# I Tested Kitchen Composters and Found Some Stink

> Kitchen composters grind food scraps into soil-like material but rarely make true compost.
- Title: I Tested Kitchen Composters and Found Some Stink · WIRED
- Summary: Kitchen composters grind food scraps into soil-like material but rarely make true compost.
- Keywords: kitchen composters, food recyclers, reencle prime, lomi 3, foodcycler eco 3, airthereal revive r800, mill food recycler, bokashi bin, compost, food waste, WIRED
- Source: WIRED — https://wired.com/story/home-composters-buying-guide
- Author: Kat Merck
- Published: 2022-03-31T12:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: kitchen composters, food recyclers, reencle prime, lomi 3, foodcycler eco 3, airthereal revive r800, mill food recycler, bokashi bin, compost, food waste
## What Kitchen Composters Do
Kitchen composters grind food scraps into dry material but don't create true compost.
## Why They Exist
Food waste makes up 24 percent of municipal solid waste, releasing methane as it breaks down in landfills.
## Reencle Prime
Reencle Prime ($499) produces material closest to usable compost with 8/10 rating.
## Reencle Prime Features
Reencle Prime uses activated carbon, wood pellets, glucose, and patented thermophilic microbes.
## Reencle Prime Operation
Reencle Prime operates like a heated trash can with sensor or button to open lid.
## Reencle Prime Output
Reencle Prime output resembles dirt and sawdust, usable after mixing with soil at 1:4 ratio.
## Reencle Prime Smell
Reencle Prime can stink but dry and purify buttons help mitigate odor.
## Reencle Gravity
Reencle Gravity ($649) is larger, accepts 3.3 pounds of waste daily, quieter than Prime.
## Lomi 3
Lomi 3 ($649) is best grind-and-dry food recycler with 3-liter capacity and quiet operation.
## Lomi 3 Features
Lomi 3 has easy push-button lid, Grow and Express modes, and clear lid for cycle visibility.
## FoodCycler Eco 3
FoodCycler Eco 3 ($400) produces extra-fine grounds but may develop creaking noises over time.
## Airthereal Revive R800
Airthereal Revive R800 ($300) is affordable but lacks included scrap bucket and has a loud fan.
## Mill Food Recycler
Mill Food Recycler ($999) ships grounds to Washington state farm for chicken feed.
## Bokashi Bin
Bokashi Bin ($83) uses anaerobic fermentation to break down food waste without electricity.
## Bokashi Bin Process
Bokashi Bin requires adding food scraps and microbe-infused bran, then burying after two weeks.
## Best Overall
Reencle Prime is top pick for producing material closest to usable compost.
## Key takeaway

Reencle Prime produces closest to usable compost among kitchen composters tested.