Everything You Need To Know About Beeswax And Vegan Food Wraps

Reusable vegan and beeswax wraps are the perfect alternative to cling film and tin foil. Although single use products have become popular for storing leftover food or packaging sandwiches, they're bad news for the planet. Notoriously difficult to recycle, pieces of plastic or metal end up in landfill or the ocean. We look at just how great reusable food wraps are and discover some creative ways to use them. 

What Are Reusable Wax Wraps? 

Reusable beeswax or vegan food wraps are natural and sustainable alternatives to keep food fresh and replace single use food wrap such as clingfilm. Both are washable and totally food safe. 

Beeswax wraps are made from material which is covered in beeswax, tree resin and jojoba oil where as vegan wraps replace the beeswax with substances such as candelilla wax. These ingredients create a sticky, formable material that can be shaped to cover almost any food. 

Benefits Of Using Wax Wraps

1. Prevents food Waste
   There's nothing worse than going to use leftover food only to find it spoiled. The horror of going to get that half an avocado only to find it brown and mushy or finding the perfect recipe for those gorgeous leftover veggies and discovering they've grown mould.  Unlike plastic food bags and wraps, vegan food wraps are breathable, so they prevent mould growth. Moreover, beeswax wraps have anti-microbial properties that prevent food spoilage. 
2. Cuts down single use plastic
   Although handy, easy to get hold of and relatively cheap, single use food wraps are rarely recycled, mostly because they can clog up the machinery, therefore making it difficult to recycle other plastics. 
3. Saves money
   Although a roll of clingfilm or a pack of food bags seems cheap at the time, using wax food wraps can actually prove more cost effective in the long term thanks to their durability and ability to be used time and time again. 
4. They're versatile
   Due to their flexibility the can moulded into almost any shape. They come in a variety of sizes or even on a roll so that you can cut the size you need exactly. You can use them to wrap around food, cover bowls or even in some very inventive ways. More on this soon. 

How to use and care for reusable wax wraps

Use - Warm them in your hands. 
When you pick up the wrap you want to use you'll want to warm it up a little in your hands, a few seconds usually does it. These makes them much more flexible so that you can mould it around the shape you have. 
If you're covering raw meat or fish you might want to put it in a bowl or container first then cover the top with the wrap. 

Wash - You should wash your reusable wraps in fairly cool water with some dish soap and gently using your hands or a very soft cloth, wash them thoroughly. Never use an abrasive sponge or brush and don't put them in a dishwasher. Leave them to air dry then pop them in a box or soft bag to store until next time. 

Prolong - Food wraps should be kept away from high temperatures or anything that may scratch them. If you notice the wrap becoming less effective or areas where the wax has come away you can refresh them at home using rewax refresher drops. Just like in this video. 

Ways To Use Reusable Food Wraps

Make a pouch - fold them into a pocket to store small snacks. Instead of using a plastic bag, use a food wrap as a pouch to store crisps, seeds, nuts, dried fruits etc

Store soap bars - food wraps are also a great way to store your soap and shampoo bar, especially when travelling. Save space in your luggage and protect your clothes from spills. 

Wrap gifts - Most wrapping paper isn't recyclable and most people won't compost it either. By using a wax wrap as gift wrapping not only are you saving paper usage but you're also giving them two gifts in one.