Purchased 3 different brands for a comparison review
"I purchased these (Honeybee Beeswax Wraps), Bee's Wrap Wraps, and PataBee Beeswax Wraps. Of the three, these had the strongest odor, the Bee's Wraps had the gentlest/sweetest smell, and the PataBee smelled almost exactly like these but slightly less strong.
How I tested....
I compared each version on overall appearance, malleability, durability thus far, and then tested each on a) a plastic canister of sunflower seeds, a small glass of water, a glazed cereal bowl, a metal mixing bowl, and a cut open/started loaf of Freshpet dog food (I do not endorse freshpet but my dog is sick and in one of his finicky moods). I also compared seal, cleaning/instructions, and how they did between fridge and ambient temperatures.
By feel, these were the stickiest. The patterns are a bit busy but not too unattractive though I prefer simple solid earth tones personally. Since they were the stickiest, the provided the best seal but took the same amount of effort to get to stick to the surface and itself and warm up. They performed best on spill tests- no water came out on the flip/shake or when glass was right side up (all the other wraps didn't leak upside but when glass was inverted back upright all the water that had been leaking into the folds dripped out.
This pack came with 3 sizes and they are a good mix and ideal for many uses. Of all 3 brands, these scored 2nd place in coating durability- the PataBee ones had damage from the crisp corners made during the folding process, these only had slight wear/opacity at the folded corners but the layers appeared intact.
These worked on all the different surfaces equally well, and performed best on sweating/cold/damp/wet surfaces. They wash and dry fine.
The packaging says, 100% organic cotton, instruct to initially wash with a mild detergent with a gentle sponging and rinsing in cold water. They recommend not using for raw meat (which means the surfaces are porous and not easily sterilized), and with proper care they feel they will last up to one year. Like all of these, avoid heat. The 3 pack I got comes with a large (14x14 in), medium (11x10 in), and small (8x8in). My biggest beef with this brand is it leaves a very sticky obvious residue on everything that has to be really scrubbed off! (see picture!)
The Bee's Wrap brand is made in Vermont. Instructions were similar- wash in COOL water with dish soap, hang to dry, fold and store. Reuse for about a year and not recommended using for meat. Avoid heat and don't cut on them. The color/pattern was pleasant- an off white with a honey comb print. The Large is 13x14 in, medium is 10x11in, small is 7 x8 in. The smell is the only gentle/pleasant one of the brands I tried. It gets an A+ for malleability and shows no wear at folds/corners. It wasn't as sticky on wet/sweating glass as the Honeybee Wrap brand. It leaked the same as the PataBee brand with the water glass test. It didn't leave a visible residue like the Honeybee Wrap did. I'd rate it a B for functionality.
The PataBee is made in Switzerland and is deemed organic. Instructions are similar but more specific. Hand wash only nothing warmer than 65 F. Use only soft side of sponge to clean, hang to dry. Avoid raw meat and fish and heat and direct sunlight. Avoid hot food and deep freezing. There's also a warning not to eat them! They also mention they should last 4-6 months and not to worry about detaching wax pieces- that it's normal and why they "only use organic ingredients". It comes with 4 wraps- small (8x8 in), two mediums (11x10 in), and one large (14 x 12 in). They come in solid colors. The downside to this is that they show every crease, corner damage, etc like crazy. I'd rank them in 3rd place overall. They were picky about what they'd stick to, they were the stiffest, and they didn't stick to themselves well, I kept having to re-smoosh them down and I'd come back a few minutes or hours later and they'd all be flared up and unstuck.
Prices.... The 4 pack of PataBee Beeswax Wraps was $20.95. The 3 pack of Bee's Wrap wraps was $18.00. The 3 pack of Honey Bee Wrap wraps was $16.47.
Overall thoughts. I would not purchase the ParaBee wraps again. They just didn't function as well. These things are already way more work than saran wrap, press-n-seal, or foil, so a noticeable difference in function and annoyance level was a deal breaker. They also have the shortest expected life-span and show the must wear/damage. The smell isn't pleasant but not a deal breaker. The solid colors are a plus but they were just stiffer and more unwieldy without being thicker and more secure.
First place goes to Honey Bee Wrap wraps, they were also the cheapest. The biggest down side is the residue! That's a major disappointment. It seems to come off easily in the dishwasher but takes a bit of elbow grease with manual dishwashing and looks terrible. However, they were the most secure but took the same amount of work to initially get things stuck securely. The patterns are likely going to be hit-or-miss with people's preferences but not a big deal. Odor is strong.
Close second place is the Bee's Wrap wraps. Pleasant gentle smell, function gets a B rating just after the Honey Bee Wraps. I like the pattern/appearance better. They seem to not show wear, aren't as sticky and don't leave residue. They don't secure liquids.
A final soap box topic.... as a veterinarian with an especial interest in zoonotic diseases and food safety, I'm sick of meat getting picked on. People act like vegetables are so perfect and earthy and can do no harm. You should be treating all fruits and veggies just like raw meat! E coli, listeria, salmonella, botulism, etc etc can all contaminate vegetables and fruits very easily. Wash them thoroughly! Treat everything that comes in contact with them as needing to be washed! If you're going to put raw/unwashed fruits and veggies in these things, you're probably creating a contaminating surface that you're not going to be able to sanitize as these things are not impervious long term, cannot be subjected to heat much less warmth beyond your hands for a few seconds. Please take care and be safe in the kitchen!
I will give a final lifespan update and review for each of these as I go forward using them longer."
