Congratulations, you bought the new place! You made it through the ordeal of purchasing a house and survived the moving hell! But now it is time to learn how to live in it. Wrapping things in plastic is something that any homeowner does but plastic wraps are a real headache. You can never make them cut in a proper line and you can never find the box in which they are kept – in the far end of the junk drawer. Beeswax wraps are what you kitchen needs and they look better in your kitchen too.

First of all, you need to understand what you are buying. Normally it is a cotton fabric coated with beeswax, jojoba oil, and tree resin. It sounds like a quite expensive spa treatment doesn’t it? But you can order them on Amazon or even get several sets from Trader Joe’s. It would be a waste of money to go with the most expensive options as it is better to have different sizes. Think about it – how would you cover a watermelon and half an avocado? Don’t go for the cheapest ones as their thin layer of wax will flake away as fast as cheap paint on the walls of your rented apartment.

Once you realize what it is and how to use it, it will be easy as pie. You simply need to use the heat of your hands to soften the wrap and then seal it around the bowl. The wrap retains its shape when cooled down and provides a nice air seal. I use it to wrap my cheese, bread and even vegetables without problems at all. Of course, it is not appropriate for wrapping raw meat but that’s what everyone realizes on their own. It’s one of those rookie mistakes that may lead to food poisoning.

And this is why most people stop using beeswax wraps. They wash them in the dishwasher or in hot water and all the wax is washed away. Actually, it is enough to wash it in cold water and rinse it with a mild soap. Then you leave it to dry in the dish rack. It may seem unusual at first but soon you will get used to such a delicate way of washing your dishes. Eventually, of course, they will wear off but there is a refresh bar to recoat them. It sounds ridiculous but somehow this makes you feel like a homesteader.

There are some environmental benefits of using them but financial one was the selling point for me. No need to buy those rolls of plastic. Besides, your leftovers will look like Pinterest board and not a sad ball in plastic. Your neighbors may criticize your lawn but not your cheese storage. It is a small thing but it makes your kitchen look more adult and less wasteful.