There are plenty of reasons to move away from using plastic, especially when it comes to food. However, plastic wrap is undeniably convenient for covering leftovers. Luckily, reusable food wraps made from fabric and beeswax offer a fantastic and safe alternative.
Typically, people rely on plastic wrap, aluminum foil, and plastic containers for storing food, but these aren’t the best options available. Plastics can contain harmful chemicals like BPA, and even BPA-free plastics are often made with BPS, which some experts suggest might be even worse. Aluminum foil also poses potential risks as its connection to health issues like Alzheimer’s and cancer, although not conclusively proven, is enough to make me cautious.
There are various ways to make these reusable wraps, but I found this particular method to be the best. Some recipes include pine rosin (or resin), while others stick to beeswax and oil. When I tried a version with very little pine rosin, it wasn’t sticky at all, which defeats the purpose of a cling wrap alternative.
Luckily, if DIY isn’t your thing, there are many ready-made wraps available for purchase. But if you’re into crafting, here’s how to make your own: It’s a fairly straightforward project, though you might need to troubleshoot based on factors like the fabric type or your local humidity. If the wraps turn out too sticky after drying, a few simple adjustments can help.
With proper care, beeswax food wraps can last a long time. You can refresh them every 6 to 12 months by reapplying a coat of the beeswax mixture. Made with food-safe ingredients, the jojoba oil in the wraps offers natural antibacterial and antifungal benefits. Still, it’s crucial to keep them clean.
While beeswax wraps work great for leftovers, avoid using them with certain foods. Items needing an airtight seal or messy foods like raw meat are better suited for lidded glass dishes. These are some storage methods I use in my own kitchen.
How do you like to store your leftovers? Are you a fan of reusable food wraps?
