We Tested Beeswax Wraps: Here Are the Clear Winners

How We Tested

We sent six beeswax wraps to our product tester, who used each to store and travel with sandwiches, fruits and vegetables, and loose snacks, such as pretzels, to determine which products are truly the best. Each beeswax wrap was rated on design, size, durability, and overall value. Our tester then offered additional insights on each beeswax wrap's strengths and weaknesses.

Other Options We Tested

• ENEY Premium Organic Beeswax Wraps: We liked the idea of this product because it comes with a wax bar to refresh worn beeswax wraps. Unfortunately, our tester found that it doesn't adhere well, wasn't suitable for travel, and started to show small signs of wear after its initial use and wash. When storing food items in the fridge, the longer the wrap was cold for, the less airtight it became. The food inside was OK, but our tester didn't trust the wrap to keep anything fresh for long.
• HoneyBee Kitchen Starter Wrap: While our tester thought this was the most aesthetically pleasing option of the bunch, she found that the material didn't seal very well. The thickness of these organic cotton wraps (infused with organic beeswax, organic coconut oil, jojoba oil, and natural tree gum products) makes it harder to get a true hold onto other objects, such as bowls. They adhere best to themselves. These were also the most difficult for our tester to clean, as it took more than one wash to get the few crumbs that were stuck on. Furthermore, they took the longest time to dry.
  

What to Look for in Beeswax Wraps

Size

Many beeswax wraps come in precut sheets in different sizes, and sets will often include a variety of them, ranging from small to extra large. Exact measurements vary, so make sure to check the dimensions of each before purchasing, to make sure they will properly fit the food you intend to store. Alternatively, you can get beeswax wrap in roll form, so instead of it arriving in precut sheets, it's just one continuous roll—similar to how plastic cling wrap and aluminum foil are packaged. This allows you to customize the shape and size of each sheet you need, to better fit the food and containers you wish to use it with.

Durability

Since beeswax wrap will likely replace your plastic cling wrap and aluminum—two kitchen essentials needed often—you'll want something that will stand the test of time and frequent use, so you don't have to replace them prematurely. In addition to the above insights, read customer reviews about how well certain products have held up over extended periods of time. Quality over quantity is definitely the better call when trying to decide whether a higher price point is worth it.

The general rule of thumb, according to Lisa Dekeling, creator of the blog Sustainable Living, is that you can use them again and again for up to one year before they need recoating with beeswax, "although I have had the same beeswax wraps—purchased and homemade—for over two years, and the majority are still working perfectly,” she says.

Material

“My preferred type is the wrap made with beeswax, pine rosin, and jojoba oil," Dekeling says. "This combination gives the beeswax wrap a slight tackiness, which allows you to use it like cling wrap. It's also waterproof. The other type of beeswax wrap only has a coating of beeswax, so although it is waterproof, it doesn't have the clingability. This means you will need to use an elastic or tie to keep it in place.”

Whichever type of you choose, when a beeswax wrap is no longer usable, it can be composted.

FAQs

How do you use beeswax wraps?

Use beeswax wraps as you would plastic cling wrap or aluminum foil—simply take a sheet and mold it around a food item or adhere it to a container in which food is stored. To help shape beeswax wrap and aid it in sticking to either itself or a container, Raising Eco Minimalists podcast host and Reduce, Reuse, Renew founder Laura Durenberger shares this trick: Put the wrap around a container or food, and let the heat of your hand mold it for a tighter fit.

Are beeswax wraps reusable?

“Beeswax wraps are reusable for up to a year if cared for properly," Durenberger says. "One common mistake that can shorten the lifespan of a wrap is improper cleaning. It’s important, when cleaning your beeswax wraps, to use cold, soapy water instead of hot. Hot water can soften the wax and remove important ingredients needed for the wrap to work properly. You’ll want to use a dishcloth or the soft side of a sponge versus something that ‘scrubs’ for the same reason. Let them air-dry for the best results.”

If your wraps start losing their stickiness, the good news is that you can refresh them. To do this, Durenberger says you’ll need beeswax pellets, preferably from a local beekeeper, or a block of beeswax that you can grate yourself. If you want to add even more stickiness, Durenberger suggests pine resin. Here are some basic instructions on how to bring your beeswax wraps back to life:

1. Set an oven to 150 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Lay parchment paper on a sheet pan.
3. Lay your wrap on the parchment paper.
4. Lightly sprinkle the beeswax and pine resin (if using) over the wrap.
5. Place the sheet pan into the oven for about five minutes.
6. After five minutes, check on your wrap. If the beeswax hasn’t melted, put in for another one to two minutes until fully melted. You may need to spread the new mixture around a little bit to ensure that it is evenly distributed.
7. Once your wrap is ready, take out the pan, and let the wrap fully cool before moving.

Are beeswax wraps airtight?

Beeswax wraps are cotton sheets of fabric coated in beeswax, oils, and resin, which makes them airtight (if the directions are properly followed on how to seal and clean).

How do you clean and store beeswax wraps?

“You clean beeswax wraps with cold to lukewarm water,” Sustainable Living's Dekeling says. “The most efficient way I've found to clean beeswax wraps is to flatten them out on a chopping board, and place under cold running water, gently wiping with a wet cloth. Then, repeat on the other side. After the beeswax wrap is clean, I hang it on a tea towel rack to dry. Once dry, it can be stored in a larger container with a lid to keep out the dust.”

Can beeswax wraps go in the freezer or microwave?

“I often use my beeswax wraps in the fridge and freezer,” says Master Gardener and Gather & Grow founder Brianne Dela Cruz. She also secures the wraps in the freezer with twine or a rubber band, because very cold temperatures can cause the wrap to separate from the object. That said, she warns that beeswax wraps should not be put into the microwave nor expected to endure overly hot temperatures, since that could melt the wax off of the wrap. With that in mind, it's always best to default to the manufacturer's instructions included with your product.

 Can you cut beeswax wraps?

Beeswax wraps can easily be cut to whatever size is needed, then used to cover, wrap, or transport a variety of ingredients or prepared food.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Rachel Werner is a pro foodie who regularly writes consumer reviews of sustainable products. Her water bottle, reusable paper towels, and organic snack bag obsessions are taking over her kitchen cupboards. Rachel has bylines in a variety of regional and national publications, such as Fabulous Wisconsin, BRAVA, Hobby Farms Magazine, and PopSugar. She is a teaching artist at The Loft Literary Center and Hugo House and personally tested six products for this roundup.

Sources

• Lisa Dekeling, creator of the blog Sustainable Living
• Laura Durenberger, Raising Eco Minimalists podcast host and Reduce, Reuse, Renew founder
• Emily Waddell, founder of The Honest Consumer and Give a Damn Goods
• Brianne Dela Cruz, Master Gardener and Gather & Grow founder