Because the bokashi process is an anaerobic one, you want to minimize the frequency of air getting into your bin. Unlike the usual kitchen trashcan that is opened several times a day, it’s best to add food scraps to your bokashi bin once or twice a day.
I’m not so sure if introducing air is such a problem, but opening and closing the airtight lid is a bit cumbersome. I have my bokashi bin located under my sink. To pull it out, unseal the lid, add food scraps, mix them a little, sprinkle bokashi mix, press it down to get trapped air out, reseal the lid and put it back under the sink more than twice a day is a bit much.
Midday and before going to bed are my two bokashi bin times. Everything else settles into a holding container.
Collecting Scraps
Collecting scraps is a twofold process. I have a readily available open plastic container that I toss food scraps into when I’m cooking. The open container makes it easy and sanitary while cooking. No need to touch the container, just toss. The old salad container otherwise would have gone into the recycle bin, but it was just the right size to be used as an interim food scrap holder.
When I’m finished cooking, I transfer the scraps to a 12-liter counter top trashcan. It’s a mini trashcan that holds the trash until I’m ready to throw it into the bokashi bucket. The mini-trash can also hold between snack remnants like apple peels and the like.
The trash can, which was purchased at Walmart, cost less than $15 and is about the size of a coffee maker. Twice a day I empty its contents into the bokashi bucket and rinse out the inner pail. At the end of the day, I give the inner pail a good wash to keep it clean and odor free.
Developing New Habits
When first transitioning to bokashi, you’ll have to place a reminder on the old trashcan to put food scraps into the smaller counter trashcan. It’s not so tough remembering which container to use while cooking, it’s the in-between snacks such as bananas or kiwis that require a reminder.
Expect slip-ups, but if you’re serious about the transition, eventually the reminders won’t be necessary.
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