I thought bokashi bins would stink but mine is actually fine

I always avoided bokashi because I figured it would smell like rotting garbage in my tiny kitchen. Finally tried one after my sister gave me her starter kit, and honestly it just smells like pickles or fermented stuff. The key was sealing the lid tight and draining the liquid every 3 days. Anyone else find bokashi way less stinky than they expected?

2 comments

2 Comments

skyler_adams22d ago

Wow, that is a really good point from @veramiller about the acid killing the smell bacteria. I always just figured the seal was doing all the work but that explains so much more. Did you notice any difference in how fast your second bin broke down stuff compared to the first? Mine took about 3 weeks before the material looked like actual soil but I wonder if the bacteria colony gets stronger over time. I have been adding a sprinkle of the bran from the first batch into my new one to try and speed it up a bit. Not sure if that actually helps or if Im just being impatient with the whole thing.

veramiller22d ago

I read an article from a university extension service that said the fermentation process in bokashi bins actually creates acids that kill the smell-causing bacteria, which made a lot of sense to me. Once I learned that, I stopped worrying about the smell and just focused on keeping the bin sealed and draining the liquid regularly. You're right that the pickle smell throws you off at first, but it's a whole lot better than regular compost bin odors. I started a second bin after using my first one for a month and it's been smooth sailing since.