Re-waxing the beeswax bread bag: where it stands now

The bread bag rarely wears out. It runs out of wax. But the method we recommended ourselves for applying fresh wax did not hold up when we tested it, so it has been taken down for now.

Why we took the method down

We tried it ourselves, on an ordinary bag. The wax set as a white, flaky shell on top of the fabric instead of soaking into the fibres, and the shell cracked straight off again. That was not good enough to keep on our site.

The explanation lies in the coating itself. The fabric in the bag is not covered in beeswax alone, but in beeswax together with jojoba oil. The oil keeps the layer soft and flexible. Pure beeswax on its own sets brittle, and a brittle layer flakes off as soon as the bag is folded. We are testing the right blend before we write a new method.

We could have left the old text up. We took it down instead, because nobody should ruin a good bag on our advice.

Four signs the bag needs fresh wax

The coating wears away gradually, most of all where the bag is folded. Look for these four:

• The fabric looks dull and dry, especially along the fold lines and around the opening.
• Water soaks in instead of beading. Sprinkle a few drops on the fabric. If they bead, the wax is still fresh. If they soak in, it is used up.
• The scent of honey is gone. Fresh beeswax smells faintly sweet. Dried out wax smells of nothing.
• The bread dries out faster. The crust turns hard after a couple of days.

One sign on its own can simply follow a thorough wash. Two or more mean the coating has worn thin. How the coating works is explained in the guide on what a beeswax bread bag is.

What to do in the meantime

• Keep using the bag. A thinner coating does not make it useless. Bread keeps for a shorter time than before, but the bag still works.
• Wash it less often, and always cold. Every wash takes a little wax with it. Shake out the crumbs, wipe the inside with a cloth dampened in cold water, and wash only when it is needed. See the washing guide for the bread bag.
• Keep the bag away from heat. A dishwasher, a tumble dryer, hot water and direct sunlight strip the wax faster than ordinary use does.
• Hold off on applying wax. We recommend neither an iron, nor the oven, nor brushing on pure beeswax until we have a method we stand behind.

The bag is reusable for 12+ months, and the 365 day guarantee applies either way.

Beeswax wraps are still renewed in the oven

This concerns the bag, not the sheets. Beeswax wraps are a single thin layer of fabric with no seams, and they are renewed in the oven on low heat, 80 to 90 degrees between sheets of baking paper. That method is unchanged. The procedure is in the guide on renewing beeswax wraps in the oven, and the daily care in caring for beeswax wraps.

Common questions