How To Use Beeswax Wraps
How often do you find yourself reaching for plastic wrap when you are putting away your food? Maybe you reach for it after enjoying a great meal with family and friends? Or maybe you reach for it when you are packing food to take with you to work, to school, or while you are going on a fun adventure?
While we know that these sources of plastic waste are not the best for the environment, sometimes convenience can win out in our minds. Sometimes you just want to use a product that will keep your food away from the air so it will stay fresh longer. If you are looking for new ways to be more eco-friendly, finding ways to ditch the plastic wrap is important but can feel challenging.
But did you know Beeswax wraps are a great eco-friendly alternative to traditional plastic food storage products. Beeswax wraps are made from a combination of cotton and sustainably harvested beeswax. Unlike single use plastic wraps these wraps can be used over 100 times and once they are worn out they can even be composted.
If you are considering using beeswax wraps your first questions might be how do you use them properly? Do they really work like plastic wrap or are they more like wrapping something in a towel? With these wraps keep your food safely away from the air so your food can last as long as possible? Let's look at how easy it is to use beeswax wraps step by step.
Prep:
The first step to using beeswax wraps is really easy, determine what food you want to cover. Almost any food can be covered though it is not recommended to use these wraps on raw meat or seafood. Next grab a beeswax wrap, which can be stored almost anywhere in your kitchen. When grabbing a wrap make sure you grab one that is large enough for your purposes. In general it is better to go for a wrap that is slightly bigger than the food you want to cover. As we can see the process for preparing to use beeswax wraps really is no different than the process used for using less eco-friendly options such as plastic wrap.
Use:
Once you have your wraps and the food you want to wrap, use the warmth of your hands to wrap the beeswax wrap around your food. You only have to keep your hand on the edge you want to seal for a moment, when the wrap cools it will hold its seal keeping air out and freshness in.
You might use these wraps to cover bowls filled with yummy leftovers. You can also choose to wrap up individual food items to take with you, in the same way you might have grabbed a plastic sandwich bag before. By folding the sides and twisting you can create your own easy to carry bag. If you are planning on going out to enjoy your day consider wrapping up a sandwich, a homemade charcuterie plate filled with cheese, vegetables, and bread with herbed butter, some fruit and fresh herbs, or even some homemade granola or nuts as a snack. There is something about using a beeswax wrap that just makes your food feel fancier, like something you would pick up from a fancy sandwich shop or a really good cheese shop.
One important note when using beeswax wraps remember to avoid all sources of heat, including warm water, microwaves, ovens, hot cars, and covering bowls of not-quite-cooled leftovers because such heat can unsurprisingly melt the beeswax on the surface of the wrap and turn your wrap into a bit of a mess or coat your food in beeswax which does not taste good.
Clean Up
The beeswax wraps can be used over 100 times and are easily cleaned with cool water. Wipe them down and let them air dry draped over your drying rack. You can expect to get about 6 months of use out of the beeswax food wraps. When your wrap has worn thin and soft and has trouble sticking to itself it is time to repurpose them. You can cut your wrap into strips and add to your compost pile, or use it as a natural and effective fire starter. Either way the wrap will be completely degraded within a short period of time. Considering how easy they are to use anyone can switch to beeswax wraps and save themselves money while protecting the planet against unnecessary single use plastic. Seek Bamboo offers a package of S,M,L of beeswax wraps to help simplify life in a few shapes and sizes. Say good bye to plastic wrap, and hello to a sustainable, reusable, and affordable alternative.
