Bokashi composters: how to choose the right one? Our 4 bins compared

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All bokashi bins work on the same principle: an airtight container, a grid or strainer that keeps the waste above the liquid, and a way of draining that liquid off. Yet in everyday use, the difference lies in the details: capacity, how you drain it, the quality of the seal, the compactor. A well-chosen bin is one you will enjoy using for years.

This guide first sets out the criteria that really matter, then gives you an honest overview of the four models we offer, with their strengths and their limitations.

The criteria that really matter

Capacity

This is the first criterion, and the one most often misjudged. The right bin is one you fill in roughly one to two weeks. Too small, and it overflows within a few days, leaving you juggling. Too large, and it takes more than a month to fill: you open it dozens of times, air gets in every time, and the last layers wait a long time for their turn.

Airtightness

Bokashi is an airless fermentation. A lid that doesn't close properly opens the door to bad smells and fruit flies. Check the quality of the seal and the closing system: clips, a lid with a wide seal or a push-fit lid.

Draining the liquid

The waste releases a liquid that needs to be drained off regularly. There are three options: a tap, handy but it can work loose or clog over time; a screw-on drain plug, simpler, but you need to place a container underneath; a collection drawer, the cleanest to use.

The grid or strainer

It separates the waste from the liquid. Without it, the bottom of the bin sits in liquid and ends up smelling bad. A fine strainer, or one lined with a filter, also reduces the risk of a clogged tap.

The compactor

Pressing down each layer drives out the air: it is an essential step. A compactor that covers the full width of the bin presses more effectively and saves you getting your hands dirty.

Size and maintenance

Measure the space available, under the sink for instance, allowing for the height needed to slip a glass under the tap. Also check that the bin is easy to clean: few nooks and crannies, removable parts.

What capacity for your household?

The usual guidelines are as follows: about 10 litres for one to two people, about 15 litres for three to four people. But the amount of waste varies enormously from one household to another: depending on whether you cook a lot of fresh vegetables or tend towards ready meals, the volume can double.

The simplest thing is to measure. For one week, collect your kitchen scraps in a small kitchen caddy and note how many times you empty it. Bear in mind that pressed-down waste takes up far less room than it does in the bin.

Emy's tip

Before you buy, tip a week's worth of chopped scraps into a measuring container and press them down with the flat of your hand: you will know how many litres your household really produces.

Whatever the capacity, one bin is not enough: once full, it must stay closed for at least two weeks. We explain why in our guide on the benefits of working with two bins.

Our four bokashi composters, model by model

All our bins come with a measuring scoop and a 1 kg bag of our activator, which we make here on the farm. Here is what sets them apart.

The Confort Bokashi Composter: the sturdiest for everyday use

The Confort Bokashi Composter holds 14 litres, a good balance between capacity and size (about 29 cm high). Its sealed lid locks with three fasteners, making it very airtight. The liquid drains through a tap at the bottom of the bin, beneath a grid that keeps the waste dry. The compactor hooks onto a holder on the back of the bin, so it is always to hand.

Who is it for? A household of two to four people who want a simple, sturdy bin.

Good to know: as with any bin with a tap, plan to raise it slightly, on the edge of a shelf for example, so you can slip a glass underneath.

The Skaza Organko 2: the most compact and the most elegant

The Skaza Organko 2 Bokashi Composter is the smallest in our range: 9.6 litres, measuring about 25 cm square and 34 cm high. Its design has won a Red Dot Award, and it is made from recycled plastic. It consists of an airtight inner container that slots into an outer container, with a very handy carrying strap for taking it out to the garden.

It has no tap but a screw-on drain plug: you unscrew it over a container and the liquid drains out. Fewer parts means less risk of leaks. Its compactor covers the full width of the bin and folds in half for removal: you pull it out by the longer part of the handle, without forcing, and you can leave it in place on the waste between additions.

Who is it for? A single person or a couple, a small kitchen, anyone who wants a discreet item on the worktop.

Good to know: its small capacity means emptying it more often. With two bins, the rotation is easy.

The Skaza Essential: large capacity for families

The Skaza Essential Bokashi Composter is sold as a kit of two bins of 15.3 litres each, giving more than 30 litres in total. The bins are made from recycled plastic sourced from packaging. Each one has its own built-in tap and drainage strainer. A base, on which the bins stack, includes a collection drawer that catches the liquid. The handle is wide and sturdy. According to the manufacturer, the bins are dishwasher-safe up to 55 °C.

Who is it for? Families, keen cooks, anyone with a garden to feed.

Good to know: this is the bulkiest of our models (about 35 × 28 cm footprint and 31 cm high per bin). Measure your cupboard before ordering.

The Urbalive: a liquid drawer, no tap to fiddle with

The Urbalive Bokashi Composter has a usable capacity of 10.6 litres, with a footprint of about 26 × 24 cm and a height of 35 cm. Its special feature: the liquid drains into a 0.25-litre transparent drawer that slides under the bin. Gentle pressure on the drawer lets the liquid flow; as soon as you remove it, an automatic valve closes. The base has a strainer lined with three interchangeable fabric filters, which let only the liquid through and stop the system from clogging. The lid has a very wide seal and the compactor spans the full width of the bin.

Who is it for? A household of one to three people, anyone who wants to collect the liquid cleanly, without holding a glass under a tap.

Good to know: as the drawer is small, it needs emptying often, especially if you add a lot of fruit and vegetables.

Key points

Organko 2 and Urbalive for small households and small kitchens, Confort for a medium-sized household, Essential for families. Whichever you choose, plan on two bins.

Spare parts and accessories

A well-maintained bokashi bin lasts a long time. Parts that wear out or go missing, such as the Organko 2's plug or the Essential's strainer, are available as spare parts: there is no need to replace the whole bin. Maintenance tasks, from the seal to the tap, are covered in detail in our guide on maintaining and draining your bokashi.

Two accessories are also genuinely useful: a small kitchen caddy for pre-collection, to gather the day's scraps so you open the bokashi less often, and a supply of activator kept dry. To get off to a good start with your new bin, follow our method for starting your first bokashi step by step.

Did you know?

There is no “miracle” bin: they all work the same way. A simple bin that is well pressed down, properly closed and drained regularly will ferment better than a top-of-the-range model opened every hour.

What about making your own bin?

It is perfectly possible with two nested food-grade buckets and a drill. The homemade version costs less, but airtightness and draining are less convenient. If the idea appeals, follow our tutorial on making your own bokashi bin. Think about the location before choosing, too: our guide where to put your bokashi will help you check that the model you have in mind will fit.

In summary

Choose the capacity first: a bin you fill in one to two weeks. Then check the airtightness of the lid, how the liquid is drained (tap, plug or drawer), and the presence of a grid and a good compactor. In our range, the Organko 2 and the Urbalive suit small households, the Confort medium-sized households and the Essential families. Whatever the model, plan on two bins so you never have to interrupt the sorting of your scraps.

Related products

Best Seller

Bokashi Confort Composter

14-litre capacity, available individually or as a set of 2

€50.22

Best Seller

Bokashi EM compost activator | 1 kg bag

Individually or in sets of 2 or 3 bags

€8.15

Skaza Essential Bokashi Composter

Capacity 15.3 litres, set of 2 buckets

€78.93

Urbalive Bokashi composter

Capacity 10.6 litres, available individually or in sets of 2

€80.97

Other topics in the guide

Vermicomposting30 sheets →Composting25 sheets →EM micro-organisms26 sheets →