Did you know that the Tero can process up to 95% of your food waste? It can even recycle and enhance certain foods that do not fit into the traditional compost bin, such as animal products (meat and fish) or dairy products.

It is therefore a simple, efficient and fast way to reuse your food scraps and turn them into a natural nutrient-rich fertilizer.

In this article, find out what foods can be disposed of in the Tero and why certain foods aren’t recommended for the device.

Happy reading!

1. Foods That You Can Always Put in the Tero

Among the foods that the Tero can always process are:

• Fruit and vegetable trimmings (including peels);
• Cereals, grains, nuts (without shells) and legumes;
• Eggs and eggshells;
• Coffee grounds and the interior of tea pouches;
• Solid dairy products, such as cheese.

All of these foods are very easy to process and will be very beneficial to your soil and plants, especially with all the nutrients they contain.

The Tero is equipped with a grinding system that is robust enough to grind small chicken bones (thigh bones, wings or carcass) and fish bones. The avocado seed (which is actually quite soft) as well as corn cobs cut into sections can also be added.

Finally, the Tero stands out from several other organic waste recycling solutions because it can process raw meat and fish. Why? Because its unique drying technology emits heat high enough to destroy all human-damaging pathogens found in this type of food. The final fertilizer material therefore has no chance of being contaminated.

2. Foods That You Can Put in Small Doses in the Tero

The foods listed in this section are not restricted to be used for the Tero, just put them in smaller quantities and be sure to mix them with other foods mentioned in section 1. Adding too much of these foods may render a lower-quality natural fertilizer. 

For example, starchy foods (pasta, rice, potatoes) as well as foods that are too sweet or sticky (peanut butter, jams, cakes, desserts, etc.) may clump together and result in a less uniform and less appealing fertilizer. It’s the same for very sweet fruits (melons, grapes, pineapples, bananas). That said, there is no problem adding a piece of toast with a little peanut butter.

On the other hand, foods that are too salty contain a significant amount of sodium. Too much of this nutrient in the soil could be harmful to your plants, as you risk causing osmosis, which causes them to dry out and eventually die. Once again, a small amount of salty food may be processed by the Tero, provided that it’s mixed with other foods mentioned in section 1.

Finally, some of the more fibrous or robust foods will be better ground if you cut them into smaller pieces beforehand: banana, melon or pineapple peels, the asparagus stalks, etc.

3. Foods That You Can Never Put in the Tero

It is important to note that for several reasons, some foods can never be processed by the Tero.

Firstly, very hard food can damage the device, break the blades inside the bowl, or get stuck between the blades and block the motor. These include:

• Wallnut shells;
• Pistachio shells;
• Oyster and coconut shells;
• Certain fruit pits, such as peaches, mangoes or nectarines;
• Large bones found in beef or pork
  

Liquid shouldn’t be used in large quantities, but you can put wet food in the device. For example, a glass of milk or soup broth cannot be processed, while chicken with sauce drippings or large food pieces in soup (pasta, meat, legumes) can be processed. Too much liquid can damage the device by leaking into the heating or electrical system.

Fats and oils are simply too fat to be dehydrated by the Tero and may also harm the health of your plants. However, we are talking about the addition of these elements in large quantities. For example, a salad leaf with dressing remains on it could be processed by the device without any problem.

Finally, the Tero recycles and recovers only organic waste. Unlike traditional compost, there are no insects or microorganisms to digest different materials. Rather, it is a unique drying and grinding technology, which explains why paper, coffee filters, tea bags, tissue paper and compostable bioplastics cannot be transformed by the Tero.

In short, the Tero allows you to transform several foods into a natural nutrient-rich fertilizer for your lawn, outdoor plants or vegetable garden. Its use is intuitive, and you will quickly discover which foods offer you a more satisfying fertilizer. Also, be aware that a guide will be provided upon receipt of your device to remind you what can and cannot be processed by the Tero. 

By: Claudia Larose