7 FOODS YOU SHOULD NEVER TOSS DOWN YOUR GARBAGE DISPOSAL

Garbage disposals are a modern marvel. Instead of throwing away half-chewed food to stink up your trash can, you can simply send small bits down the drain and move on. No mess, no lingering smells.

Your garbage disposal has no doubt become a trusted accomplice in your kitchen, but it’s not the end-all, be-all of waste. There are some items you absolutely should not send down the drain, unless you want to spend a pretty penny getting it fixed. Here’s what to avoid at all costs.

Bones

Never throw chicken bones, rib bones, or any other bones down your garbage disposal. They’re too hard for the disposal to break down and will likely just rattle around inside. And even if pieces do make it through, they can still cause problems in your pipes.

Celery

Surprisingly, celery can be tricky for your garbage disposal. The fibrous strings can tangle around the disposal and wreak havoc. This same rule applies to asparagus, artichokes, rhubarb, edamame pods, and corn husks.

Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds are deceptive. They appear to go down easily, but in reality, they can pile up and cause a sludgy, sediment-like mess in your drain. Better to toss them in the trash instead.

Shells

From eggshells to oyster shells, it’s smart to avoid tossing shells down the drain. When it comes to eggshells, some believe they’re perfectly fine to dispose of, while others say the membrane lining can stick to the sides of the disposal and wrap around the shredder, causing chaos in your appliance.

Shellfish and other shell-on seafood also take a long time to decompose, making them less ideal for your garbage disposal.

Fruit Pits

Have you ever tried to cut through a peach pit or avocado seed? That’s what you can expect to happen when you throw one down your garbage disposal: absolutely nothing.

Grease

Grease and oil are a big no-no for not just your garbage disposal, but your drain as well. They may seem liquid when you’re pouring them out, but they can quickly congeal and damage the sewer system. And sorry to break it to you, but this also applies to items like butter, peanut butter, and creamy sauces.

Pasta

Spaghetti, ziti, linguine, fusilli—whatever floats your boat—noodles always expand when exposed to water, even after they’re fully cooked. So whether you have a garbage disposal or not, you shouldn’t dump pasta down the drain, where it can swell and either fill the disposal trap or cause even bigger problems. Ditto for rice, potato peels, and other starchy foods.

2026-07-20T21:39:05Z