Can Worms Eat It? Free Instant Checker for 100+ Foods

Fruit

Yes Apple Soft once it starts to break down, and a favorite. Chop cores into small pieces. Seeds are fine in small numbers.
In moderation Avocado Flesh and skin are fine. The pit takes years to break down. Leave the pit out or expect to find it at harvest.
Yes Banana peel Breaks down fast and worms love it. Freeze peels first to kill fruit fly eggs.
Yes Berries Soft and quick to break down. Old, mushy berries are perfect. Bury them well.
Yes Cherries The flesh is fine. Remove pits, which barely break down.
In moderation Citrus peel Acidic, with oils that irritate worms in large amounts. A few pieces in a big bin are fine. Never a whole bag at once.
In moderation Coconut Flesh is fine in small amounts. Shell and husk are very slow. Use coir from husks as bedding instead.
Yes Dates Soft and sweet. Remove the stones.
Yes Figs Soft and breaks down quickly.
Yes Grapes Fine, especially once soft. Squash them so microbes can get in.
In moderation Jackfruit Flesh is fine. The spiky skin is slow and sticky. Chop small and feed a little at a time.
Yes Kiwi Flesh and skins are fine.
Yes Mango Skins and pulp are great. The seed is very slow. Freeze skins first: they often carry fruit fly eggs.
Yes Melon One of the best worm foods. Very watery: add extra shredded cardboard.
Yes Papaya Soft and quick.
Yes Peach Flesh and skin are fine. Remove the stones.
Yes Pear Like apples, a reliable food.
In moderation Pineapple Acidic and contains an enzyme that breaks down protein. Small pieces mixed with other scraps are fine.
In moderation Pomegranate Peel is tough and slow. Chop small, or leave it out.
Yes Rambutan Flesh and skins break down well. Remove the seeds.
Yes Watermelon A favorite, but very watery. Balance with plenty of dry cardboard.

Vegetables

Yes Asparagus Ends are fine. Chop woody ends small.
Yes Beans Raw or plain cooked are fine.
Yes Beetroot Peels and leaves are fine.
Yes Bell pepper Fine. It's only hot chili that causes trouble.
Yes Broccoli Fine, but raw brassicas can smell as they rot. Chop small or blanch first.
Yes Cabbage Fine in moderation. Large amounts of raw brassica can smell. Mix with other scraps.
Yes Carrot Peels go fast; whole carrots are slow. Grate or freeze tough pieces.
Yes Celery Fine, a bit stringy. Chop into short lengths.
No Chili pepper Capsaicin irritates worms. Bell peppers are fine instead.
Yes Corn Fine, though cobs are slow. Break cobs up or let them pre-compost.
Yes Cucumber Soft and watery, a great food. Add dry carbon if feeding a lot.
Yes Eggplant Fine raw or plain cooked.
In moderation Garlic Strong sulfur compounds. Worms avoid it until it breaks down. Skins and small amounts only.
In moderation Ginger Strong compounds; worms are slow to touch it. Small amounts of peel only.
Yes Herbs Fresh herb stems and leaves are fine.
In moderation Leek Onion family: strong smell in bulk. Small amounts mixed in are fine.
Yes Lettuce Breaks down very fast. Watery: add cardboard with it.
Yes Mushrooms Fine, and they bring helpful fungi.
Yes Okra Fine, a little slimy.
In moderation Onion Strong-smelling and slow for worms to accept. Skins and small amounts only. Big amounts go to an outdoor heap.
Yes Peas Pods are great.
Yes Potato peel Fine, though peels can sprout. Bury them deeply or cook first.
Yes Pumpkin Flesh, skins and seeds are all fine. Seeds may sprout. Pull seedlings out.
Yes Radish Peels and tops are fine.
Yes Sweet potato Peels are fine.
Yes Tomato Fine. Seeds survive and may sprout later. Volunteer seedlings in castings are harmless.

Kitchen staples

In moderation Beer Spent brewing grain is fine. Alcohol itself isn't. Small amounts of spent grain only, it heats up.
In moderation Bread Molds fast and can attract pests. Tear small, moisten and bury well.
No Cake Sugar and butter go rancid and attract pests.
Yes Cereal Plain oats and bran are good food. Skip sugary cereals.
In moderation Coffee grounds Good food, but large piles heat and compact. Keep to a quarter of each feeding. Paper filters are fine.
No Coffee pods Plastic or aluminum. Empty the grounds in, recycle the pod.
In moderation Cooked rice Fine in small portions; clumps turn slimy. Plain only, no oil or salt.
In moderation Cooked vegetables Plain is fine; oil, salt and sauces aren't. Rinse off sauces first.
No Eggs Animal protein smells as it rots. Shells yes, eggs no.
Yes Eggshells Adds grit and calcium, and buffers acidity. Rinse, dry and grind to a powder.
In moderation Flour A light dusting is fine; clumps go sour.
No Garlic bread Oil, cheese and salt.
Yes Juice pulp Excellent, already broken down. Skip citrus-heavy pulp.
In moderation Nut shells Very slow to break down. Unsalted peanut shells only, crushed.
In moderation Nuts Unsalted nuts are fine but slow and oily. Never salted or roasted in oil.
No Oil Coats bedding and blocks air. Wipe greasy plates with paper towel and bin the towel.
In moderation Pasta Plain pasta is fine in small amounts. No sauce, oil or cheese.
No Salty food Salt draws moisture from worms' skin.
No Spices Strong and irritating in quantity.
No Sugar Ferments and attracts ants and flies.
In moderation Tea bags Many contain plastic. Tear open and add only the leaves.
Yes Tea leaves Great food. Use loose leaves or plastic-free bags.
In moderation Tofu Plain tofu is fine in small amounts. No sauces or oil.

Paper and garden

Yes Cardboard Ideal bedding and carbon. Remove tape and labels, tear into strips.
Yes Coconut coir Excellent bedding that holds moisture evenly. Rinse unwashed coir to remove salt.
No Diseased plants Worm bins don't get hot enough to kill plant diseases.
In moderation Flowers Garden flowers are fine. Shop bouquets may be sprayed.
No Glossy paper Coatings, clay and inks. Receipts often contain BPA.
In moderation Grass clippings Heat up fast in piles. Small amounts, never from treated lawns.
Yes Houseplant trimmings Soft green trimmings are fine. Woody stems are slow: chop them.
Yes Leaves Natural bedding with helpful microbes. Avoid black walnut and eucalyptus.
Yes Newspaper Good bedding, black-and-white pages. Fluff it well: it mats when wet.
Yes Office paper Fine in a bedding mix.
Yes Paper towels Fine if unbleached and free of grease or chemicals.
In moderation Peat moss Works but is acidic and not sustainable. Coir does the same job.
In moderation Pizza box Clean parts are fine; greasy parts aren't. Tear off and bin the oily sections.
In moderation Sawdust Untreated hardwood only, in small amounts. Never from treated or painted wood.
In moderation Straw Good for airflow, slow and poor at holding water. Chop short and mix in.
In moderation Weeds Fine without seeds or roots that resprout. Worm bins don't kill weed seeds.

Meat, dairy and animal

No Bones Take years to break down and carry meat residue.
No Cheese Goes rancid and attracts pests.
No Chicken manure Very high in nitrogen; burns and heats the bin. Hot-compost it first.
No Dog poop Can carry parasites that survive worm composting.
No Fish Strong rot and ammonia.
In moderation Hair Breaks down very slowly. Tiny amounts only.
In moderation Horse manure Excellent once well aged. Fresh manure heats up. Avoid manure from recently dewormed animals.
No Meat Rots, smells and attracts flies and rodents.
No Pet food Protein-rich: ammonia and smells.

Other household items

No Charcoal ash Alkaline and full of additives.
No Compostable plastic Needs industrial composting heat.
In moderation Cotton 100% natural, undyed cotton slowly breaks down.
In moderation Dryer lint Only from natural fibers; synthetics shed plastic.
No Plastic Never breaks down. Peel fruit stickers off first.
No Vacuum dust Mixed plastics, fibers and chemicals.
In moderation Wood ash A pinch can buffer acidity; more raises pH too far. Ground eggshell is safer.

Can worms eat it?

Fruit

Vegetables

Kitchen staples

Paper and garden

Meat, dairy and animal

Other household items