How many times can a beeswax food wrap be reused?

A recent survey estimates the annual proportion of French plastic that ends up in the Mediterranean at 11,200 tonnes. This waste includes single-use food packaging. Beyond their environmental impact, these accessories present risks to the health of users. As an alternative, many resort to bee wrap, a natural and reusable food packaging. Are you wondering if the beeswax food wrap is a good long-term investment? Here's everything you need to know about its lifespan.

What are the characteristics of the beeswax food wrap?

The bee wrap is a natural fabric infused with beeswax used to package and preserve food or containers. It is therefore practical for protecting fruits, vegetables, cookies, cakes, breads, sandwiches, etc. Unlike disposable plastic stretch film or cellophane paper, it is washable and reusable. Therefore, it represents an ecological parade to classic food packaging including aluminum foil and freezer bag. Usually found in its formulation organic cotton, beeswax, vegetable resin and jojoba oil.

Apart from its reusable property, this natural packaging has several characteristics that make it a essential in a plastic free kitchen:

• Beeswax fabric does not transfer tastes or odors unlike plastic cling film
• Its natural composition is free from endocrine disruptors and harmful substances that are usually found in conventional packaging such as aluminum foil
• It is thermoformable, its malleable fabric adapts to any type of food or container (salad bowls, glass jars, etc.)
• It keeps food both at room temperature and in the freezer or refrigerator
• The fabric coated with beeswax is biodegradable, recyclable and compostable at the end of its life
• The natural food packageis hostile to the proliferation of bacteria.
• It perfectly wraps leftover food to avoid waste in the kitchen
• Breathable fabric helps keep food moist while preventing mold

In addition, the beeswax packaging is easy to make at home from the fabric scraps.

How many times can a beeswax food wrap be reused?

As a rule of thumb, the beeswax wrap can be used a hundred times depending on the frequency of use. It is therefore possible to use this accessory for 1 year. Be aware, however, that this is only possible when properly maintained.

How to take care of it ?

The cleaning of a beeswax wrap requires only a soft sponge and a little dish soap. After use, be sure to proceed as follows:

• Run the bee wrap under cold water
• Clean the fabric with your soft sponge or rub it gently with your hands. Use strong dish soap if necessary
• Hang up your organic food packaging to dry it if you don't wipe it with a clean cloth
• Fold the beeswax wrap before storing it in a dry place away from dust. You can store it in its original box

To increase the viability of your packaging solution, avoid rubbing it with the scratching side of your sponge. Also, take care and wash it by hand. It does not go in the dishwasher.

How to give a second life to the beeswax wrap?

The thermoformable property of reusable packaging can change with use. In addition, the wax may become a bit thinner in some areas of the fabric. However, this is not a reason to throw away your reusable food packaging, you can renew its active ingredients.

If your food packaging becomes less efficient, get someecological beeswax drops and a foil of silicone baking sheet. After that, the procedure to follow is very simple:

• Place the silicone sheet on a baking drawer
• Then lay out the bee wrap flat on the baking sheet. You must have the wax coated part towards you
• Spread the beeswax drops on the altered packaging
• Place in the oven at 80 ° C for 5 minutes then turn off the oven
• Let the wrapper cool completely before taking it out

Your reusable food wrap will thus regain its new appearance and its original properties. This approach extends its lifespan, making the accessory useful for more than a year. by doing so, it can be used up to 500 times.

What are the precautions for using the bee wrap?

Beyond the regular maintenance of the beeswax food wrap, be sure to follow certain instructions to protect it from the effects of time.

Although it packs various kinds of food, or fish. Your health could be at stake if you do so. The ideal trick is to put the meat in a glass jar before covering it with the wrap without touching the meat.

Also, be careful not to microwave the beeswax wrap or to wash it in hot water. These actions will melt the wax off and damage the packaging. Also, the reusable food wrap can only be washed by hand, so, as said, avoid putting it in the dishwasher.

All in all, the beeswax food wrap is a real sustainable solution to conventional single-use food packaging. Note that to take advantage of its viability, it is essential to observe the recommendations relating to its maintenance. Finally, choose an all-natural composition packaging to make it useful for as long as possible.