Bokashi Composting in an Apartment: How It Works

You want to compost, but your apartment is small and the fear of bad smells is holding you back? You may have heard of bokashi as a compact, tightly sealed option for apartments. It does work. There’s just one detail that few people mention up front.

Bokashi is a fermentation method: kitchen scraps go into a tightly sealed bucket, in layers, with a bran that contains microorganisms. During the process, you drain a liquid through a spigot at the bottom. At the end, the fermented material isn’t finished compost yet and still needs to break down in soil.

What is bokashi and how does it work?

Bokashi is a Japanese word used for a method of treating food waste through fermentation. Instead of letting air in, like in a regular compost bin, you seal everything tightly. A bran inoculated with microorganisms makes the scraps ferment, a bit like pickles or sauerkraut.

That’s the big difference. A regular compost bin needs air flowing. Bokashi does the opposite: the less air, the better.

The bucket must stay tightly closed

The bucket has an airtight lid and usually a small spigot at the bottom. Open it only when you’re adding scraps, and close it right away.

Bran is the key ingredient

Bokashi bran is a dry material, like wheat or rice bran, that has been inoculated with beneficial microorganisms. Without it, scraps rot instead of fermenting.

The smell is sour, not rotten

Healthy bokashi has a sour smell, similar to vinegar or pickles. You notice it when you open the lid, and it goes away once you close it. A rotten smell means something is wrong.

How do you do bokashi composting in an apartment, step by step?

The process is simple and repeats with every batch of scraps. You add chopped scraps to the bucket, sprinkle bran on top, press down firmly to push out the air and close the lid. When the bucket is full, it rests closed. Throughout the process, you drain the liquid at the bottom often.

Prepare the bucket with a thin layer of bran at the bottom.
Chop your scraps. Smaller pieces ferment better.
Add a layer of scraps and cover it with bran.
Press the layer down with a spatula or a plate to push out the air.
Close the lid right away.
Drain the liquid at the bottom whenever it builds up.
When the bucket is full, leave it closed to rest for a while.
Bury the fermented material in soil, which is the final stage.

A helpful tip is to have two buckets. While one rests full, the other receives new scraps.

To keep scraps from piling up by the sink between batches, read our article on how to store kitchen scraps without odors or mess.

What can go in a bokashi bucket?

It takes fruit and vegetable peels and scraps, coffee grounds and tea bags, just like a regular compost bin. Bokashi also usually accepts small amounts of cooked leftovers, something a regular compost bin avoids.

Take it slow on this point. Start with raw scraps and add cooked food only gradually, in small amounts and always well covered with bran.

Liquids, large bones and anything non-organic stay out. For raw scraps, our list of what can and can’t go in your compost bin is a good reference.

What do you do with bokashi liquid?

The liquid that drains to the bottom of the bucket needs to be removed often. If it builds up, the scraps get soggy and the smell gets worse. This liquid is very concentrated and acidic, so it should never go on plants undiluted. Dilute it well in plenty of water before using it on the soil in your pots.

Water the soil, not the leaves. And use it soon after draining, because stored liquid can develop a strong smell.

Is bokashi material ready-to-use compost?

No, and this is the question that catches apartment dwellers off guard the most. When it comes out of the bucket, the material is fermented, but it hasn’t become compost yet. The scraps still look recognizable and are acidic. It needs to finish breaking down mixed into soil or inside a regular compost bin.

Option 1: a large pot or a box of soil

Set aside a large pot, a deep planter or a box of soil. Dig a hole, add the fermented material, mix it with a little soil and cover it well with more soil on top.

Then just wait. How long it takes depends on temperature and quantity.

Avoid planting seedlings right on top of fresh material. Because it’s acidic, it can harm delicate roots. Wait until it has blended into the soil.

Option 2: a regular compost bin

If you already have a compost bin, you can add the fermented material to it, always covered with dry material. It usually breaks down faster than fresh scraps.

If it’s a worm bin, add only small portions at a time. The acidity can bother the worms if too much goes in at once.

When this stage is over, the soil becomes dark and crumbly. Now it’s ready to use on your plants. See how to use compost in pots, vertical gardens and planters.

What’s the difference between bokashi, a bucket compost bin and a worm bin?

The main difference is the process. Bokashi ferments scraps in a sealed bucket and requires a final stage in soil. A stacked bucket compost bin breaks down scraps with air and dry material. A worm bin uses worms to speed up the work. Each one suits a different routine.

Feature	Bokashi	Regular compost bin (stacked buckets)	Worm bin
Space	Compact, but the final stage requires a large pot, a box of soil or a compost bin	Compact, fits in a laundry room	Compact, in a shaded spot
Smell	Sour when you open the lid	Light earthy smell, if balanced	Light earthy smell, if balanced
What it accepts	Raw scraps and, with caution, small amounts of cooked food	Raw, unseasoned scraps	Raw, unseasoned scraps
Stages	Two: fermentation in the bucket and decomposition in soil	One: compost comes out ready	One: worm castings come out ready
Best for	People who want a tightly sealed bucket and have somewhere to finish the process	Anyone who wants an easy start	People with a steady routine who enjoy keeping a close eye on things

Want to build a regular one? Follow our step-by-step guide to a stacked bucket compost bin. Not sure about worms? See the pros and cons of using worms in your compost bin.

When is bokashi worth it in an apartment?

Bokashi is worth it in an apartment if you want a tightly sealed system, produce scraps a regular compost bin doesn’t handle well and have somewhere to do the final stage. If you don’t have a large pot, a box of soil or another compost bin, it can become a problem: the fermented material has nowhere to go.

It’s likely a good fit if you:

Have little space and prefer a bucket that stays closed almost all the time.
Produce some cooked leftovers and want to find a use for part of them.
Already have large pots or a compost bin to receive the material.
Don’t mind buying more bran regularly.

If you want to take finished compost straight out of the container, without a second stage, a regular compost bin is usually simpler.

Many people also use both together: bokashi takes the scraps and a regular compost bin finishes the job.

So, is bokashi right for your home?

Bokashi is a great option for apartments if you want a tightly sealed bucket and are fine with a two-stage process. Remember the key point: the fermented material still needs to finish breaking down in soil. If you have that space, start with a bucket, some bran and raw scraps.

Still choosing your path? Our complete guide to apartment composting shows all the options for starting from scratch.

FAQ: bokashi in an apartment

Does bokashi smell bad?

Healthy bokashi has a sour smell, similar to vinegar or pickles, and you only notice it when you open the lid. A rotten smell isn’t normal. It usually means too little bran, air getting in or liquid building up at the bottom. Drain the liquid, add more bran and press the layers down firmly.

Can you put cooked food in bokashi?

Bokashi usually accepts small amounts of cooked leftovers, unlike a regular compost bin. Even so, be careful: start with raw scraps and add cooked food gradually, in small amounts and always well covered with bran. Avoid liquids, large bones and too much fat so the bucket doesn’t get out of balance.

What do you do with bokashi when the bucket is full?

Leave the bucket closed to rest for a while, without adding anything else. Then move the fermented material to a large pot or a box of soil, mix it in, cover it with soil and wait for it to break down. Another option is to add it to a regular compost bin, always covered with dry material.

Can I use bokashi liquid directly on plants?

It’s not recommended. Bokashi liquid is concentrated and acidic, and undiluted it can harm the roots. Dilute it well in plenty of water before using it and water the soil, not the leaves. It’s best to use it soon after draining, because it can develop a strong smell if stored.

Is bokashi better than a worm bin?

Neither one is better for everyone. Bokashi stays tightly sealed and accepts some scraps worms can’t handle, but it requires a final stage in soil. A worm bin gives you finished worm castings, but it needs more attention to moisture, temperature and feeding. The choice depends on your routine and your space.