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Foods You Should Keep Out of Your Garbage Disposal This Thanksgiving (and Beyond)

peeling potatoes in garbage disposal

Thanksgiving is a time for gathering with loved ones, enjoying delicious meals, and creating lasting memories. However, it can also be a time of stress for your kitchen’s plumbing system, particularly your garbage disposal. With all the cooking, cleaning, and leftover scraps, it’s easy to overlook what gets tossed into the disposal. Unfortunately, some foods can cause clogs, damage your disposal, or even lead to costly plumbing repairs. To keep your kitchen running smoothly this holiday season—and beyond—it’s essential to know what foods should stay out of your garbage disposal.

In this blog, we’ll discuss common foods to avoid putting down the disposal and offer tips on how to properly dispose of them. By following these guidelines, you can protect your garbage disposal and plumbing system from unnecessary wear and tear.

1. Grease, Fats, and Oils

One of the biggest culprits behind clogged drains and damaged garbage disposals is grease, fats, and oils. These substances may be liquid when hot, but they solidify as they cool, leading to stubborn blockages in your pipes. Pouring grease or oil down the drain can cause buildup over time, eventually resulting in slow drains or complete blockages.

Instead of pouring grease or oil down the drain, let it cool and solidify in a container, then dispose of it in the trash. For smaller amounts, you can wipe the grease from pans with a paper towel before washing them. By keeping grease, fats, and oils out of your disposal, you’ll significantly reduce the risk of clogs and extend the life of your plumbing system.

2. Fibrous Vegetables

Fibrous vegetables, such as celery, asparagus, corn husks, and artichokes, may seem harmless, but they can wreak havoc on your garbage disposal. The tough, stringy fibers in these vegetables can wrap around the disposal’s blades, causing them to jam and potentially burn out the motor. Even if they make it past the blades, these fibers can contribute to clogs in your pipes.

To avoid this issue, it’s best to dispose of fibrous vegetables in the compost bin or trash. If you do need to put small amounts down the disposal, cut them into smaller pieces and run cold water continuously while the disposal is operating to help prevent clogs.

3. Potato Peels and Starchy Foods

Potato peels, along with other starchy foods like rice, pasta, and bread, can cause significant problems for your garbage disposal. When these foods come into contact with water, they expand and turn into a sticky, gummy paste that can easily clog your disposal and pipes. Potato peels are particularly problematic because they can form a thick, starchy mass that’s difficult for the disposal to break down.

To prevent clogs, it’s best to dispose of potato peels, rice, pasta, and other starchy foods in the trash or compost. If you must put them down the disposal, do so in small amounts, and be sure to run plenty of cold water to help flush them through the system.

4. Bones and Hard Objects

Bones, fruit pits, and other hard objects should never be put down the garbage disposal. These items are too tough for the disposal’s blades to break down and can cause the motor to overheat or the blades to become damaged. Even small bones or fruit pits can get lodged in the disposal, leading to jams and costly repairs.

Dispose of bones, pits, and other hard objects in the trash instead. If you accidentally drop a small bone or pit into the disposal, use tongs or pliers to carefully remove it before turning on the disposal.

5. Eggshells

There’s a common misconception that eggshells are good for garbage disposals because they help sharpen the blades. In reality, eggshells can cause more harm than good. The thin membrane inside the eggshell can wrap around the disposal’s blades, while the ground-up shell fragments can contribute to clogs in your pipes. Additionally, the eggshells can form a sand-like residue that can build up and cause blockages over time.

To avoid these issues, it’s best to dispose of eggshells in the trash or compost. If you have a garden, eggshells can be crushed and added to the soil to provide valuable nutrients for your plants.

6. Coffee Grounds

While it might be tempting to dispose of used coffee grounds in the garbage disposal, it’s not a good idea. Coffee grounds can accumulate in your pipes and form a thick sludge that leads to clogs and slow drains. Additionally, the small particles can stick to the inside of your pipes, creating an ideal environment for other debris to build up.

Instead of putting coffee grounds down the disposal, consider composting them or disposing of them in the trash. Coffee grounds are rich in nutrients and make an excellent addition to compost or garden soil.

7. Pasta, Rice, and Bread

Starchy foods like pasta, rice, and bread can expand in water and become gummy, which can lead to clogs in your garbage disposal and pipes. Even small amounts of these foods can create a sticky mass that’s difficult for the disposal to break down. To prevent issues, avoid putting pasta, rice, and bread down the disposal altogether. Instead, dispose of them in the trash or compost.

8. Onion Skins

Onion skins, especially the thin, papery outer layers, can easily get tangled in the garbage disposal’s blades or caught in the pipes. The fibrous nature of onion skins makes them particularly troublesome, as they can create blockages that lead to slow drains or backups. It’s best to dispose of onion skins in the trash or compost to avoid these issues.

9. Nuts and Seeds

Nuts and seeds are hard and can be challenging for your garbage disposal to break down. Similar to bones and fruit pits, these hard items can damage the disposal’s blades or cause the motor to overheat. Even small seeds can accumulate in the disposal or pipes, leading to clogs over time. Dispose of nuts and seeds in the trash rather than putting them down the disposal.

10. Large Amounts of Food

Finally, while your garbage disposal is designed to handle food waste, it’s important not to overload it with large amounts of food at once. Overloading the disposal can cause it to jam or overheat, and it may not be able to break down the food effectively, leading to clogs in the pipes.

When using your garbage disposal, feed food waste into it gradually, and always run cold water to help flush the food through the system. Avoid putting large quantities of food down the disposal, especially during busy times like Thanksgiving when the disposal is likely to be used more frequently.

Tri-City Heating and Cooling Is Here for Your Residential Plumbing Needs

Your garbage disposal is a valuable tool for keeping your kitchen clean and managing food waste, but it’s important to use it wisely. By keeping the foods mentioned above out of your disposal, you can prevent clogs, avoid costly repairs, and extend the life of your plumbing system.

As you prepare for Thanksgiving and the holiday season, do not hesitate to contact Tri-City Heating and Cooling for garbage disposal service. Our skilled and experienced plumbers are here to keep your kitchen running smoothly all winter long.

Tri-City Heating and Cooling is available by phone at (203) 303-5700 or you can always contact us online.

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