Beeswax wraps

As you move away from cling wrap, there are a few alternatives.

One option is beeswax wraps, they are now sufficiently popular that you can buy in many stores, particularly those with an eco-conscious focus.

The other option is to make your own. I thought I would give it a go, as happened to have some beeswax I had bought from a local community garden. Here is a simple method that I have tried with reasonable success, stolen from the Waste Not book.

Items needed:

• piece of cotton (30cm x 30cm)
• 2 sheets of baking paper
• 2 tea towels
• 1/2 cup grated beeswax
• plus an iron and ironing board

Steps:

1. Lay down a tea towel on the ironing board and place sheet of baking paper on top.

2. Place the cotton in the middle of the baking paper,

3. Sprinkle grated beeswax evenly over the cotton.

4. Cover with second piece of baking paper, then cover with second tea towel.

5. Run a hot iron over the top until the wax has melted (around 5 minutes).

6. Peel back the top tea towel and baking paper layer.

7. Slowly peel the beeswax-covered cotton off the bottom piece of baking paper.

8. Drape the beeswax wrap over a drying rack. Let cool for 5 minutes.

Here is my finished product below. I will post some photos later of the product in actual use!

Your beeswax wrap is now ready to use and can be placed over bowls and wrapped around food to keep the food protected and sealed.

Over time the wax will start to reduce and you can then either repeat the above process to get extra life out of the wrap or when the beeswax wrap comes to the end of its life, put it in your compost.

Do not use beeswax wraps to store meat as they hang onto bacteria and do not use in the microwave or oven, as the beeswax will melt!