How to Make Reusable Beeswax Food Wraps (Cotton + Beeswax, Iron Method)

Coat thin cotton squares with melted beeswax (optional pine resin and oil), iron to heat-set, then use on cooled food and bowls. Clean with cold water and mild soap.

What You'll Need

  • 100% thin cotton fabric (quilting cotton or muslin)
  • Beeswax pellets or shaved block
  • Optional: powdered pine resin
  • Optional: jojoba or food-safe mineral oil
  • Parchment paper
  • Iron (cotton or linen setting)
  • Dedicated cheap brush (for wax only)
  • Scissors
  • Double boiler or heat-safe can plus pot of water

Use 100% thin cotton such as quilting cotton or muslin. Skip the resin for a softer wrap you hold with a rubber band.

You coat thin cotton with melted beeswax, then iron it so the wax soaks through evenly. Cut squares to the bowl and dish sizes you use. The finished wraps cover cooled food and bowls.

1

Prep the fabric

Wash and dry 100% thin cotton. Cut squares to the dish sizes you use, for example 6, 8, 10, or 12 inches. Cover a board or sheet pan with parchment.

2

Melt the coating

Melt beeswax in a double boiler, or set a heat-safe can in a pot of water. For stickier wraps, add powdered pine resin and a little food-safe mineral or jojoba oil at about 4:1:0.5 beeswax to resin to oil by weight. Leave the resin out for a softer wrap you close with a rubber band. Never leave the heat unattended. Wax and resin are flammable.

3

Coat the fabric

Lay one fabric square on the parchment. Brush the melted mix until the fabric looks saturated. The wax may firm as it cools; that is fine.

4

Heat-set with the iron

Stack a second clean square on top to soak excess wax. Cover with parchment. Iron on a cotton or linen setting until the wax remelts evenly into both layers. Peel the wraps apart while they are still warm. Hang them to cool for about 10 minutes.

5

Use and care

Use the wraps on cooled food and bowls only. Do not use them on raw meat, hot food, or in the microwave. Clean with cold water and mild soap. When a wrap loses grip, iron on more wax mix to refresh it.

Keep one brush for wax work only. Wait until wraps are fully cool before you fold and store them.