Can You Freeze Wax Paper?

Last updated on August 31st, 2022 at 01:51 pm

Most of us have a box of wax paper sitting in our cupboard. Sometimes though, it might be confusing to know what wax paper can or cannot be used for. 

Wax paper is great for an assortment of needs, and you probably find yourself using it decently often. Mostly, you will see wax paper used to store cold foods, present food, or aid in preparing a surface for baking, etc. 

It is absolutely vital to understand that wax paper cannot come in contact with heat unlike other kitchen staples such as parchment paper.  It cannot be put in heat (in places such as the oven or microwave) because the wax will smoke and melt. 

This is the reason why wax paper is used exclusively for cold or room temperature projects. 

Wax paper is a thin paper that has been covered in wax. The type of wax used to coat the paper is dependent on the type of wax paper that you buy. 

Now, if you want to use wax paper in the freezer, you might be wondering if it will still be effective after freezing. 

It is absolutely no problem to freeze wax paper. Actually, wax paper is made for frozen, cold, and room temperature conditions so freezing it will not cause the paper any harm. 

If you are using wax paper to store or wrap food to store in the freezer, you should be sure to use the food within a few months. Wax paper is capable of storing food safely for that amount of time, but it is not resistant to moisture. 

Because of this, it is best to not use it for long-term storage that is more than a couple of months.

Wax paper is also not extremely durable, so if you are using it to store frozen food you will need to make sure that the food is securely wrapped and preferably have more than one layer of wax paper covering it. 

Luckily though, freezing wax paper will not cause any damage to the wax paper itself, and it will store food in the freezer very well for  2-3 months. The only effect that freezing wax paper will have on the paper is it will make the wax paper a bit brittle. 

What Is The Difference Between Wax Paper And Parchment Paper?

If you are like most people you likely have wax and parchment paper in your house. However, many people don’t really understand what the difference is. 

They feel pretty similar and come in similar packaging so what is really the difference? 

The main difference between wax paper and parchment paper is their coating and purposes. Parchment paper can be used in heat while wax paper cannot. 

Parchment paper is specially made for oven use because it has no coating on the paper that will melt or burn in high temperatures. So, if you have any projects that will be used in heat then parchment paper is the choice for you. Parchment paper will also prevent food from sticking so it is helpful for cold projects as well. 

As far as wax paper, it is absolutely not made for heat because it has a layer of wax on both sides of the paper. You can use both for preparing surfaces for messy projects to aid in clean up. 

Both wax and parchment papers are water-resistant which makes them particularly helpful when preparing a surface for recipes or crafts that involve liquids. 

What Is The Difference Between Freezer Paper And Wax Paper?

Now that we know you can freeze wax paper, you might be curious about the difference between wax paper and freezer paper. Afterall, wax paper can be used in the freezer so is there a difference? 

The main difference between wax and freezer paper is the coating that is on them. Freezer paper is coated on one side with a plastic coating which makes it ideal for freezing because it is moisture and damage resistant. 

Wax paper, as previously stated, is coated on both sides with wax which does not offer as much protection against moisture and freezer burn. 

Another main difference between the two papers is thickness. Freezer paper is thicker, and thus, it is more durable than wax paper. If you are needing to store food for an extended amount of time, it is a better idea to use freezer paper for that job. 

Should You Wrap Meat In Wax Paper Before Freezing?

If you are wanting to store some meat you may have seen people wrap it in paper before freezing it. Does that mean you should wrap your meat in wax paper before you freeze it? 

If you are only storing meat for a one to two months, wax paper is capable of keeping the meat fresh for that amount of time. However, wax paper is not very effective in keeping freezer burn, moisture, and water vapor off of your meat for a long period of time.

With wax paper the meat will stay fresh, and it will be safe to eat if you use it within that 1-2 month time-frame. Aluminum foil, plastic wrap, ziplock bags, a plastic container, or freezer paper would all be options that offer more longevity in the freezer than wax paper could. 

When using wax paper to store meat in the freezer, it is important that you secure the wax paper very tightly around the meat. You must make sure that there are no holes where the meat would be exposed. 

This way you can avoid any damage that might be done to the meat by exposing it to the freezer. 

Freezing meat is a great way to save money and stock up on food. A frugal kitchen is a kitchen that takes every avenue in limiting food waste, and freezing meat is a great way to do that! 

Is Wax Paper Toxic?

If you have never really used wax paper before you might be curious if it is possibly toxic is used improperly or stored for too long. 

Wax paper is not toxic. However, if you put it in the microwave or oven it could begin to smoke or light on fire. 

Wax paper is food safe and storing your food with it will not compromise the quality of your food. Even if the wax from the paper transfers to your food, you won’t have to worry since most wax paper is coated with food-safe paraffin wax. 

If you are worried about the quality of the wax that is coating your wax paper, you can always purchase organic wax paper that is coated with completely natural wax. 

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, wax paper is a kitchen item that has many uses. The next time that you are in the grocery aisle, you can know the pros and cons to wax paper and how it is meant to be used! 

When you are freezing food, storing food in the fridge, or preparing a space for a project, wax paper is a helpful resource!