As one of our modern conveniences, the garbage disposal stands as an exemplar of human ingenuity in our ongoing quest for comfort and efficiency. But it is time we disproved any myths surrounding its all-consuming power; through personal mishaps and discussions with plumbing experts I’ve come to appreciate that like any appliance it has its limits and quirks; before labeling your disposal unit as culinary black holes let’s examine its ten cardinal sins of garbage disposal etiquette through personal anecdotes as well as expert opinions.
10 Foods to Never Put Down the Garbage Disposal
1. Bones and Shells
It is always wise to avoid bones and shells as the first rule to follow when cleaning out my disposal unit, including bones and shells from Thanksgiving turkey carcass. My first experience with this rule involved my Thanksgiving turkey carcass being ground down by its disposal unit but bones and shells proved too tough for them, leading to loud unsettling noises as they ground them down, jams being formed in its chamber, as well as costly repairs being needed due to blunt blades from bones. Plumbers agree: Bones can even blunt blades which leads to costly repairs needing replacement of its blades causing jams requiring costly repairs on machinery – something
Tip: When it comes to disposing of bones and shells, consider composting or making stock from them before throwing them in the garbage. Not only will you protect your disposal; you will be making the most of your food sources!
2. Celery
Though celery might seem innocuous enough, its fibrous, stringy texture makes it a nightmare for your disposal unit. I learned this the hard way while making homemade vegetable broth: its strings entangled themselves around its blades like sinister vines and caused significant efficiency losses and an unpleasant odor. Experts note that fibrous material can also entangle the mechanism leading to blockages and motor burnout in some models of disposal units.
3. Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds may seem harmless enough, yet their disposal can be deceivingly tricky. Although they initially flow smoothly down the drain, over time they build up into dense masses that accumulate and block pipes – an acquaintance in the plumbing industry once shared images showing pipes filled with what appeared to be years-worth of compacted grounds – a sobering sight indeed!
Tip: Instead of sending coffee grounds down the drain, add them to your compost pile or use as fertilizer for acid-loving plants.
4. Eggshells
Eggshells present a delicate balance when it comes to using your garbage disposal properly. Many believe that grinding them helps sharpen its blades; this, however, is just a myth; in reality their membrane lining sticks to the sides and ground shells create a gritty paste when mixed with other waste, leading to potential clogs and potential blockages in your disposal.
5. Fruit Pits Similar to bones, fruit pits are too tough for your garbage disposal to handle safely. Throwing peach, plum or cherry pits down is taking a risk with its integrity as these pits could become lodged between blades and housing and jam the motor, potentially resulting in jamming or even total motor failure.
6. Grease Wrecking Havoc Grease is one of the primary culprits behind clogged drains, yet it persists in making its way down our pipes. While its liquid state at higher temperatures can seem deceiving, when it cools it solidifies and coats our pipes while trapping other food debris inside, leading to severe blockages which require professional intervention to clear away.
7. Pasta
Although pasta appears harmless, its unique ability to absorb water and expand can create blockages in your pipes; my own experience with leftover spaghetti pieces served as an eye-opening reminder of its deceiver nature.
8. Potato Peels
Potato peels in large quantities can pose a significant threat to the efficient functioning of your garbage disposal system. Their starch content becomes extremely sticky when exposed to moisture and can clump together, becoming hard for it to process and creating an impasse that may require professional assistance in clearing.
9. Rice
Like pasta, rice absorbs water quickly and never stops growing once it enters the drain system. Even small amounts can quickly lead to blockages as its absorbency fills pipes with swelling grains that block passageway! Yikes!
10. Stringy or Starchy Vegetables
This final category encompasses an array of veggies from pumpkin to asparagus that all share one characteristic: They’re tough on your disposal system! Their fibrous, stringy nature can entangle blades while their starch content leads to thick pipe-clogging paste that quickly builds up inside pipes.