What Not to Put in a Garbage Disposal

kitchen sink

WHAT A GARBAGE DISPOSAL CAN DO

  • First things first. What is a garbage disposal used for and why are they in our kitchens? In short, they’re there to make our lives easier by gobbling up small scraps of food that would otherwise end up in stinky trash bins.

    Problem is, they can’t safely handle everything we try to feed them. Here’s a quick guide to what you should and shouldn’t toss into your garbage disposal.

    kitchen sink with running water

WHAT NOT TO PUT IN A GARBAGE DISPOSAL

  • STARCHY FOODS

    Surprisingly, staples like pasta, rice and breads aren’t great for a garbage disposal because they can expand and clog things up.

    person slicing potatoes on a cutting board
  • COFFEE GROUNDS

    Another surprising one for some of us. Turns out coffee grounds turn to sticky paste and are notorious for gunking up the grinder.

    coffee grounds
  • ANIMAL BONES

    While a few fish or chicken bones aren’t the end of the world, bigger bones are too much for your disposal to handle.

    rib bones
  • NUTS, SHELLS & PITS

    Anything round, hard and small is difficult to grind, so nuts, shells, pits and seeds will only rattle around your disposal and drive your neighbors batty.

    nuts in bowls
  • FIBROUS FRUITS & VEGGIES

    Stringy stuff like celery, asparagus, banana peels and corn husks should be avoided, as they can tangle up your grinder. Special shout out to onions that cause all kinds of havoc.

    person cutting a mango with a knife
  • EGG SHELLS

    Yeah, aunty was wrong about this one. Not only do egg shells NOT help to sharpen your disposal’s blades (there are no blades), egg membranes can get wrapped up in your grinder.

    cracked egg shells
  • OIL & GREASE

    Oils congeal over time and can cause nasty clogs in your drain.

    oil in a pan

WHAT YOU CAN PUT DOWN A GARBAGE DISPOSAL

  • ICE

    Grinding ice may sound horrible, but it can help to keep things clean.

    ice with scooper
  • CITRUS PEELS

    There’s nothing better than refreshing your garbage disposal with a few zesty citrus peels.

    orange peel
  • COOKED MEAT

    Avoid raw meat that can get pasty and stringy when ground, but cooked scraps are just fine.

    cooked steak cut open to reveal inside
  • BIODEGRADABLE SOAP

    Dishwashing soap is fine for your disposal, and recommended to keep things smelling fresh and clean.

    two people washing hands over kitchen sink