A garbage disposal is a convenience, but it cannot help you if you place the wrong things inside. When you do this, it can create clogs, lead to smelly odors, and may even cause damage to your plumbing system. In this article, we will let you know which foods are safe to go down the garbage disposal.
Table of Contents
1. Citrus Fruits
One citrus fruit is actually very good for your disposal, and that is the orange peel. The pieces must be cut into small portions, but when you add them to the garbage disposal, they will leave your kitchen smelling like fresh citrus. The same is true of lemon peels, but make sure that you are not adding too many peels at once because they can clog your pipes.
2. Soft Fruits
Soft fruits can also go in your disposal if you cut them up. In contrast, whole fruits must not be placed in the garbage disposal because they were not created to dispose of whole fruits. In addition to that, the fibers, seeds, and other fruit portions would clog your pipes, and seeds are the most damaging substances to garbage disposals. Small seeds can pass by the blades and end up in the pipes, but larger seeds can damage the blades.
3. Soft Vegetables
These are safe for your garbage disposal, and they include lettuce and cucumbers. However, the same rules apply here. You must cut these foods into smaller pieces so that they do not overwhelm your disposal system. Vegetables you must avoid are those that are fibrous, such as celery, artichokes, and onion skins.
4. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are safe for your garbage disposal. However, you must not put too many in there at once because this can develop into a pasty film that prevents the blades from spinning.
5. Milk
It is safe to put milk in the garbage disposal, but like with the foods listed above, there are exceptions. If the milk is expired, you can pour it down the drain, but make sure that you rinse well afterward. Spoiled buttermilk may even be good for your septic tank. Condensed milk and goat milk are also safe, but only pour oat milk or almond milk into the garbage disposal if it does not contain any oats or almonds.
6. Yogurt
Yogurt is safe, but if it contains fruit, it is best to not put it into the garbage disposal. The fruit chunks could cause harm to the garbage disposal.
7. Beef
Cooked but not raw beef can go into the garbage disposal. Of course, you will need to cut it into small pieces to keep it from overwhelming your disposal. If the beef is spoiled, you can put it in the disposal, but this would create an unpleasant smell, so make a rule of only placing cooked beef that is not spoiled in the disposal.
8. Rice
Rice in small amounts can go into the garbage disposal. If you allow a large amount of rice to be inside the disposal, it can cause a clog. The best practice is to run cold water while you dispose of rice down your drain.
