If you’ve read a few of our articles (covering everything from composting fish to dead chickens), you won’t be surprised to learn that bread can also be composted. In fact, bread is easier to compost than many other materials we’ve covered.
However, like all food scraps, it does come with some unique challenges.
Why compost bread?
Bread is rich in nutrients and can be a valuable addition to your compost pile when combined with the right materials.
In fact, research has shown that bakery waste, including bread, contributes both carbon and nitrogen to the composting process, making it an excellent feedstock for producing high-quality compost.
For instance, compost made from bakery waste has achieved a carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratio of 12–15, ideal for mature compost.
While the average household isn’t likely to have enough leftover bread to significantly bulk up a compost pile, the real benefit lies in reducing food waste.
Bread is one of the most wasted foods globally—900,000 tonnes are discarded annually in the UK, and 240 million slices are thrown away annually in the USA.
Of course, composting isn’t always the first solution. In our house, we often freeze leftover bread for later use as toast, and if we do have left-over bread, it usually goes to the chickens.
However, when we do have excess bread, we’ve found composting makes an excellent alternative – as long as a few essential guidlines are followed.
Why bread is easy to compost
Some organic materials, like leaves and branches, break down more slowly in the compost because they’re high in lignin, a tough compound that resists rapid decomposition.
Bread, on the other hand, is soft and porous, allowing compost microorganisms to break it down quickly.
In the study on composting bakery waste I mentioned above, the researchers noted that bread decomposes easily when mixed with bulking agents such as dry leaves, sawdust, or cow manure.
These materials help balance the moisture and nutrient content of the compost, ensuring optimal microbial activity.
Challenges of composting bread
Bread’s softness and high nutrient content comes with a downside: it can attract rodents and pests if not managed properly.
What’s more, bread decomposes rapidly, which can lead to unpleasant odors if your compost pile isn’t aerated or balanced with carbon-rich materials.
7 simple tips for composting bread successfully
To ensure your bread turns into rich compost and not into rat droppings, follow these tips:
1. Chop bread up: While not essential, chopping bread up will speed up decomposition. That’s because when pieces of bread are smaller in size, there is more surface area for microbes to access.
2. Bury bread in your compost heap: Bread should be buried deep within the compost bin or pile to deter pests.
3. Hot compost if possible: Even when I bury the bread, I personally prefer to compost it in a hot heap, where it will decompose rapidly, further minimizing the risk of pests. (It also means I don’t have to dig the bread in so deep!)
That said, it is possible to cold compost bread. Simply, ensure that the bread is buried deep, and consider covering the top of the compost with a bio-filter layer.
(That sounds complicated, but simply means a layer of sawdust, soil or old compost to keep smells trapped.)
Alternatively, learn how anyone can get a hot compost heap going!
4. Balance moisture levels with dry materials: Bread is relatively moist, so it’s best paired with dry material such as shredded leaves or cardboard to help absorb moisture.
5. Maintain aeration: As with all composting, good airflow helps with decomposition, and further reduces problems with smell.
6. Prevent rodents: Use a rodent-proof compost bin or follow our guide to preventing and dealing with rats to keep your compost safe from pests.
7. Monitor your compost: Ensure your compost does not get too dry or too wet, as this can prevent effective composting.
Worried about pests? Do this instead…
If you don’t have a hot compost heap, you might be worried about attracting rats, mice or other pests.
In that case, consider pit or trench composting the bread. Simply dig a hole in the garden, drop the bread in, and cover the hole up with compost.
Ideally, place several inches of soil on top of the bread to ensure pests can’t get at it. Alternatively, place a metal mesh over the area where you have dug the hole.
FAQs
Does bread have to be moldy before you compost it?
No, bread doesn’t need to be moldy to be successfully composted.
Some guides suggest that mold helps decomposition. That’s possible, but I haven’t seen any evidence to confirm it. If you have an active compost pile or bin, there will be enough microorganisms to ensure the bread decomposes whether or not it is moldy.
Do you need to scrape dairy products off the bread?
Some composters prefer to scrape it off. If you have a hot compost pile, a little bit of dairy produce won’t hurt, as it will rapidly break down in the compost heap.
If you have a cooler heap, you may wish to scrape it off, as this will reduce the chance of the bread attracting pests.
Sources
Cacace, C., Rizzello, C. G., Brunetti, G., Verni, M., & Cocozza, C. (2022). Reuse of wasted bread as soil amendment: Bioprocessing, effects on alkaline soil and escarole (Cichorium endivia) production. Foods, 11(2), 189. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11020189