Garbage disposals are a convenient kitchen appliance and I have to say it has become sort of a necessity for us now that we are used to having one. I love being able to rinse plates with food scraps on them right down the kitchen sink for ease and convenience. However, not all food waste is suitable for your garbage disposal system and it’s important to know which items cannot go in the disposal to avoid serious problems.
You should not put banana peels in your garbage disposal because they are too thick and fibrous for the garbage disposal to grind up easily and are very hard on your disposal system. The better option is to throw them into your compost bin or simply throw them away in the trash.
How does a garbage disposal work
First, it’s important to understand how a garbage disposal unit works. Garbage disposals are equipped with a motor and sharp blades that grind up food into small pieces that can easily pass through the drain pipes. Hard and fibrous materials, such as small bones and vegetable peels can damage the garbage disposal blades and cause a clogged drain. You’ll be on the phone with the plumbing experts and that’s not a fun thing to deal with!
Banana peels are difficult to break down
Banana peels, in particular, are problematic for garbage disposals because fibrous fruits can wrap around the blades of your garbage disposal, damaging your system. If you think about the amount of time that it takes a banana peel to break down (up to 2 years! That’s a long time!), it makes sense that it would be a difficult food item for a garbage disposal to handle. This is especially true for lower horsepower units.
Even in small pieces, it’s best not to add banana peels to the garbage disposal. While, it may work fine at first, over time, it will begin to wear on your system.
What can you do with your banana peels?
There are better ways to dispose of your banana peels and ultimately save your plumbing system. If you have a garden or flower bed, a great way to dispose of your banana peels is to add them to a compost pile. They are rich in nutrients with high fiber content, making them a great option for creating a natural fertilizer for your garden.
To compost banana peels, add them to a compost bin or pile along with other kitchen food debris such as potato peels, vegetable skins, apple cores, coffee grounds, and other common household food waste. Over time, the banana peels and other food waste break down and create a nutrient rich fertilizer that you can use throughout the growing season. This is a great way to eliminate a lot of waste, especially in my house where we go through bananas like crazy because they are such an easy snack!
If you don’t have the need for compost, you can simply throw the banana peel in the trash as they will completely break down over time.
What other foods should not go in the garbage disposal?
It’s important to know which items you should not put in your garbage disposal, so we have created a quick list for convenience. A good rule of thumb, it’s always a good idea to add food items in smaller pieces when you’re able and to be sure to run cold water as you use the disposal.
- Eggshells
- Coffee Grounds
- Animal bones
- Onion skins
- Potato peels
- Grease or cooking oil
- Fruit pits
- Fibrous foods
- Corn husks
- Nuts
- non-food items
What to do if a banana peel gets jammed in your garbage disposal?
To safely remove a banana peel from your garbage disposal:
- Turn off the power – First and most importantly be sure to shut off the power to the garbage disposal. Do this by unplugging it or turning it off at the circuit breakers.
- Check for visible obstructions – The best way to do this is to use a flashlight to see what is causing the jammed disposal.
- Remove the rubber ring from the drain – This will give you much better access to remove the banana peels from the blades.
- Remove the jammed peel – Use the handle of a wooden spoon to try and loosen the peel from the blades and pull it out. It may take several attempts to get all the pieces. I have also successfully used tongs to free up food that has become jammed in my disposal.
- Run the disposal to clean – Once you have removed all the pieces of the banana peel, you will want to run plenty of water into the disposal and run it to be sure that you have cleared all of the small pieces before adding anything else to the disposal.
- Call a professional – If this method does not work, it’s probably best to call a plumber and have them come fix the problem so that you do not cause any further damage to the system.
Unlike banana peels, citrus rinds can be beneficial for your garbage disposal
If you have orange peels or lemon peels, a good way to dispose of them is to add them to your garbage disposal to clean and eliminate food odor. If you use your garbage disposal frequently for large amounts of food, you know that eventually it will start to smell.
Next time this happens, grab your citrus fruit peels and toss them in the disposal. Citrus fruits will leave your garbage disposal smelling clean and fresh while eliminating excess waste that you might otherwise throw in the trash.
Don’t put banana peels in your garbage disposal
Prevents clogs and damage to your disposal system by keeping fibrous items, like banana peels out! If composting is not an option for you, the best option is to simply throw the banana peels out. In the long run, you’ll be happy that you saved yourself the problem of a clogged drain.