We know you love tutorials . Today we're bringing you a special back-to-school tutorial (although you can do it any time of year). Would you like to learn how to make your own wax wraps ? It's super easy and a great reusable and sustainable resource that will help you transport your lunches and snacks without generating waste.
WHY YOU SHOULD MAKE WAX WRAPS
Wax wraps are a great alternative to disposable plastic wrap and aluminum foil . Wax wraps are reusable , so you save the planet a lot of waste .
You can buy them ready-made , but if you make them at home, you can use fabric you already have , further reducing your waste. Plus, it'll be cheaper .
It's a very fun activity for this back-to-school season. If you have little ones over 5 or 6 years old, you can do it with them , always being careful not to get burned. The little ones will be entertained during these last few days before returning to their routine. It's a way for them to get involved in preparing their materials and, in addition, they'll learn how to make their own eco-friendly packaging . We can take the opportunity to explain to them the importance of using reusable options as a way of committing to caring for the planet.
MATERIALS
- Cotton fabric
It has to be very thin , like a shirt fabric. Jersey knit fabric isn't suitable. Make sure it's 100% cotton . It shouldn't contain polyester.
You can also use soy or candelilla wax (it may be harder to find). However, wraps made with vegetable waxes are less durable. The beeswax nuggets we stock at Alma Eko come from respectfully treated hives.
- Baking paper
STEP BY STEP
STEP 1
Preheat the oven to 150º
STEP 2
Cut the fabric to the size that suits you. We recommend cutting it so you have wrappers of different sizes. This will give you a more versatile solution.
STEP 3
Place the fabric on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Sprinkle some sprinkles over the fabric. It's not necessary to cover it completely. The sprinkles will melt and soak it completely.
STEP 4
Place the tray in the oven and watch. In about two minutes, the nuggets will be melted, and you can remove the tray. Being careful not to burn yourself, separate the cloth from the paper and allow the excess wax to drip onto the paper. The cloth will be covered in a layer of wax that makes it waterproof.
Repeat these steps with all the fabric scraps you have. You'll need more seeds for the first wrap, but for subsequent wraps, you'll use any excess wax that falls onto the parchment paper and need less.
HOW TO USE AND CARE FOR
You see, wax wraps are very easy to make and only take a few minutes . They're also easy to use and care for.
The use is very similar to that of aluminum foil. Wax wraps adapt to the size or shape of the containers they are intended to cover. Simply apply heat with your hands and they will take the desired shape .
Since they're reusable, they need to be washed between uses. A little more care is required here. They should be washed with cold water and soap . You can do it with warm water, but then the wax will come off and they'll last less time. We recommend using a scouring pad or soft brush to avoid removing the wax when you scrub.
You can use them to transport your food outside the home or protect what you need inside the refrigerator . They'll also work for storing food in the freezer , but sudden changes in temperature can also shorten their shelf life.
However, this isn't as much of a problem, as you can actually repair your wrappers by doing the same thing . With good care, they last for a year. Then you repair them, and then for another year . And so on, until you see that the fabric can't stand up to any more oven burns. We don't know when that might happen because for now, we continue to repair the ones we have without any problem. They could last forever!
If the bundles are made of organic cotton fabric, once its useful life is over, you can compost the fabric .
We recommend that you do not wrap raw meat and fish . Avoiding washing the wrappers in hot water can lead to the growth of bacteria .
Are you up for making these wax wraps? You'll see how easy it is to make and how sustainable it is.
