What Is Reusable Food Wrap?

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Whether you’re starting your journey to a more eco-friendly lifestyle or simply looking for an easy way to reduce waste and save money, you might be thinking about getting reusable food wrap to safely store your food without using plastic.

However, you might be also be wondering, “What is reusable food wrap, and can I use it replace plastic food wrap?” If so, keep reading to learn everything you need to know about beeswax food wrap.

How Is Reusable Food Wrap Made?

Although different companies use different ingredients, most reusable beeswax food wraps are made using cotton fabric, beeswax, pine resin, and jojoba oil. Beeswax and jojoba oil have natural antibacterial properties that help keep food fresh.

The pine resin and beeswax give the food wrap the stickiness it needs to wrap around food and bowls. Since the food wrap is often made with beeswax, some people will also call it beeswax food wrap.

However, if you’re vegan, don’t worry! You can still enjoy all of the excellent benefits of reusable food wrap when you get these Etee vegan food wraps.

If you’re interested in buying some beeswax food wraps, here are several excellent options I recommend. You can also take a look at this list of the best beeswax wraps. I’ve used all of these in my kitchen, so I can vouch for their quality and durability:

All of these sets come with three different sizes, so you’ll always have the size you need. Even better, they all come from some of the best zero waste online shops, which means you know you’re making a truly sustainable choice that’s better for the environment.

If you like to DIY, you can even make your own homemade beeswax food wrap.

How to Use Reusable Food Wrap

Most beeswax food wrap comes in different sizes. For example, the options I mentioned above come in small, medium, and large. You can also get an extra-large beeswax food wrap that makes a great bread wrap.

To use your food wrap, simply mold it around the rim of a bowl or the piece of leftover food. Hold your hands over the food wrap so your body heat can soften the wrap and make it stick. As the wrap cools, it creates a seal around your food to help it stay fresh.

Your food wrap can go in the refrigerator and is freezer-safe for up to a month. However, you shouldn’t place it in the microwave or oven, because this will cause the wax to melt. You should also let warm food cool down before wrapping it in reusable food wrap.

While you can use your food wrap on cheese, nuts, vegetables, fruits, and bread, it’s not recommended for raw meats. Some citrus foods, like lemons, oranges, and pineapples, can also cause the wax to wear down faster.

Advantages of Beeswax Food Wrap

The main advantage of using beeswax food wrap is that it helps you reduce your plastic use. They’re great for covering your leftovers or helping you pack a waste-free lunch.

Plus, since you can use them again and again, you’ll never have to buy plastic food wrap, which helps you save money.

Unlike plastic food wrap, beeswax food wrap lets air circulate around the food. This combined with the natural preservative properties of beeswax, pine resin, and jojoba oil helps food last longer, which can reduce food waste.

How to Clean Reusable Food Wrap

Since these food wraps are made from beeswax, using hot water or placing them in the dishwasher to clean them might melt the wax. Therefore, you want to use cool water, a sponge, and a small amount of biodegradable soap (alcohol-based soaps can wear down the beeswax faster) to clean your reusable food wrap.

Then simply use a towel to blot them dry or hang them up to dry. You can store your food wraps in a drawer or place them in a basket and leave them on the counter.

If you’re looking for even more tips on how to make your wraps last longer, be sure to check out our post on how to care for reusable beeswax wraps.

How Long Does the Food Wrap Last?

With proper care, natural food wrap will last up to a year. If your food wrap has worn thin or doesn’t stick to itself as well as it once did, you know it has reached the end of its useful life. At that point, you can either compost your food wrap or use it as a natural fire starter.

Can Reusable Food Wrap Really Replace Plastic Wrap?

Now we get to the question everyone always wonders. Can beeswax food wrap really replace plastic wrap? The answer is: absolutely!

In our home, we use beeswax food wraps, and I have never had to buy plastic wrap since we made the switch. It’s great for wrapping up leftovers, pieces of fruit and vegetables, snacks, and more.

If you’re looking for an easy way to reduce plastic use in the kitchen and save money at the same time, you’ll love reusable food wrap.

More Eco-Friendly Tips

Now that you’ve learned everything you wanted to know about reusable beeswax food wrap, are you ready for more tips on how to live a more eco-friendly life? Then make sure you check out some of our other popular posts: