The Best Kitchen Composters After Two Years of Testing

If you’re shopping for the best kitchen composters, it helps to know that most electric models do not produce finished compost. After two years of testing, I found that these machines mainly grind and dry food scraps, reducing waste volume and odor. A few, however, come closer to real compost than others.

What These Machines Actually Do

Food waste makes up roughly 24 percent of municipal solid waste in the US, according to estimates, and it releases methane as it breaks down in landfills. Electric composters address that problem by shrinking scraps, but only some use microbes to create a usable soil amendment. The rest are better described as food recyclers.

Top Pick: Reencle Essential

The Reencle Essential ($349) is the closest thing to a true composter I’ve tested. It uses a starter mix of activated carbon, wood pellets, glucose, and patented thermophilic microbes, and it operates like a heated trash can—just open the lid and add scraps. It handles 1.5 to 2.2 pounds per day, including meat and dairy, and runs at about 28 decibels. The output resembles dirt mixed with sawdust; you can mix it with potting soil at a 1:4 ratio and cure it for three weeks before using it on plants. The Essential is Reencle’s newest and least expensive model, with front controls and a manual lid.

The Reencle Prime ($449) is nearly identical but has top controls and a sensor-activated lid that opens and closes automatically. One of my Prime’s stirring paddles broke after 18 months of daily use; Reencle offers a free repair kit within the two-year warranty (for units purchased on or after May 13, 2026) or a $35 kit outside warranty. For larger households, the Reencle Gravity ($649) accepts 3.3 pounds per day and is nearly silent, though its contents turned anaerobic faster in my testing.

Best Grind-and-Dry: Lomi 3

The Lomi 3 ($449) is the best of the grind-and-dry group. It has a 3-liter countertop bucket, a push-button lid, and Grow and Express modes. It no longer accepts bioplastics, and its cycle runs from three to 16 hours. The output is very fine and can be mixed with soil at a 1:10 ratio (1:15 with meat or dairy). My test unit’s lid warped after a few months, and the replacement lid also began warping.

Also Great: FoodCycler Eco 3

The FoodCycler Eco 3 ($400) is a compact food recycler with a 3.5-liter capacity and a convenient lidded scrap pail. It produces very fine grounds, but after six months of regular use it started making loud groaning and creaking noises. The bucket can also be finicky to seat correctly.

Budget Option: Airthereal Revive R800

The Airthereal Revive R800 ($250) is a decent budget pick. It has a 5-liter capacity and a clear lid, but it lacks an included scrap bucket (a bucket-and-lid option costs $60 extra). It runs at about 40 decibels and has a carbon filter on the back that must be removed before use.

Largest Capacity: Mill Food Recycler

The Mill Food Recycler ($999) has a 6.5-liter capacity and can run for about a month before emptying. It is the only device that lets you mail the grounds to a farm in Washington state for chicken feed, for an extra fee. It is loud at around 60 decibels, so schedule cycles at night. The Plus model ($1,149) adds a wood-veneer top and foot pedal.

The Analog Option: Bokashi Bin

The Bokashi Living Bokashi Bin ($83) uses anaerobic fermentation. You add scraps and a microbe-infused bran, then drain the liquid every couple of days. After two weeks, the waste can be buried in your garden or added to a compost pile. It is silent and uses no electricity, but the process is messy and the smell can be strong.

How I Tested

I tested each machine for at least four weeks, and several for six weeks or longer, using them in my home kitchen with a family of three. I tried all cycles and used the output in my yard and potted plants. Some units were purchased, and others were samples provided by companies.