How to Bokashi Compost at Home: A Step-by-Step Guide

Bokashi is a way to compost food scraps by fermenting them in a sealed bin instead of letting them rot. Everything from your kitchen can go in, including meat, dairy, and cooked leftovers. Because the bin stays sealed, there's no smell and nothing for pests to get into.

We make our own bokashi bran on our farm in Missouri and use bokashi to turn food scraps back into healthy soil. Here's how it works.

What you need

• A bokashi bin: an airtight bin with a drain valve and a grate in the bottom. Ours hold 4 gallons and measure 14" x 12" x 12".
• Bokashi bran: bran inoculated with beneficial microbes that ferment the scraps. A 1 lb bag of our MO-kashi bran covers two full bins.
• A packing tool: a small shovel or masher to press scraps down.
• Food scraps: fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, dairy, bread, coffee grounds, and leftovers.

Step 1: Prep the bin

Close the drain valve and set the grate in the bottom of the bin. Sprinkle a thin layer of bran on the grate.

Step 2: Add scraps and bran in layers

Add your food scraps and sprinkle bran over each new layer. Press everything down firmly to push out air, since bokashi fermentation works without oxygen. Seal the lid tightly after every addition. Repeat until the bin is full.

Step 3: Drain the liquid

As scraps ferment, liquid collects under the grate. Drain it off through the valve every couple of days so the scraps don't sit in it.

Step 4: Let it ferment

Once the bin is full, leave it sealed for 3 to 4 weeks. Don't open it during this time, because letting oxygen in disrupts fermentation. This is why many people use two bins: you can keep filling a second bin while the first one ferments.

Step 5: Use the finished bokashi

Fermented bokashi isn't finished compost yet. It's a pre-compost that breaks down quickly once it meets soil or an active pile. You have four good options:

• Bury it. Dig a trench or hole in a garden bed, add the bokashi, and cover it with soil.
• Layer it into planters. Build large planters lasagna-style, alternating bokashi with other soil.
• Feed it to chickens. Chickens will happily work through fermented scraps.
• Add it to a hot compost pile. Mixing bokashi into an existing aerobic pile gives faster, more even breakdown.

Then empty the bin, rinse it, and start again.

Will animals dig it up?

This is the question we hear most, and the answer is no. Fermented bokashi doesn't attract wildlife the way rotting food does. Customers have left finished bins open outside and watched raccoons walk right past them to raid the bird feeder instead. Once bokashi is buried, we've never seen it dug up or disturbed.

Bokashi FAQ

Does bokashi smell?
Not while the lid is sealed. It's a fermentation process, so it doesn't produce the rotten smell of a trash can or a neglected compost pile.

Can I really compost meat and dairy?
Yes. That's one of bokashi's biggest advantages over a backyard pile, where meat and dairy attract pests.

How much bran do I need?
A 1 lb bag covers two full 4-gallon bins, which is about 2 months of scraps for an average family.

How long does the whole process take?
Filling a bin depends on how much you cook. Once it's full, fermentation takes 3 to 4 weeks.

Do I need a yard?
It helps to have somewhere to use the finished bokashi, but large planters work well too. You can layer bokashi into planters with other soil.

Get started

Our 2 Bin Bokashi Starter Kit includes two 4-gallon bins, bran, a packing shovel, and a drain cup, so you can keep a continuous cycle going. Prefer to start small? Try the Single Bokashi Bin Set. Both ship free, and you can restock with MO-kashi bran anytime.

Watch more on our YouTube channel: @BLHFarm.