Wrap And Zap Batting: What Is And How to Use (Helpful Guide)
Sewers find a way to help make baking potatoes in a microwave better and easier. They combine some batting with some fabric and viola! The potatoes are baked more evenly and you can even get better tasting corn. The trick is not to be afraid of fire when you use this method.
What is Wrap And Zap batting? This product is a brand name made by Pellon. Its purpose is to help make potatoes and vegetables cook and taste a lot better. All you have to do is place the potato in the bag made with this batting and then place it in the microwave.
To learn more about the Wrap and Zap batting just continue to read our article. It explores the issue so you have the information you need. Once you learn all about this product you should be able to use it like a pro. It is that easy to use.
What is Wrap and Zap Batting?
This is a product that is made from 100% cotton and it goes into those sewing projects that are designed to protect hands as well as allow the contents to cook better. The batting is perfect for potato bags, casserole warmers, vegetable containers, and a lot more.
It is supposed to be the perfect insulation needed when you use your microwave to do some of the cooking. It handles the heat so your potatoes, corn, and other vegetables don't overcook. This product may come in handy as the microwave does heat up to high temperatures.
In some packages, you get a full yard of material that is 45 inches wide. That gives you a lot of material to work with when you are in the mood to make practical craft projects.
The danger is that this batting is not fireproof nor is it flame retardant. You have to be careful how you use it for if it stays in the microwave too long, there is a possibility it will catch fire.
Using caution is always a good idea when combining heat and fabrics together. Watch the timer to make sure you do not leave the potato bag, etc., in too long.
Can You Use Wrap and Zap for Pot Holders?
Yes, it is possible to use Wrap and Zap batting for potholders and even hot pads. it is a good insulating product that keeps the heat where it is supposed to be-- away from your hands and smooth surfaces.
The drawback to using this product for those cooking items is that the batting itself may be too thin. While you get 1 yard by 45 inches of material in the bag, it is not very thick. The thickness is roughly 1/8 to 1/4 inches. You will have to use a layer or two or more to get those pot holders to the right thickness.
Since it is made of 100% cotton be prepared to see some shrinkage if you do not pre-wash the batting. This batting can be pre-washed and it is the best thing to do if you want your potholders to remain at the same size and fully protect your hands.
The shrink rate is roughly 3 to5% and you should use cool water when pre-washing or washing this material or your new potholders. That washable nature makes cleaning your new potholders and hot pads simple and easy.
Does Wrap n Zap Have Scrim?
No, and if you do not know what scrim is, it is a binder agent that holds the batting together. This is truly a 100% cotton product and it has no other fillers or additives. If you value Walmart’s opinion, this product is the only one they recommend when you want to use any fabric in the microwave.
Because it is made of all cotton fibers shrinking is a problem. To avoid that issue, presoak the batting in hot water for 20 minutes. As you soak avoid agitating the water and when the time limit is up, just gently wring the material or press out the excess moisture.
Once that is done lay the batting out flat to air dry. After you have completed your pot holders or hot pads, you can machine wash on gentle in cool water as we mentioned above. It will be okay to place it in the dryer as well but just use low heat levels.
You should not place this material in the microwave without any food products. It is made to retain moisture and help vegetables get a steamy cooking effect.
How to Use Wrap and Zap
It is not very hard to do. The first key that you should always remember is not to heat the vegetables wrapped in this batting for longer than 2 minutes at a time. You can do multiple 2-minute segments as you cook but longer than that only under certain conditions.
The maximum amount of time you should leave this product in your microwave is 8 minutes. After that, the possibility of a fire is greater. Once you understand that limitation it will be easier to use this product.
Once you have completed your potholder project, you simply place the microwavable dish inside its edges and place it in the microwave. That is how simple it is to use Wrap and Zap. The material will handle the rest and when the cooking time is over, your hands should not get burnt when taking the bowl out of the appliance.
Without using a bowl, you can wrap your potatoes, corn on the cob, or similar vegetables directly in the fabric bowl you created and place in the microwave. There are no special settings you need to apply except to watch the time.
Once the vegetables, etc., are done they should taste better than if you cooked them the traditional way.
Wrap and Zap Cotton Batting Projects
The sky is the limit when using this batting and while you may be tired of hearing that phrase but that is the number of possibilities you have available. Wherever you use other batting, you can use this version as well.
Plus, you know everything that it is made of and there are no surprises. It is made from 100% cotton, with no fillers or additives. As for projects, pot holders, hot pads, and other fabric cooking items you need are all a possibility.
To make a potholder all you need is a fat quarter of exterior material and one of lining material. Then, 1 package of the Wrap and Zap batting. Just make sure to have the fabric and lining 100% cotton as well.
Then use your rotary cutter, sewing machine, and thread you want to have on your pot holders and sew away. Don’t forget to cut to size also. This link provides a very good pattern for you to use. It has step-by-step instructions and diagrams to help you create a nice pot holder.
Also, you can use this batting when you are making quilts. One package may only have 45 inches by 1 yard of material in it so be prepared to buy a few, especially if you are making a thick quilt.
Plus, this batting is good insulation so it may be good for certain summer and winter clothing. You won’t lose out on the breathing ability of cotton so you should remain nice and comfortable all year long.
Again, you have to be careful when making your projects as the heat factor can cause the batting to ignite on you.
Where to Buy Wrap and Zap
This is not going to be a problem as this product is made by an American company that is well established. It has more outlets than you can probably visit in a week or a month.
The first place to look, if you do not want to leave your home, is on your computer. Amazon, Walmart, and other fabric outlets carry this product. The packages we saw all seem to be the same size, the one mentioned earlier, so it is a matter of selecting the outlet you like the most and has the best price.
Then, you will find this material at Hobby Lobby, Joann’s, and possibly Hancocks & Michaels. These national big box store craft chains should have a good supply of this batting on hand. If they don’t, it is only a matter of time before their next shipment comes in.
Your local fabric stores and department stores should have some as well. Their prices may not be as attractive as the other outlets but they are worth supporting. One tip, you can always check any going out of business sales going on in your local area or closeout sales to get a better price.
Wrap and Zap by the Yard
We have seen advertisements for Wrap and Zap by the yard. The measurements for this size of batting range between 22 inches wide by 10 yards in length & 90 inches wide in 9-yard lengths. Those measurements were at Amazon.
Walmart seems to have the 22 by 10-yard size as do Home Sew and Beyond Fabric, 2 online options that are at your service. Home Sew will offer a discount if you buy a lot and their price is done by the yard, not the bolt.
You can find this batting by the yard at this link. It is on sale for $4.29 with shipping calculated at the checkout page. What this means is that this batting should be very easy to find no matter what size you want it in.
Just remember to order more than you need due to the shrinking problem and the fact that the thickness is not that great. Also, we saw that Rover Bay is offering the 90 inch by 9-yard version on eBay and the cost is almost $60.
There are a lot of choices to choose from and you may find better deals at your local outlets in your city or town.
A Word of Caution
When you are going to make products to be used in the microwave it is best to stick with 100% cotton materials. That includes the fabric, thread, and batting, even fabric for the lining.
Synthetic fibers, thread, and fabrics, as well as batting, could easily melt on you. Those fibers should not be used when you are going to use the items around or in heat. Even polyester and other synthetic and semi-synthetic thread are not good to use in potholders, etc., made for the microwave.
Then some people suggest that you do not wash the batting until your sewing project is done. You can do that but you should soak the batting first as described above in order to keep your pot holders, etc., from shrinking. If they do shrink after you are done, you may have wasted a lot of time and material.
Some sewers have made some pot holders and they reported that the items looked terrible after the first wash. The potholders were made differently by the same person and the two methods used did not stop the bad result.
Then you need to be careful if you are going to use a different cotton batting material than Wrap and Zap. The scrim included with the alternative was made from polyester. If you use that type of batting in your microwavable pot holders, etc., then you may have some very bad results.
The Pros and Cons of Using 100% Cotton Batting
There are different types of batting you can use, but cotton seems to be the most popular. One website calls it the MVP of batting because of the positive attributes that come with that fiber. Here are some of those pros and cons:
Pros:
- The material is very soft and perfect for items like quilts, pot holders, and more
- Cotton can be very durable and handle cooking tasks with ease
- This material is 100% natural which has many benefits. For example, no harsh chemicals to worry about
- You can find it in 3 colors- white, natural and black
- Natural cotton batting is unbleached which is good for the environment
- Cotton will soften up as time wears on
- It is affordable. Not the cheapest batting nor is it the most expensive
- The batting is breathable and light
Cons:
- It only comes in 3 colors
- It is not the cheapest batting around
- It can and will shrink on you if you are not careful
- Cotton may have seeds to it which will stain your fabrics if you are not careful
- Can be stiff at times, especially when first put into a sewing project
- Unbleached cotton’s yellowish tint can show through some fabrics
Some Tips to Help Use Cotton Batting
These tips are mostly for the novice or beginner sewer. But some experienced sewers may pick up a pointer or two from this list:
- 1. Cotton can bunch up in the wash when you use a loose quilting pattern. make your quilts a little tighter so the cotton remains where you put it. Since you are doing the washing, it will be your choice in how loose or tight you go.
- 2. Read the fine print on the batting packages. Sometimes the manufacturers will tell you how close your stitching can be. Not all packages will have this information but some will.
- 3. Scrim is not always bad to have in the batting. It helps anchor and stabilizes the cotton fibers. It is just not good for use in a microwavable project. Plus, scrim helps you use a looser quilt pattern.
- 4. If you do not want scrim make sure to find the right 100% cotton batting. Wrap and Zap is one product without the scrim included. Also, scrim is made from polyester so you have to be careful when using batting projects that will be heated.
- 5. It is okay to wash or soak cotton batting to get rid of the shrinkage but do not agitate if you do. The result if you do may be one giant cotton mess you could do without.
- 6. Most cotton batting comes pre-shrunk but that doesn't mean it was completely freed from shrinkage. Pre-wash or pre-soak regardless.
Some Final Words
The product sounds like a great idea. Not only can you get your potatoes and other vegetables to cook better, but you also won’t burn your hands removing them from the microwave.
Wrap and Zap can be used in that appliance as long as you do not zap it for too long. There is a possibility of fires starting if you use too long of cooking time.
