If you’re looking for the best composting grinder you might have a hard time. Some people try to use wood chippers as composters, and that just doesn’t work. You need an actual composter to correctly take care of your food scraps, pulverizing them into nutrient-rich plant food for your yard or garden. Each of these composters is easy to use, efficient, and each has a specific specialty.
Each composter on this list has been paired against others in the market and they’ve come out on top as our favorites for one reason or another, so stop scouring the internet trying to find the right composter for you, we’ve got it covered. From your kitchen to your lavish garden outside, each of these composters can help you handle the amount of compost you need in your life. Helping your plants grow, all while reducing that carbon footprint. So let’s take a look at our best composting grinder list.
Table of Contents
In a Hurry? Here’s Our Top Picks…
1. An Awesome Kitchen Composter
- NEW AND IMPROVED - Now with Filter Monitoring System - Never worry about when to change your filters again!
- All in one food composter makes composting kitchen waste a snap. Reduces kitchen waste up to 90% of it's original volume
- Kitchen Compost Shredder Composts to a viable soil amendment in less than 3 hours
- Odorless and environmentally conscious kitchen compost container
- No venting, draining or additives required
Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
If you’re looking for one of the best composting grinders, one that’s odorless, does not require venting or draining, and has a filter monitoring system, look no further. This tiny kitchen grinder packs a big punch by grinding your excess food to a pulp every single time. Of course, there are certain foods you shouldn’t compost, but it can tear apart the approved kinds of foods with relative ease. This little grinder is all about making your life easy.
The built-in filter monitoring system lets you know when to change your filter, and without odor, or venting and draining requirements you can be sure this little composter can easily be overlooked by guests, friends, and family. There are occasionally some design flaws with this model though, which leads to breakage, and some don’t consider the ground up food particles to be actual compost. Regardless of that though this little machine does a great job of taking your food waste and making it useable.
Things We Like
- Filter Monitoring System
- No venting or draining required
- Odorless
Things We Don’t
- Some don’t consider it compost
- May have some design flaws
2. Mini Compost Bin
- The intelligent multiple chamber compost bin with adjustable ventilation for summer and winter
- Saves laborious shifting of compost, due to its 3-phase system the waste is mixed and aerated two times by gravity
- Walls include unique "active" aeration system-which provides controlled air flow for optimal microbial action
- Large filling and removal flaps with Snap-On wind protection
- Hinged lid with turning handle "lock" to keep animals out
Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This mini composter is just a little larger than our first, landing it on our best composting grinder list. If you use the hanger attachment this bin comes with you can easily hang it inside a kitchen cabinet. This bin is made to be dishwasher safe and keep insects at bay as you compost your food. Unfortunately, some people aren’t completely happy with their purchase. Some claim food sticks to the rolling lid, and others state that this machine just grinds up the food into a pulp and doesn’t really make compost.
Other people have been very happy with this little machine though, some use it as a composter, and others as a pre-compost option, so either way this little machine gets the job done.
Things We Like
- Larger kitchen use
- Dishwasher safe
- Keeps insects at bay
Things We Don’t
- Food occasionally sticks to rolling lid
3. This Super Smart Compost Bin
- 2nd Generation Totem Max 60L has a space-saving vertical design with 2 compartments to maximize trash and recycling capacity. Dimensions of Totem Max unit with lid closed (inches): 15.35 L x 14.5 W x 32 H; Totem Max with lid open (inches): 15.35 L x 14.5 W x 43.8 H
- Features an 8-gallon general waste compartment at the top and an 8-gallon multi-purpose recycling drawer at the base, Removable buckets with liner retaining holes and carrier bag hooks
- Each compartment includes a removable bucket with hooks for securing trash liners and breather vents that make bag removal easier
- 0. 8-Gallon removable compost bin with lid can be stored in the general waste compartment, The multi-purpose drawer, or on a kitchen counter
- Replaceable carbon filter inside the lid helps eliminate odors. 10-Year included.
Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This bin is an all-around great compost bin, but it doesn’t just compost your old food scraps. This bin also doubles as a recyclable bin helping you keep your things organized before you take them to the curb putting it on our best composting grinder list. It makes your life easier overall, your compost is handled, as are your recycling needs. We also enjoy the fact that in total this bin holds 16 gallons, the carbon filter helps with odor elimination, as well.
All good things have a downside though, and this little compost bin has two. FIrstly the quality control needs a little bit more control, it seems like drawers and other parts are slightly askew in some units. Secondly, the customer service when you get pieces like this isn’t great, making for a difficult time if you have a faulty unit. Thankfully most units aren’t faulty, so you shouldn’t have an issue with this all-around kitchen composter.
Things We Like
- 16 Gallon Total
- The carbon filter helps eliminate odors
- Perfect for all recycling needs
Things We Don’t
- Poor quality control
- Poor customer service
4. This Outdoor Garden Composter
- YOUR RECIPE FOR PLENTIFUL PLANTS – Do you dream of a huge harvest or a front yard full of vibrant flowers? Achieve all of your garden goals with Miracle-Gro’s large rolling compost tumbler! It’ll help you produce a constant and abundant flow of the coveted “black gold.” Give your plants the nutrient-dense fertilizer they crave, and watch your garden bloom like never before!
- HEAVY-DUTY, CONSTANT COMPOST – Serious gardeners need an endless supply of compost to keep their gardens looking and producing their best. Miracle-Gro’s turning garden composter does just that with its dual chamber design and high volume capacity. Add compost ingredients to 1 side, while letting the other side cure, and you’ll never get caught without compost again!
- FAST AND EASY – Stop struggling with that clunky, cumbersome, difficult to use outdoor compost bin! Miracle-Gro’s rotating compost bin is easy to use for everyone. Our efficient tumbler system is simple to load and unload, while creating perfectly cooked compost without having to dig, turn, or mix by hand. It’s also designed to speed up decomposition, yielding rich, fertile compost in just 4-6 weeks!
- LONG LASTING DEPENDABILITY – With a name like Miracle-Gro, you know you’re getting nothing but the best quality. This all seasons compost bin tumbler is crafted with sturdy side-locking mechanisms, a strong galvanized steel base, and tight seals to keep out unwanted pests. Plus, the BPA-free, food grade, UV-protected plastic ensures faster and more efficient composting all year round, while never leaching harmful toxins.
- EFFORTLESS MAINTENANCE - Forget about constantly turning your compost pile by hand. With Miracle-Gro’s compost bin tumbler, simply give it a few rotations every few days, and let the innovative design do the hard work for you.
Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This composter, unlike the others in this list, isn’t for the kitchen. This is a compact outdoor garden composter that’s used outside to tumble your compost into a delectable treat for your garden. The compact design helps it fit in just about anywhere, helping you to reduce your carbon footprint. There also happens to be free gloves with every purchase, which is a great addition. It also keeps out small pests, and though you do have to tumble your compost, it is a quick and efficient little composter.
Some people aren’t happy with this little composter though. There is some difficulty putting it together, and with this, some people believe that this isn’t a quality composter. We haven’t seen any issues that can’t be concluded with user error, but it’s always important to be aware of potential issues. Regardless of that this composter is lightweight, compact, and easy to use landing it on our best composting grinder list.
Things We Like
- Compact space-saving design
- Helps reduce the carbon footprint
- Free pair of gloves with purchase
Things We Don’t
- May be poorly designed
5. This Barrel-Like Composter
- 7 cubic foot capacity
- Fully Assembled - Low maintenance
- Wheeled Base
- Large 12" twist-off lid
- Black color for heat absorption
Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This composter is no small contender, with seven cubic feet of space to play with you can compost quite a bit which has landed it on our best composting grinder list. This beast comes fully assembled, so you don’t have to fight to get it together, and it’s pet and child safe with its 12-inch wide twisting lid making it an excellent selection for anyone who composts regularly.
Unfortunately, there is always a downside, and the downside for this massive composter is rain. Keeping this composter out of the rain is important because the water build-up could prevent the food from actually composting, causing a bad smell. If you can keep it out of the rain though, you’re sure to have a wonderful way to make large amounts of compost at the same time.
Things We Like
- Already fully assembled
- Pet and child safe
- The capacity of 7 cubic feet
Things We Don’t
- Water may build up inside the bin from rain
Education
Composting is a method that has been around for a long time, in 1905 Sir Albert Howard proposed the idea of churning earth together during decomposition, developing the Indore method of composting, which was just the first step. Rudolph Steiner then later encouraged composting in 1924 as a wonderful method for farmers and gardeners alike to encourage their crops to grow. Through experimentation and trial and error, there were several methods developed for composting.
The first was the Indore method, where five-foot piles of compost were turned every six to twelve weeks. This is the most primitive way to handle compost, but it works well even today.
The University of California Method is a little bit different, developed under Dr. Gloueke is very similar to the Indore method, just on a smaller faster scale. Decomposition happens faster in California because of the heat, so turning more frequently is a requirement.
The third and final method is the biodynamic method, this method is the most common today. It employs composting tumblers, the raised bin method, compost in a bag, and includes some other forms making up the most regularly practiced compost methods to date.
Composting is a very important process in the ecosystem, the breaking down of plant mass is invaluable to living organisms that can directly benefit from the compost, using it for nutrients as they thrive and grow. This is all aided by using a great composting grinder, like the ones on this best composting grinder list.
Composting FAQ
Q: When is my compost ready to use?
A: That depends on what it’s going to be used for, usually, though it’s ready to use when it’s been broken down to the point where it’s dark and crumbly, i should have a pleasant earthy smell to it.
Q: What Can I Add To My Composter?
A: Only soft organic materials should be added to a composter to make compost with such as leaves, hay, vegetable clippings, and other green plant matter. You can even add cardboard. Do not add meats or whole fruits and vegetables to your composter.
Q: I’ve never made compost before how do I start?
A: It’s actually quite easy, all you need is some scraps of compostable materials, like vegetables, leaves, or the like and a place to pile it up. It’d also be wise to have something to toss the pile with like a shovel or pitchfork. COmposting really is just that easy.
Q: What Do I Do In Winter?
A: That depends if your compost freezes or not. If you aren’t in an area that freezes in the winter than you’re going to need to keep churning your compost because it’ll keep breaking down. If you do freeze in the winter though, feel free to keep your compost pile going, but it won’t start breaking down again until the warmer weather hits.
Q: Why does my compost smell bad?
A: If your compost smells too bad it could be a mix of a few different issues. Your pile could be to wet, it could lack air for circulation or it might have way too much nitrogen in it. It also might smell a little bad because it’s literally a pile of decomposition, but the first three options are just as valid and likely of a problem. Adding dry materials, turning the pile over, and adding brown materials will help with these problems respectively.
Q: My compost attracts critters, what should I do?
A: A well-managed pile of compost rarely attracts curious animals, one option is that you haven’t been taking care of the pile as much as you should be. Another is the very possible option that you placed something you shouldn’t have, such as meat or animal fat, in the pile. This is going to attract animals to your pile no matter how often you turn it.
Q: Do I have to have a bin to compost?
A: No, you don’t have to have a bin of any kind, both the Indore and University of California methods are done outside without a bin, granted it would be wise to have an area just for composting, but you don’t need much more than a pile on the ground to start your composting journey.
Q: How often should I turn my pile?
A: That depends on when you want to use it if you want to use it soon, turn often. If you’ve got plenty of time don’t worry about turning it as often, 6 to 12 weeks is the minimum requirement but turn it as often as you need to. You’ll also need to take the heat, the cold, and other factors in when it comes to deciding when to turn your pile. Or you could use one of our choices of the best composting grinders.
Final Thoughts
Finding the best composting grinder isn’t an easy feat, and there are a lot of different composters out there. From those that hang out in your kitchen to those that tumble in your garden, there are plenty of options to tackle the composting issue at hand. Do you want a compact easy to use kitchen grinder? Or are you looking for a larger, more heavy-duty garden composter? Either way, you’re sure to find the composter you need on this list to make your backyard follow your dream design.
If you don’t find one you’d like to take a look at some of the other composting methods in the education section above you don’t have to compost with these composters. Though they do usually work very well when it comes to breaking down plant material for your own uses. The most important part is that you choose a composter that is perfect for your needs. From the tiny kitchen options to the large outdoor methods, you’re sure to find a great composter for your needs on this list.
