DIY: Beeswax Wraps
- 30m Prep Time
- 20m Cook Time
- 50m Ready In
DIY beeswax wraps are reusable covers for leftovers and sandwiches, made by painting a mixture of beeswax, pine resin, and jojoba oil onto cotton fabric. This recipe reduces the need for plastic wrap and aluminum foil.
Ingredients
- 473 ml beeswax pellets
- 158 ml pine resin powder or crushed pine resin chunks
- 9.86 ml jojoba oil
- 2 100 percent cotton fabric washed and dried, trimmed, and cut into desired sizes
- 1 new 2-inch paintbrush
- olive oil
- paper towel
- scissors
Nutrition (per serving, estimated)
Estimated based off 1 of 8 identified ingredients (per 100 g food data, scaled by amount).
Vitamins & minerals
- Calcium: 0.14 mg
- Iron: 0.08 mg
- Magnesium: 0 mg
- Phosphorus: 0 mg
- Potassium: 0.14 mg
- Zinc: 0 mg
Let's Prepare
Collect
Gather these ingredients — no prep needed yet.
- 473 ml beeswax pellets
- 158 ml pine resin powder or crushed pine resin chunks
- 9.86 ml jojoba oil
- 1 new 2-inch paintbrush
- olive oil
- paper towel
- scissors
Prepare
- 2 100 percent cotton fabric, washed and dried, trimmed, and cut into desired sizes
Let's Cook
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Step 1.
Set up a double boiler: Place the beeswax pellets, pine resin powder, and jojoba oil in a medium mixing bowl. Set the bowl over a medium saucepan containing about an inch of water; the bowl should sit above the water without touching it. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring frequently with an old rubber spatula or wooden spoon, until the beeswax and resin are completely melted and the mixture is clear, 15 to 20 minutes. Adjust the heat to maintain a bare simmer. The wax will melt first; continue until the resin is fully melted and no swirls remain. Set the spatula on a piece of parchment paper between stirs to avoid drips on the counter.
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Step 2.
While the wax mixture melts, prepare the waxing station: Fold an old towel to cover a counter or craft table area about 3 feet by 2 feet. Tear off two 2-foot-long pieces of parchment paper and place them on the towel. Tear off four more similar sheets; set two aside for drying, and place the other two on another flat surface (counter or floor) for drying wraps. Empty the iron of any water, turn off the steam function, and set it to the 'high' or 'cotton' setting.
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Step 3.
Once the wax mixture is fully melted, carefully transfer the double boiler to a trivet or pot holder next to the towel. The hot water below will keep the wax runny. Place one of the smaller fabric pieces on top of one of the parchment sheets on the towel. Dip a clean paintbrush into the wax mixture and paint a thin, even layer over the entire fabric surface, making sure to coat the edges.
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Step 4.
Top the waxed fabric with the second piece of parchment, aligning the edges so no wax escapes. Iron thoroughly over the parchment until you see the wax has melted into the fabric. Carefully remove the top parchment and set it aside, sticky side up. Peel the fabric off the bottom parchment, wave it briefly to cool, then transfer the wax wrap to one of the reserved parchment sheets to dry completely.
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Step 5.
Repeat the painting and ironing process with the remaining fabric pieces, starting with smaller pieces and working up to larger ones. Replace the top parchment with a fresh sheet partway through if it becomes waxy on the top side (to prevent wax from touching the iron). As you work, stack cooled, dry wraps elsewhere to make room for new hot wraps on the drying area.
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Step 6.
If the wax mixture thickens over time, return the double boiler to low heat, bring the water back to a simmer, and stir for a few minutes until the mixture thins, then resume. You can also stop mid-project, let the wax cool in the bowl, and reheat it later when ready to continue.
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Step 7.
Once all wraps are dry, trim any loose threads with scissors. To make the wraps tacky, scrunch and unscrunch each wrap several times with your hands; the heat from your hands will activate the wax, making them sticky like plastic wrap.
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Step 8.
To clean wax residue from your hands or spills, moisten a paper towel with olive oil and rub the wax off. Do not use water.