What Not to Put Down Your Garbage Disposal During Summer Grilling Season

Summer is grilling season.

Whether you're hosting a backyard barbecue, celebrating the Fourth of July or Labor Day, or simply enjoying dinner on the patio, summer gatherings often create a lot of food—and a lot of kitchen cleanup.

Unfortunately, many homeowners treat their garbage disposal like a magic machine that can handle anything. In reality, your garbage disposal is a helpful kitchen tool, but it's not designed to process a lot in terms of food waste. That’s what your garbage can is for.

So, before you start cleaning up after your next cookout, here are a few things you should never put down your garbage disposal during summer grilling season.

Grease, Oil, and Fat

Let's start with one of the biggest offenders.

After cooking burgers, steaks, hot dogs, or brats, you may be tempted to pour leftover grease down the drain. But while grease may be liquid when it's hot, it doesn't stay that way for long.

As grease cools, it solidifies inside your pipes. Over time, it sticks to pipe walls and collects other debris, eventually creating stubborn blockages that can lead to slow drains or backups. Which is right around the time you have to call someone like us to come help out—and that’s never a fun way to end a party.

Instead, allow grease to cool and wipe the solidified grease into the trash. Alternatively, pour it into a disposable container and then throw it away.

Corn Husks

Nothing says summer quite like fresh sweet corn.

Unfortunately, corn husks and silk are terrible for garbage disposals. Their stringy fibers can wrap around the disposal's moving parts, making it harder for the unit to function properly.

Those same fibers can also contribute to drain clogs farther down the line.

When you're cleaning corn, we’d recommend that you send the husks and silk directly to the trash or compost pile instead.

Fruit Rinds

Watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew are summer favorites! Nonetheless, those thick rinds can be tough on your disposal.

Because they're dense and fibrous, fruit rinds don't break down easily. Large pieces can jam or even break the disposal. Assuming they make it past the blades, they could create blockages in your plumbing system.

On the note of fruit, peach pits, avocado pits, mango pits, and other large fruit seeds are also too hard for your garbage disposal.

Better to just throw fruit extras in the trash or compost bin!

Bones

This one might surprise some of you, but you’d be amazed at the things we’ve seen at G.T. Campbell Plumbing.

Listen: it doesn't matter whether they're chicken bones, rib bones, or leftover steak bones from the grill. Your garbage disposal doesn't want them.

Sure, some disposals may appear powerful enough to grind small bones. But putting them through the system can dull blades, strain components, and shorten the life of your unit.

Your disposal is designed for small food scraps, not heavy-duty grinding.

Pasta, Rice, and Potato Peels

This one might surprise you for another reason. After all, such soft foods may seem relatively harmless to your powerful garbage disposal. 

Au contraire!

Starches absorb water and expand. Once inside your pipes, they can create a thick, sticky mess that restricts water flow and contributes to clogs.

Potato peels can be particularly troublesome because they often form a paste-like consistency when ground up.

Final Thoughts and What Should Go Down the Disposal During Summer Grilling Season

So, at this point you might be wondering what the heck you CAN put down your garbage disposal. The truth is, very little. You see, a garbage disposal works best when handling small food scraps that break down easily.

As a general rule, scrape large food waste into the trash or compost bin first. Then use the disposal for small remnants left behind on plates and cookware.

Your garbage disposal can make kitchen cleanup much easier, but it's important to remember that it has limits.

If your disposal is making unusual noises, draining slowly, or causing recurring clogs, our team can help.