It would be convenient to tip every last scrap into the FC50 and be done with it. The good news is that it handles most everyday kitchen waste comfortably. A few things are still best left out, though — and knowing which is the easiest way to keep the unit running smoothly and lasting well.

What you can put in

The FC50 is designed for everyday food waste. Most of what comes off a chopping board or plate is fine:

• Fruit scraps — peels, cores, pits and pulp, including citrus.
• Vegetable scraps — raw or cooked, peelings, stalks and wilted bits.
• Meat — raw and cooked.
• Fish, and meat and poultry bones — the FC50 is built to process these.
• Coffee grounds and beans — used or unused; biodegradable filters too.
• Tea leaves — loose or in bags, as long as the bags are not plastic-based.
• Eggshells — crushed or whole.
• Bread, grains and cereal — cooked or stale.
• Cooked leftovers — rice, pasta, stews and small portions of meals.
• Soft plant trimmings — leaves, herbs, flower petals.
• Soft nut shells — peanut, pistachio or cashew.

As a rule of thumb, if it came from your kitchen and is not especially tough, oily or wet, the FC50 can usually handle it.

What to leave out

The FC50 is capable, but a few materials can clog it, wear it, or shorten its life. It is best to keep these out:

• Very tough, fibrous materials — corn husks, pineapple cores, bamboo peels. These are stringy and can wrap around the grinding mechanism.
• Large, hard bones and hard seafood shells — whole beef or pork leg bones, crab and lobster shells. Smaller meat, fish and poultry bones are fine, but very hard items can strain the grinding tools.
• Very fatty cuts and skin — duck skin, pork belly offcuts. A high fat content leads to greasy build-up inside the unit.
• Hot or used cooking oil — do not pour oil in. It coats the interior and can clog parts.
• Very sticky foods — rice cakes, large amounts of melted cheese, sticky desserts. These can clump and make cleaning difficult.
• Soups and watery stews — excess liquid is not ideal and can affect the cycle. Drain wet items first.
• Anything that isn't food — plastic, metal, rubber bands, twist ties or packaging. Food waste only.

Why it matters

The wrong contents can do more than make a mess. Over time they can wear the grinding tools, affect the inner coating, or interrupt a cycle. Treating the FC50 as you would any good kitchen appliance — feeding it the right things, in reasonable amounts — is what keeps it working well.

A few simple habits

• When in doubt, cut larger scraps into smaller pieces; it helps the cycle along.
• Avoid overloading the bucket — work to its 3L capacity rather than past it.
• Keep things running cleanly with regular filter checks and an occasional wipe-down of the bucket.

Used with a little care, the FC50 turns most of your everyday scraps into dry PlantMix — a quiet first step in returning food to the soil. From prep to soil.