Why You Should Start Using Beeswax Wraps for Your Food

If you pack your own lunch every day (maybe your kids' too), it might feel like you're always adding cling wrap to your grocery list and throwing used plastic baggies in the trash. Disposable packaging definitely offers convenience, but it's not the most environmentally friendly option. Enter beeswax wraps: The pliable covers fold up around foods and cover bowls of leftovers. Rinse clean with cold water and mild soap (hot H2O would melt the wax!) and you can reuse them time and time again.

These buzzy (pardon the pun) storage solutions sell for about $18 for a pack of three on Amazon, but if you're feeling crafty, they're super easy to DIY. Either way, you'll easily recoup the cost by buying less sandwich bags and plastic wrap. If you use three plastic bags per day and a box of 150 costs about $10, you're already spending more than $70 per year on something most people just throw away after one use.

FYI: Beeswax wraps aren't air-tight and won't keep highly perishable items (like raw meat) fresh. Betty Gold, Senior Editor & Product Analyst in the Good Housekeeping Institute, recommends using them to cover foods you'll eat within a couple of hours or the next day, like a sandwich, bowl of pasta, or piece of fruit. For longer-lasting leftovers or smellier items like cheese, you're probably better off sealing them up in reusable glass or plastic containers. With that in mind, here's how you can make your own beeswax wraps with just a few supplies and an oven.