Composting cooked food - any ideas?

[maytreefrannie]

I'd value any ideas for composting cooked food. I've tried Bokashi and found some good in it, but in a year it leaked quite extensively in the kitchen 4 times despite the fact that I'd drained it consistently and hardly any poured off. As well as that, the brochure said it would compost fully in 6-8 weeks (having of course left it for a couple of weeks after it was full); well after 4 months it was still as I'd emptied it. I tried it on the compost bin and tried burying it with a light layer of earth on top. No joy.

I'd love some suggestions about this please. And yes, there is a dog here who takes care of some of it.

The Vine is so full of grapes with good ideas, I feel there must be more than one method for composting cooked food.

[rustylady]

I don't compost any cooked food. I live alone, and the dog eats what I don't. I am careful not to cook more than I need though.

[Kristen]

"Green Cone" or a "Green Johanna" maybe?

Green Cone | Green Johanna | Food Waste Disposal :: Great Green Systems

[Veggielot]

I have composted cooked vegetables before, in with the rest of the compost, with no problem. Never composted any other cooked food though. You can put it in ordinary compost or so I have been told.

[planetologist]

I would also say the main thing is to eat leftovers. A lot of things actually test better after a day, and things that don't can be turned into something else that is more interesting. If the food has gone off then wait a day or two, because rats don't think that food has gone off at the same time as we do, then when it's really gone off you can put it on the compost bin/heap, or bury it (I don't have a compost heap anymore).

[Feral007]

I'm not really any help because we do have leftover cooked food, sometimes. Either everyone is fighting over the leftovers or no one wants them
2nd in line is the three dogs.
If they've already had too much, then 3rd in line is the compost heap, but as someone remarked once before, my compost heap is more of a feeding station. After the chooks, the wombat, the crows, parrots, maggies, and anything else have had their share, there isn't a lot to compost.

So, good luck

[maytreefrannie]

I would also say the main thing is to eat leftovers. A lot of things actually test better after a day, and things that don't can be turned into something else that is more interesting. If the food has gone off then wait a day or two, because rats don't think that food has gone off at the same time as we do, then when it's really gone off you can put it on the compost bin/heap, or bury it (I don't have a compost heap anymore).

I absolutely agree - and this is what I do, but sometimes we are left with leftovers even the second day. Also agree with cooking just what we need - having once had a bigger household, sometimes I forget and cook too much. Or the expected grown-and-left-home people decide they won't call for dinner today after all. Some cooked food is unsuitable for the dog (e.g. very spicy stuff).

The points about the rats is well taken - it's fear of drawing rats that makes me slow to put cooked food in the compost. I guess if it's left to the point where it's well and truly gone off even they won't be attracted!

Actually, mostly I love leftovers and do use them for next day's dinner. However there are times when I find for whatever reason I have some still left after a few days.

Thanks again everyone.

[Two_Sheds]

I'd value any ideas for composting cooked food.

I compost fat, bones, meat, and dog poop.

No problems with rats or flies. No smell. I just wrap the bits in 2 sheets of good quality newspaper (I'm kidding, the D.Mail would do) and put in a normal dalek. (the dog poop composting is kept at home, and only goes on ornamentals, not edible crops)

sometimes we are left with leftovers even the second day.

Then you've really got to cut down your portions, or freeze the leftovers. I never cook "too much", but I do cook up a whole big cauldron of soup, or curry, and then freeze it into portion sizes

[Alison]

I've found Bokashi very good, shame you've found it difficult. I tend to either bury mine in the compost heap (it's a ball of worms in days) or bury it underneath something I'm planting out, it's brilliant under beans and has totally disappeared by the autumn (no idea how long before though). When you say leaking, from which bit of the bucket? Were they homemade ones or bought? I found mine used to seep a bit from the taps but added a washer and sorted the problem. Also always put a bit of newspaper. In the bottom of the bit you fill so stuff doesn't fall through but it can still drain. Might also depend wham you treat. Ours is mainly gristle, cheese rind, fish skin etc that I don't want to put I. The wormery or on the compost heap.


Sent from my iPad using Grow Your Own Forum

[Two_Sheds]

I've found Bokashi very good, shame you've found it difficult.

I can't stand the smell of the things, it really makes me gak

[Alison]

I can't stand the smell of the things, it really makes me gak

I don't mind the smell and I only have the lid off for a few moments but OH (who has impaired sense of smell) can't stand it. Think there must be an undercurrent of something that he picks up and that takes over.


Sent from my iPad using Grow Your Own Forum

[minskey]

We don't have leftovers either. I freeze or mostly we eat everything over two meals.

All veggie scraps except raw potato peelings go to the chooks. We have cut down on our meat portions lately and bulk up on veggies, feel much better for it, although I'm still wider than I am tall

[BigV]

Yes!I have a green Johanna (supplied by my local authority at reduced cost) .
Everything except plastic goes in it.Left over food ,eg chicken bones fish skin etc etc.I soak cardboard and that goes in shredded paper,you name it.It needs a good stir and needs layering with left overs and "brown" ie twigs cardboard etc.It is full of worms and doesn't smell.Inside I have a small compost bucket which is emptied daily.Hope this helps.BigV


Sent from my iPad using Grow Your Own Forum mobile app

[SlugLobber]

I add small amounts of cooked veg to the normal compost, such as when OH picks out kale from a dish I've made, or the odd pea that's dropped to the floor (an esca-pea). The rest we put on the bird table. Everything picks at it and not just the usual suspects (corvids). Robins and blackbirds like a bit of left over cat food and bits of meat, too! I used to be concerned about rats in the compost, but to be honest we've got chickens and a turkey here, so there are rats about anyway (not that I've ever seen one, I just take it as a given). We have very little left over food, though, as we eat leftovers or freeze them.

[Two_Sheds]

I used to be concerned about rats in the compost

yes, it's the first thing anyone tells you, if you get compost bins. Big fat urban myth that it is: what attracts rats is the people who throw bread on the ground "for the birds" (although bread is not good for birds)