5” circle – For a 14” or 15” serving bowl
Note: You can also custom measure. Just add 2 inches to each side of your object and cut. For example, for a 4”x6” container, cut an 8”x10” piece of fabric so you have a 2-inch overhang on all sides.
How to Use Homemade Beeswax Wraps
You can use homemade beeswax wraps in place of cling wrap or plastic snack bags for your homemade lemon zucchini bread or Italian stromboli perhaps. They aren’t suitable for use with anything hot (the beeswax would melt) or with raw meat (risk of transferring bacteria).
If the wraps don’t seem to stick at first, scrunch them up and the warmth from your hands will help activate the wax mixture and make it sticky.
Beeswax has natural antibacterial qualities which means it can help your food stay fresh for longer. Also, it’s non-toxic and biodegradable.
How to Store DIY Beeswax Wraps
Storage: Keep the beeswax wraps either rolled up or flat for up to a year or more, preferably somewhere cool and dry.
Disposal: When your homemade beeswax wraps aren’t sticking anymore, don’t throw them out. If the cloth becomes worn-looking or the wax starts cracking from use, refresh by placing the fabric between two pieces of parchment paper and ironing on low heat (no steam), and place on a rack to cool. You can easily revive old wax wraps with several other methods, too. When the beeswax wraps are no longer refreshable, place in your compost.
Gift Packaging for Homemade Beeswax Wraps
To package the wraps for a gift, you will need 12″x12″ natural cardstock, white printer paper and a printer, a glute stick, plus tape and scissors.
You will get two 4 ¼” strips from the natural 12″x12″ cardstock. There are two how-to labels and three care instructions on each printable page.
Beeswax Wraps How to Use Label Printable
DownloadBeeswax Wraps Care Instructions Printable Label
Download
Pro Tips for Making Beeswax Wraps at Home
- If the wrap does not feel like it has enough wax once cooled, heat the wax mixture, reapply it, and place it in the oven to spread again. The same thing goes if you feel there is too much. Just place the wrap back in the oven and evenly brush off the excess and re-cool. There should not be any thick areas of wax.
- The mixture and the brush can be saved for later use.
- If the resin starts to ball up at the bottom of your container after adding the beeswax and mixing, it is okay. There is usually enough mixed in to make the wraps sticky, and you should not be too worried.
- If there is a lot of wax mixture on the wrap, it can leave a little wax residue on dishes or glasses for the first couple of uses, but it comes off quite easily with some warm or hot, soapy water.
Beeswax Food Wraps FAQs
Synthetic fabrics don’t soak up the wax like cotton does, meaning it would just flake off, so make sure you have 100% cotton fabric for your reusable beeswax wraps.
Wash with cool water (not hot water because that will melt them), optionally adding a little mild soap.
It’s fine to use bars as long as you grate them with a cheese grater.
DIY Beeswax Wraps Materials and Instructions
DIY Beeswax Wraps
Supplies
- 100% cotton fabric, 3 colors or patterns, ½ yards each (Walmart has pre-cut ½ yard cotton fabric for around $1-2)
- 1½ Cups white beeswax pellets, food grade
- ½ Cup crushed pine resin
- 1½ Tablespoons jojoba oil
- 1 microwave-safe container or jar
- 1 art brush, 2-inch
- 1 baking tray
- parchment paper
- 1 Pair fabric scissors or pinking shears
- 1 fabric tape measure or ruler
If Gift Wrapping:
- 2 Pieces natural cardstock, 12-inch x 12-inch
- white printer paper, for “How To” label and “Care Instructions”
- glue stick
- tape
- scissors
Instructions
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 150 degrees (200 is fine if it's your lowest setting).
- Cut your cotton fabric into squares, circles or rectangles depending on how you would like them to be used. If cutting to make as gifts, 3- 4 different sizes make for a nice variety gift set.
- *Note: If making multiple gift sets, a dollar store poster board is a great size guide. Just measure and mark multiple sizes with a marker.
- Cut out your shapes (see notes for tips and sizing).
- Once you have your shapes cut, you are going to add your resin to a microwave safe container and microwave for about 3 minutes and then 1 min intervals after that until melted.
- Carefully take out the resin using something like pot holders and add your beeswax and jojoba oil. Continue to microwave until melted starting with 2 minutes and then 1 min intervals afterwards, stirring occasionally.
- While the wax mixture is heating up, place some parchment paper down on a baking tray and arrange your fabric to fit inside the tray. You will most likely need to do multiple batches in the oven depending on your sizes.
- You can also place extra parchment on a flat surface, lay out all your fabric and brush so that all are covered with the mixture and ready for the oven when it's their turn to go in.
- Once the beeswax mixture is melted, brush 1 even layer onto the fabric making sure to brush all the way to the edges. If it starts to solidify do not worry, it will absorb and melt into the fabric once in the oven.
- Place the fabric into the oven for 5 min so that the beeswax can seep into the fabric. Take the wraps out of the oven and brush from the center to the edges to ensure even coverage.
- Peel off the wrap once it's cool enough to handle and place onto a fresh sheet of crumpled parchment or hang to dry if you prefer. Once cooled, you can trim up any uneven edges or loose strings.
- See the link below for a “how to” on using these wraps and the “care instructions” link for how to care for these as well.
DIY beeswax wraps are fun to make and they’re versatile. Whether you’re making them for yourself, as a gift, or some of each, they’re straightforward to make. Unlike plastic wrap, DIY beeswax wraps are reusable and also biodegradable, making them a great choice if you want to live more sustainably. You can use them instead of plastic wrap or plastic sandwich bags, to wrap snacks or to cover bowls and cups.
You Might Also Like
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
So cute and fun! Love them