Best Beeswax Wrap
Before the invention of plastic wrap, food was kept in wax paper to prolong its freshness, so it’s no wonder (although quite ironic) that a type of wax paper is starting to replace plastic film wrap.
Beeswax wraps has become a popular go-to for an increasing number of people who are looking to reduce their use of plastic. From switching to glass containers and reusable cloth bags to using water filters instead of single-serve bottled water, the effort is real, with beeswax wraps an integral part of the trend.
This new kitchen commodity is reusable, sustainable, biodegradable and compostable. It is versatile enough to keep food like hard cheese, bread, fruit and vegetables fresh on the counter, in the fridge and in the freezer. And when it’s done, just wash it, air dry it flat, and use it again.
Not sure how to get on the bandwagon? Read on to find out some of the best beeswax wraps you can purchase online and you can start reducing your plastic use today.
1. Top Pick: Bee’s Wrap Reusable Beeswax Food Wraps
Using beeswax wraps takes some getting used to, there’s no denying that, but once you send your kids off to school with their sandwiches wrapped in this amazing product, you’ll never go back to single-use plastic wrap. And that’s because not only will you be doing a good thing for the Earth, you will also be protecting your little ones – and yourself – from the harmful chemicals found in plastic wrap.
These beeswax food wraps from Bee’s Wrap have absolutely no harmful ingredients that can leach into food. Made in Vermont by a woman-owned company, each wrap is crafted from Global Organic Textile Standard-certified (GOTS) organic cotton, a proprietary blend of responsibly sourced beeswax, jojoba oil, and tree resin.
The high-quality wraps are washable, reusable and completely biodegradable. The package contains three wraps – small, medium and large – measuring 7” x 8”, 10” x 11” and 13” x 14”, respectively. You can use them to cover everything from cheese and fruit to bread or mold it as a lid to cover a bowl. After you are finished using it, wash in cool water with mild soap and air dry, then reuse it again and again.
Pros:
- Made in the USA
- Made from COTs-certified organic cotton
- Three different sizes
Cons:
- More expensive than other brands
- Some users said it doesn’t stick well to glass
2. Runner Up: Alcoon Beeswax Food Wraps
Most beeswax wraps can be purchased in a single square or in packages of multiple shapes to be used in specific cases. For example, a pack of six could have two of each size to fit the top of different bowls, glasses, containers and a range of food. What we love about Alcoon’s beeswax wrap is that it comes in a roll so you can cut to the size you need.
The roll of beeswax measures 12” x 39”, has a pleasant floral pattern and is made of cotton, sustainably harvested beeswax, jojoba oil, and tree resin. The food wrap fabric and printing are certified by the Global Textile Standard. Once cut to the size you need, the reusable beeswax wraps last about six months when used several times each week, longer if used less.
The warmth of your hands will soften the wrap to make it malleable enough to form over a bowl, container, or piece of food. As the wrap cools, it creates a seal that keeps the food fresh. This is a great choice if you want to customize the size your beeswax food wraps.
Pros:
- Subtle floral design
- Large roll
- Cut to the size you need
Cons:
- Cotton is not organic
- Some people prefer the convenience of pre-cut sizes
3. Best Value: ENEY Premium Organic Beeswax Food Wrap
What’s better than a variety of beeswax wraps? Some extra, added-value items that make this a standout choice for anyone who likes getting a bit more for their money.
You won’t have any trouble getting them to stick to glass bowls. The package contains one extra-large wrap (22”x16”), two large wraps with a button (14”x13”), two medium (11”x10”) and two small (8″x7″) wraps that come adorned with cute dark blue and green-grey prints of leaves, butterflies and other nature-related images. All of them are made from GOTS organic cotton and hand-dipped in beeswax, jojoba oil and tree resin.
And there is more! You also receive an ENVY wax replenisher. With use, the wax on the wraps start to form little balls, but instead of using a new one, you can replenish those spots with the bars. It’s a great way to keep your wraps lasting longer.
Pros:
- Comes with a beeswax bar
- Made from sustainably sourced materials
Cons:
- Beeswax bar is small
- Some users said wraps were stiff
4. Best Large Capacity: Akeeko Reusable Food Wraps w/Beeswax
If you’re in a large family of foodies and want to start using beeswax wraps, then you are going to need a lot of them, especially if you send your kids off to school each day with a sandwich or two.
This 100 percent organic and GOTS-certified set from Akeeko consists of nine wraps. There are five small measuring 7” x 8”, three medium measuring 10” x 11” and one large measuring 13” x 14”, so there is enough to go around for a variety of needs. You can also choose from six different colored patterns such as Assorted Plants, Summer Leaves and Flowers and Birds.
We also like this option because even though there are more beeswax wraps in the package, it’s still priced similarly to other brands with fewer wraps. Like most wraps, it’s the warmth of your hands that will help mold them over a container or a piece of food. Wash in cool water with mild soap and air dry after each use.
Pros:
- Pack of nine
- Made with cold-pressed jojoba oil
- Six different designs
Cons:
- May contain too many wraps for some people
5. Best Budget Pick: Cultical Reusable Beeswax Wrap Kit
Maybe you’ve heard of beeswax wraps and you’re curious to see how and if they work, but you don’t want to start with a big investment. After all, what if it’s not your thing? We get it, and that’s why we’ve included this budget-priced pack of beeswax food wraps from Cultical.
Even though these wraps are low priced, it doesn’t mean they are low quality or made of inferior materials. Like many other higher-priced options, these are GOTS certified and made using sustainably sourced ingredients like Jojoba oil and tree resin.
There are six in the package: two small (7″ x 8″), two medium, (10″ x 11″) and two large (13″ x 14″), all with various fruits and patterns printed on them. They are also ideal for wrapping produce, cheese, bread, nuts, or used as a cover for bowls containers.
Pros:
- Economically priced
- GOTS-certified organic cotton
- Fun patterns
Cons:
- Some users said the wraps were too sticky
6. Best Gift Set: Less. Zero Waste Starter Kit
Sometimes it’s hard to find the perfect gift for an environmentally conscious friend or loved one. Everything needs to be eco-friendly, reusable and hopefully biodegradable, right? This zero waste beeswax starter kit is an ideal gift for that friend, or for yourself if you want to start using beeswax food wraps.
This set, created by two female architects, includes a bunch of bundled incense that includes juniper, Lavandula, sage, Rosemary and lavender; a net shopping bag; a medium sized lunch bag; and three beeswax wraps, all in an understated but elegant brown box.
Everything in the package is zero waste: at the end of its useful life, the bag and beeswax products can be used with firewood when burning a campfire or as great compost material. As well, the large capacity mesh bag can be used for grocery shopping for many years, instead of a plastic bag.
Pros:
- Makes a nice gift
- Comes with incense, a lunch bag, mesh grocery bag and three beeswax wraps
Cons:
- Pricey
- Not everyone may want the incense
7. Best for the DIYer: Jenny Joy’s DIY Beeswax Wrap Kit
For handy people, making things from scratch instead of buying them is a thing of pride – plus, it’s often less expensive and of better quality than store bought. At least you know where all the ingredients, parts and pieces came from. If beeswax food wraps interest you but you’re not keen on buying them ready-made, then consider this DIY beeswax wrap kit for you or you and your kids to do on a long rainy or snowy day
The zero waste kit comes with everything you need, including detailed instructions. You’ll also find five 10” x 10” fabric squares, a reusable button for a sandwich bag, five pieces of parchment paper, a brush and a stick. There are also six premixed beeswax bars that are a blend of sustainably sourced pine resin, organic jojoba oil and beeswax. Finally, the kit also includes Pinon Pine Salve that you will need to clean the wax from your fingers.
The kit is made in the USA and once finished, the beeswax wraps can last for up to a year.
Pros:
- Makes a great gift
- A great activity for kids
- Ideal for the DYIer
Cons:
- A bit pricey
- Younger kids should be supervised
8. Also Consider: Ekomind Sustainable Starter Kit Beeswax Wraps
Adapting a greener lifestyle takes time but you have to start somewhere. When it comes to trying out beeswax food wraps, you can try one, or you can purchase a few and use them to cover bowls and wrap food. However, if you’re interested in spreading those green wings wider, you may want to consider this starter kit that includes more than just the food wraps.
Of course, you do get three beeswax wraps – small, medium and large – all of which are made in China from 100 percent GOTS-certified organic cotton. These are perfect for keeping food fresh. Also included are three mesh bags that are ideal for fresh fruit and vegetables – take it to the farmers’ market to hold your freshly harvested organic produce. Then you can carry it all in the reusable tote bag that also comes with the kit.
This makes an ideal sustainable grocery shopping starter kit for the aspiring greenie in your family.
Pros:
- Includes mesh produce bags
- Include a reusable tote bag
- Makes a great gift
Cons:
- Some people may not want the extra bags
What to look for when choosing beeswax wraps:
Beeswax wrap is made by taking a natural fiber like cotton, covering it with beeswax, and a mix of oil like jojoba and tree resin. The food wraps usually come in different sized squares and are used to replace single-use plastic wrap to cover bowls and containers and wrap food like cheese, bread, fruits and vegetables to keep them fresh.
There’s a bit of a learning curve when it comes to using beeswax food wraps, but like most things, once you get the hang of it, it will seem like second nature. Basically, to use them, you manipulate them with your hands. The warmth of your body temperature softens the beeswax and makes it malleable enough to mold the sheet around a container, a piece of hard cheese or a sandwich.
Just like plastic wrap is not suitable for all applications – it’s not a good idea to warm food wrapped in plastic film in the microwave – the same can be said for beeswax wraps. The following are a few things to know about beeswax wraps.
How to clean them: The great thing about these food wraps is that they can be used over and over again. And because of that, they need to be cleaned after every use, even though beeswax is naturally antibacterial. However, due to the nature of beeswax, it has a low heating point and will melt at low temperatures. So, the wraps cannot be washed in warm or hot water. To clean them, you need to wash them well in cold, soapy water and then air dry them completely. Too much heat will make them very sticky and difficult to use.
How to use them: As mentioned, all it takes is the warmth of your hands to make the wraps pliable enough to create a good seal as the cover of a bowl or container, or to wrap a piece of fruit or vegetable. Some beeswax wraps are stickier than others, so it might take a bit of a trial and error to find the ones that are the best consistency for your needs. It’s important to know that you should not use these food wraps with meat or fish because you cannot use hot water clean and sanitize them properly. In fact, it’s best to keep these wraps away from all heat sources, since the beeswax will melt. For example, do not use them to cover something you want to heat up or cook in the microwave or oven and don’t wrap hot food or cover a bowl of soup with a beeswax food wrap.
Materials: Because you will use these wraps to mold to your food and create a seal, you’re going to want everything that has gone into making the beeswax wrap to be as healthy as possible. Make sure the cotton or linen and oil is 100 percent organic, and that the tree resin is sustainably sourced. That way you can have peace of mind that there are no toxic chemicals leaching into your food.
Cost: For the most part, beeswax food wraps are well-priced and affordable. Of course, the price will depend on how many come in a package. You can purchase a single one to try it out, or a packages of three, four or more. Another factor to consider aside from the retail price, is that these are reusable food wraps that will last between six months to a year with proper care, which makes them an economical choice over single-use plastic film regardless of the price.
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