Can You Put Citrus Peels In A Garbage Disposal?

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Adding citrus peels to your garbage disposal seems harmless enough. After all, disposals are designed to grind up food waste, right? But is it actually safe to send citrus peels down the drain? As it turns out, there are a few factors to consider before tossing your orange, lemon, or lime peels into the garbage disposal.

How Citrus Peels Can Damage a Garbage Disposal

The oils in citrus peels can gum up the works. Citrus fruits contain aromatic oils that give them their fresh, bright scent and flavor.

Unfortunately, these fragrant oils can stick to the insides of the grinding components at your disposal. Over time, a buildup of oil residue causes problems.

The peels could get tangled or stuck. Most citrus peels are thin, pliable, and a little stringy. These types of food scraps are prone to tangling and jamming disposal blades and drains. If peels get wound around the shredder ring, it can prevent proper operation.

Citric acid can corrode metal parts. While citric acid is gentle enough for household use, it’s still an acid. Extended contact with the metal grinders and pipes in a garbage disposal can cause corrosion over time.

Bitter flavors from peels get into the system. Any juices squeezed from the peels or oils released during grinding can leave residues that taint the smell and taste of water from the tap. This foul flavor is tough to eliminate.

Best Practices for Disposing of Citrus Peels

Given the potential problems, it’s usually best to keep citrus peels out of the garbage disposal.

However, there are some safe ways to get rid of them.

Compost: Citrus peels can be composted whole or chopped into small pieces. The nutrients in the peels will enrich the compost.

Trash: Wrapping peels in paper towels or newspaper before putting them in the trash keeps oils from spreading.

Freeze: You can freeze peels to use later for baking, cooking, or adding to water for natural flavor.

Clean pipes: If some peels wind up in the disposal, flush it afterward with plenty of cold water and a little baking soda. Baking soda neutralizes acids and absorbs odors.

Tips to Help Your Garbage Disposal Handle Citrus Peels

If you decide to send citrus peels down the drain, there are a few things you can do to minimize problems:

  • Peel the fruit first, then squeeze the juice. Leaving some pulp on the peel cuts down on oils.
  • Chop or shred peels into very small pieces before adding them to the disposal. Smaller pieces are less likely to tangle or jam.
  • Grind peels while running lots of cold water. The water flushes away oils and residues.
  • Mix peels with other food scraps like egg shells, vegetable peels, or coffee grounds. This creates more grinding friction to pulverize the peels.
  • Clean the disposal regularly by grinding ice or running baking soda and vinegar through while flushing with water. This helps clean out any residue.

Frequently Asked Questions About Citrus Peels In Disposals

Are orange peels okay for garbage disposals?

Orange peels can work in garbage disposals, but it’s best to remove the fibrous white pith first and grind only small, chopped pieces while running plenty of water.

The natural citrus oils may leave an aftertaste if allowed to build up.

Can lemon peels go down the garbage disposal?

It’s best to keep lemon peels out of the disposal. The high acid content risks corroding metal parts over time. And the strong lemon oils are difficult to flush out completely. Compost or trash lemon peels instead, whenever possible.

Is lime peel bad for disposal?

Yes, lime peel is risky for garbage disposals. The tough outer rind is stringy and can tangle or jam the internal components.

The aromatic lime oil also clings to metal and plastic parts even after flushing with water. Avoid sending large amounts of lime peel residue down the drain.

What happens if you put orange peel down the garbage disposal?

Small amounts of shredded orange peel can pass through safely. But large pieces or excessive amounts can leave sticky citrus oil residues that gum up shredder parts.

And the fibrous pith could potentially tangle or block the machine. It’s better to use alternative disposal methods.

Can a garbage disposal handle lemon seeds?

A well-functioning garbage disposal can grind up a few small lemon seeds safely. But avoid putting a large quantity down the drain, as the seeds could jam moving shredder parts.

For the occasional few seeds, run plenty of cold water when grinding to flush the remains down the pipes.

The Bottom Line

Citrus peels present risks to garbage disposals, including potential jams, clogs, corrosion, and foul tastes. Your best bet is to keep peels out of the disposal when possible.

But if you do send some remains down the drain, shred them finely, grind them with cold water, and flush the pipes thoroughly after. With proper care, disposals can handle occasional, small amounts of citrus waste.

 

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