What is Wax Paper Made of? Composition, Coatings, and Manufacturing Process

What is Wax Paper Made of? Composition, Coatings, and Manufacturing Process
Wax paper is made of kraft paper that is lightweight with coatings such as paraffin wax, soybean wax, beeswax, microcrystalline wax, and candelilla wax. If you are a brand, then you can opt for wax paper with one side coated and the logo on the other.
But if you want to use it for wrapping then choose any option like coating on both sides or single side. 50% of people use wax paper for various purposes like baking, wrapping and more. But why is it non-stick, moisture-resistant, and grease-resistant? In this blog we will discuss all the details about the wax paper.
What is Wax Paper For Understanding? And Which Chemicals are Used to Make Wax Paper?
Wax paper is a type of light kraft paper translucent in nature with a wax coating on it. The coating paraffin wax is a petroleum-derived wax consisting mainly of straight-chain saturated hydrocarbons (alkanes).
- The paper part gives the structure.
- The wax part gives it the non-stick and water-resistant features.
How is Wax Paper Manufactured with Coatings and a Logo on it?
It’s usually made from wood pulp which is the same stuff used to make regular paper. But for wax paper the light kraft paper of about 35 gsm to 40 gsm is processed more carefully. It must have certain properties present in it. Then after that it’s refined and bleached to make it clean and safe to use with food. If you are going to invest in the wax paper then it’s important to have a trusted partner for the purchase of the custom wax paper for your brand.
Does Wax Paper Have Plastic in It? Any Plastic Coating On It?
No, wax paper is not made of plastic. It has a paraffin coating on it. So you can use it for food wrapping, but you still can’t eat it. This is a constant question that was circulating on the internet. But yet no plastic is involved in the manufacturing of the wax paper.
3 Main Types of Wax Coatings on Wax Paper
Wax paper is usually coated with food-safe paraffin wax. So sometimes, many other types of wax like soy wax or beeswax are also used. It depends on the needs of the customers. How do they want to utilize the wax paper?
The main types are
- Paraffin Wax Coatings: It’s made from petroleum. But it’s cleaned and refined to make it safe for food use.
- Soy Wax Coatings: As the name suggests it is made from soybeans. This is a natural alternative eco friendly one and is more biodegradable than paraffin.
- Beeswax Coatings: Beeswax gives a slightly different texture and is popular for reusable food wraps.
What is Wax Paper Used For? Main Reasons You Must Know
Wax paper is used for many reasons mostly in cooking and baking. But what exactly are wax wraps? Here are some examples where they are used:
- Wrapping food like sandwiches
- Lining trays for food items
- Microwave cooking
However, please remember not to use the wax paper in the oven. The wax may melt or burn at high temperatures if you do that.
Constant Debate Between Wax Paper and Parchment Paper
People ask this question a lot. Like Wax Paper Vs. Parchment Paper. The key difference between the. Or are they the same? No, they are not. Indeed they are different.
- Wax paper is coated with wax
- Heat-resistant parchment paper is coated with silicone.
Like many of you are curious that is wax made of parchment paper? But how can this be achieved? So to clear doubts the reality is that wax paper is not made of parchment paper.
Can You Recycle Wax Paper? Or Coating Will Stop it
No, it is non recyclable since wax paper has a coating on it. But wax paper is non toxic and because of the coating it is more difficult to decompose.
Concluding Words
Wax paper is created by applying a wax coating to light kraft paper. The paper provides structure, while the wax coating provides nonstick, grease, and moisture resistance.