What’s Safe to Go Down a Disposer?
InSinkErator food waste disposers are designed to handle a wide range of food waste. Here’s a guide to what’s safe, what to avoid, and why.
What you can put down
- Fruit and vegetable scraps – peelings, cores, seeds and skins
- Cooked and uncooked meat scraps
- Chicken and fish bones
- Egg shells
- Coffee grounds and paper filters
- Tea bags without strings or staples
- Avocado skins and stones
- Citrus rinds – great for freshening the disposer
- Bread and grains
- Small amounts of dairy
What to avoid
- Fats, oils and grease – these solidify in pipes and cause blockages
- Large bones from beef or pork
- Fibrous vegetables in large quantities – celery, corn husks, artichokes
- Pasta and rice in large amounts – they expand with water
- Non-food items – plastic, glass, metal, paper
- Harsh chemicals and bleach – unnecessary and damaging to seals
Simple habits for best performance
- Always run cold water while operating the disposer and for 30 seconds after
- Feed waste gradually rather than all at once
- Freshen the disposer regularly with citrus rinds or ice cubes
- Never use hot water while grinding – it can cause grease to liquefy and recoat the pipes
- When in doubt, feed it gradually and keep the cold water running.