I'm not adverse to having a garbage disposal and after we just did a remodel on a 17-year-old home that we have owned I found in the garbage disposal wastewater line 30% blockage minimum from the garbage disposal and we use a very high-end disposal and always have. We've also treated our pipes with toxifying chemicals to keep the pipes clear.
When we remodeled the kitchen I did not want to have another garbage disposal because when I rerouted the piping I noticed that heavy blockage in my pipes and was perturbed at minimum. I don't like all those chemicals going into your water supply and I don't care what a water company does you can't get it out.
We were more than content in our new sink with its little basket to just dump that in the recycling or compost pile. And here we go with the food cycler from Vitamix. I think Vitamix is definitely leading the way here. We basically take all of our cooking goods and instead of throwing it in the trash or in the garbage disposal we just have the unit sitting next to the preparation area and it has a charcoal filter lid that rests simply on the top.
We are a family of three currently and that amount of food prep is what gets cycled every night. If we have a heavy prep day we may do two cycles.
I really appreciate this product because the volume that would go down my sink or in the trash can is cut by 100% in the sink and 96% minimum in trash because it dehydrates it grinds it and leaves it like a loose sediment. It even does small bones but they are still in their form so we just run those into the trash.
If we run a batch of non-animal related products we can take the remnant at a 10 to 1 ratio with soil and amend our soil and use it to consume in our bodies but if we use eggshells or cheese or something like that then we do not consume that in our bodies and at the same ratio use that for our flower planting.
It is so nice to know that my pipes are clean and our waste is minimalized. I'm not being a snotty person or anything like that it's just that having a farm/rancher mentality you tend to take care of everything that is before you and you waste not if you want not. Farmers and ranchers are good stewards of the Earth and that is a bit of a bias and an approach. And to have a product like this is awesome.
The underlying question is would I buy another one and I would definitely buy another one and I hope that some of the pricing will get a little less than a quality food grinder under the sink. I guess a question would be do we miss having a garbage disposal and the answer is resoundingly no. We have already adapted not even in a month of use and people are amazed that it's 4-Hour cycle.
Let's say we have some friends over for breakfast and we have a heavy processing day. Once the food is fully been prepped and the plates have been cleaned after the food has been eaten into this device we may run it right then because about 4 hours from now it'll be ready and it could be a little more than that depending on volume.
What do we do if we have another meal in between we then simply leave one plate with that preparation remnant and after dumping the original run will add the next remnant and then into dinner and of course start the cycle of nightly running. This product is well made, extremely simple to operate and a blessing for us.
I think another nice thing is not hearing a garbage disposal run or that putrid smell that emanates and that you have to constantly clean. That is a small benefit that I was not expecting.
Lastly, we are very mindful of our sink/drain management and what goes down that pipe. It has to end up somewhere. If I put something that is not necessarily great because of a habit or what I've been trained to do and it affects your water supply then I have not been a good neighbor to you and I have caused you an extra layer of toxicity that your body does not need.
So there you go, I hope you enjoy the purchase and maybe you have to wait for it to go on sale like we did and I am asking Vitamix to get a little bit lower price on that thing. But I would definitely save a little money and buy it. We try to pay for things in advance and wait until we have the money to pay for it as to not create a vicious cycle of credit and more so indebtedness.
Thank you Vitamix for a well thought out product and you got full thumbs up from us. Blessings to you all.
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This is a dehydrator, not a composter
I have used my Vitamix Food Cycler once a week since I bought it several months ago. I am pleased with this purchase and highly recommend it, for two main reasons:1. It keeps rotting food out of the landfill, which contributes to methane emissions.2. Dehydrated food is a compost kickstarter ingredient, and when mixed in with other compostable items, is ready to use within weeks.I live alone and eat a vegetarian diet, so my regular food mixture that goes into the Vitamix Food Cycler consists of coffee grounds, banana peels, kale stems, avocado peels, eggshells, onion and garlic remnants. Sometimes there are other veggies, like potatoes, and sometimes tomatoes.I cut everything into approx. two-inch pieces. I'm not entirely sure this is necessary, but my thought process is to cut down on excess heavy work for the machine in order to ensure longevity.It's important to note that the output is dehydrated food, NOT compost. I mix it in with dirt and leaves and such in a large open planter in my backyard, a homemade composter of sorts. I'll add it to my potting mix for spring and summer flowers.The photos show three full machine runs of dehydrated output. The silver bowl is 6 inches wide and 4 inches tall. I am always fascinated with the small amount of output I get from a full bucket of food. I only run the machine when I have enough to load into the bucket up to the "Fill" line. There are small pieces of onion peel in the mix. It comes out of the machine dry and crumbly.The Vitamix Food Cycler lives in my garage. A full cycle takes several hours to process, and since I live in a small house and work from home, I'd rather not hear the background hum as it dries and grinds.Bottom line: a solid product from a proven brand.
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Top reviews from other countries
- ChoeReviewed in Canada on June 1, 2024
This Makes My Life Sooooooo Easier
Color: GrayVerified Purchase
Firstly, I live in a condo. So, to dispose of food waste, I have to take the elevator down to the basement each time. Additionally, the food waste collection service company does not allow any compostable bags, they accept only paper bags so I have to purchase expensive paper food waste bags. The only company manufacturing these paper food waste bags that I could find in the supermarkets and drugstores I visited is quite expensive, and if food waste is left in them for too long, the liquid that forms can cause the bags to leak. As a result, I was very stressed about dealing with food waste. Then I bought this product, and it suits my living environment perfectly.ChoeThis Makes My Life Sooooooo Easier
Reviewed in Canada on June 1, 2024
At first, based on my experience using it, I noticed some of the downsides mentioned in reviews, but most of them were not significant issues for me.
1. Difficulty Handling Moist Food Waste: If you put extremely wet or greasy food waste into the machine, it is difficult for it to dry out. For instance, if you bought pork belly, didn't eat it, froze it, and then discarded it, the fat and moisture in the pork belly would leave a lot of residual moisture. However, in most cases, I place a colander in a bowl in the sink, collect food waste there throughout the day, press it to remove some moisture, and then put it in the food waste processor. This way, I don't encounter any significant problems.
2. Noise: Usually, if you place the food waste processor in the kitchen and close the bedroom door, you can barely hear its noise. However, if you put hard fruit seeds or chicken bones in it, there can be occasional loud noises every 5 or 10 minutes while it's running, which can be heard even with the bedroom door closed if the bedroom is close to the kitchen. (Not too loud if you are in a room and with door closed) In this case, I recommend placing the machine inside a kitchen cabinet and closing the drawer door. This significantly reduces the noise.
3. Food Waste Processing Time: It generally takes 6-8 hours, which might seem like a long time. However, I usually collect food waste throughout the day and put it in the processor at night, so I don't find the processing time particularly long.
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- Willow0707Reviewed in Canada on February 23, 2025
Something Extra For The Garden
Color: GrayVerified Purchase
