Now that warmer weather is here, I hope you and your family are enjoying barbecues and picnics as much as my family is! And when you're done eating and putting away the leftovers, I hope the reusable food wrap in today's post will come in handy.
Plastic wrap and aluminum foil are both useful when it comes to keeping food fresh, but they both also create a lot of waste! Since I'm always on the lookout for new ways to cut down on the amount of trash we produce, when I came across the idea for a beeswax-based reusable food wrap, I knew I had to give it a try!
Related: 5 Food Storage Materials And When You Should Use Them
It's SO easy to make-about as easy as stopping by the store for a new roll of plastic wrap-and a real money-saver because you can use it over and over again. I even like the rustic, natural look of it-a few sheets wrapped up would make such a nice housewarming gift! Here's how to make it.
You'll need:
Directions:
Start by cutting your fabric into your desired dimensions. It might be a good idea to cut a few different sizes, to use on different sized containers!
Preheat your oven to 200°F. Place one of your fabric pieces onto a cookie sheet, then sprinkle the beeswax pellets over the muslin. (If you have a bar of beeswax, grate it with a cheese grater.) Place your cookie sheet in the oven until the wax melts, about 5 minutes or so.
Once the wax is melted, use your silicone basting brush to spread the beeswax around the fabric until it's evenly saturated. (If there are dry spots, sprinkle a few wax pellets on them, melt the wax in the oven, then brush again.) Then hang the fabric up somewhere until the wax has hardened, and it'll be ready to use!
You can use the food wrap to cover bowls and plates, wrap sandwiches or block of cheese, or even fold it into a container for snacks. Each wrap should last several months, and if it gets soiled, simply hand wash it in cold water (warm water will melt the wax) and allow it to air dry.
If the wrap starts to lose its grip over time, simply repeat the waxing process outlined above and it'll be good as new! Not only will you be saving money over time, you'll also be making a great choice for the environment!
Don't want to DIY? You can buy this multipack of beeswax wraps on Amazon for $15.
What's your preferred material for keeping food fresh?