Does Celery Clog a Disposal?

Fibrous Vegetables and Fruits

• Do not place fibrous vegetables and fruits into your garbage disposal. The stringy consistency of these fruits and vegetables as they are being ground can wrap around the blades of the garbage disposal and cause the disposal to clog or to stop working.

Long Stalks

• Long stalks of vegetables such as celery or flower stems should not be ground in garbage disposals. These in-sink units are designed to grind small amounts of food remnants and not whole pieces of fruits or vegetables.

Clog Formations

• Clogs appear in garbage disposals from food remnants that cannot be ground and washed away with water. This happens often with starchy fruits and vegetables such as potatoes and bananas. Celery strings, however, can also form a hairlike clog because the long strings are not easily ground.

Maintenance Measures

• Protect your garbage disposal from clogs by placing a few ice cubes and lemon peels in the disposal. Turn on cool water and grind the cubes and peels for about 45 seconds.