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I found Bee's Wrap especially useful for storing cut produce.
Bee's Wrap
I eat a lot of fruit and vegetables, so needless to say, I'm constantly trying to figure out the best food storage solutions, especially how to keep produce fresh. From glass and plastic containers to aluminum foil and Saran wrap, I thought I had tried just about everything until I heard about Bee's Wrap.
I initially hesitated because of the cost: $18 for what are essentially three sheets of beeswax. But, knowing that it's an environmentally friendly and sustainable option, I finally decided to give it a try. Here's why I love it.
What is Bee's Wrap? Using heat from your hands, you can mold Bee's Wrap to fit over a wide range of bowls and food containers.
Bee's Wrap
Think of it as a food wrapper that you can wash, reuse for up to a year, and eventually recycle. When the wraps loses their sticking power, you can easily dispose of the compostable and biodegradable material. Bee's Wrap is made from sustainably sourced beeswax, jojoba oil, tree resin, and organic cotton. Plus, Bee's Wrap's biodegradable packaging is made from 100% recycled paper.
The Global Organic Textile Standard has certified the company's fabric and printing process, and Bee's Wrap is a Green America-certified corporation, as well as a B Corporation.
How Bee's Wrap works
The wraps seal with the warmth of your hands as you press and wrap them around your food. It takes a few tries to get a feel for how much pressure to use and how many seconds to press down.
I opted for a variety pack with three sheet sizes. I used my small pieces (7" x 8") to wrap half an avocado, half an onion, and half a lime. The medium pieces (10" x 11") were just the right size to wrap bigger vegetables like cucumbers and bell peppers. I didn't have much use for the large pieces (13" x 14"), so I cut them down to store produce like Serrano peppers and apples.
I was surprised at how well my avocado kept in the wrap after a few days; while it turned light brown, it didn't go bad. I stored the lime and onion in Bee's Wrap for about a week and though the lime was slightly dried out, it still had a significant amount of juice. The onion was in great condition, and the rest of my produce remained crisp days later.
Note that the company doesn't recommend using the wraps for raw meat.
Bee's Wrap compared to other storage containersI use glass containers for meal prep and Bee's Wrap for storing cut produce that I want to use later.
Bee's Wrap
I do think Bee's Wrap keeps food fresher than plastic wrap or aluminum foil. I definitely noticed that my peppers lasted longer and were crisper when I stored them in Bee's Wrap, and my avocado retained color and freshness.
However, I don't think Bee's Wrap seals in freshness as well as glass containers. When I stored homemade fresh salsa in a bowl covered with Bee's Wrap, it dried out faster than it did when I kept it in a tightly sealed glass container.
Cleaning Bee's Wrap
Cleaning Bee's Wrap is easy — I use a tiny bit of soap and wipe each sheet with a sponge before running it under cold water (hot water will melt the wax). While the company sells a special drying rack, I find that my dish rack works just fine. You may run into some issues with staining; a red onion left little purple marks on one of my sheets, but it eventually disappeared after a few cleanings.
Cons to consider
When you first open a box of Bee's Wrap, the smell is very strong. I'm sensitive to scents, so this did bother me; it took a week or two for me not to notice the smell every time I walked into my kitchen. Even after a month or so of using and washing the wraps, you can still smell the wax — it's just fainter. Thankfully, the smell doesn't seem to rub off on food.
Additionally, Bee's Wrap sheets do get softer over time, and I have to admit I'm skeptical that mine will last for an entire year.
The bottom line
We love how well Bee's Wrap keeps produce fresh without the need for single-use plastics.
Bee's Wrap
I have been using Bee's Wrap for a few months, and my sheets still seal tightly. I almost never use plastic wrap or foil anymore, but I don't think I'll be tossing my glass containers just yet. Bee's Wrap is great for storing individual items, though it isn't the best choice for large batches of leftovers.
