Reencle vs Bokashi: Which Kitchen Composting Method Is Right for You?

Reencle and Bokashi are the two indoor composting approaches that accept the complete household food waste stream — including meat, fish, dairy, and cooked food that most other methods exclude. That's where the similarity ends.

The two systems work through opposite biological processes, produce different outputs, and suit different living situations. This guide explains both honestly so you can choose the right method for your kitchen.

Table of Contents

• How Each Method Works
• What You Can Put In Each
• What Comes Out
• Space and Equipment
• Time to Finished Product
• Smell and Odor Management
• Cost Comparison
• Who Each Method Is Best For
• Can You Use Both?
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How Each Method Works

Reencle: Aerobic Microbial Decomposition

The Reencle contains a living culture of aerobic microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) that actively break down organic material in the presence of oxygen. The unit maintains optimal temperature and moisture while continuously mixing and aerating the compost. Food waste is genuinely transformed — the structure of the original material breaks down into humus-like material.

This is the same biological process as outdoor hot composting, compressed into an indoor appliance.

Bokashi: Anaerobic Fermentation

Bokashi is a Japanese fermentation method. You layer food scraps in a sealed bucket with Bokashi bran — wheat bran or rice bran inoculated with effective microorganisms (EM). The bucket seals airtight, and the food ferments (rather than decomposes) over 2–4 weeks in an anaerobic (oxygen-free) environment.

The food material pickles — it doesn't break down structurally. A batch of fermented Bokashi material looks similar to what you put in (though softened and acidic). It must then be buried in soil or added to a compost pile, where it undergoes actual decomposition over another 2–4 weeks.

What You Can Put In Each

Both methods accept the full household food waste stream:

Advantage: Reencle on large quantities of liquid-heavy foods. Bokashi buckets can overflow with excess liquid, which needs to be drained (the liquid — "Bokashi tea" — is a fertilizer, but managing it adds a step).

What Comes Out

Reencle Output

Finished compost — dark, earthy-smelling material that resembles traditional compost. After removal from the unit, it requires a 30-day outdoor curing period before applying directly to garden soil. During curing, the compost continues maturing and the pH stabilizes.

The output is a complete soil amendment: adds organic matter, improves soil structure, and introduces beneficial microorganisms.

Bokashi Output

Fermented material that is not ready for direct garden use. It is acidic (pH 3–4) and still contains recognizable food structure. It must be buried 6–8 inches deep in soil or added to an outdoor compost pile, where the actual decomposition happens over 2–4 weeks.

Bokashi tea (liquid drained from the bucket during fermentation) is a concentrated fertilizer that can be diluted 100:1 and used on plants or poured down drains as a microbial drain cleaner.

Advantage: Reencle for anyone who wants finished compost. Advantage: Bokashi if you want a fertilizer tea as a byproduct.

Space and Equipment

Reencle

• Countertop appliance: roughly the size of a kitchen trash can
• Requires an electrical outlet
• No outdoor access required for composting (only for the curing period)
• One unit handles the complete workflow

Bokashi

• Two buckets recommended (one fermenting while the other is being filled)
• Each bucket: roughly 5-gallon size
• Requires outdoor soil access for the burial step — no outdoor access means Bokashi doesn't complete the cycle
• Requires regular supply of Bokashi bran (ongoing consumable cost)

Advantage: Reencle for apartments or anywhere without outdoor soil access. Advantage: Bokashi on upfront cost and counter space.

Time to Finished Product

Reencle

Active composting is continuous — you add food, the unit processes it. Finished compost is typically ready to harvest every 4–8 weeks depending on volume and usage. After harvest: 30 days of outdoor curing.

Total time from food scrap to usable compost: 5–10 weeks

Bokashi

• Fill bucket over 1–4 weeks
• Fermentation: 2–4 weeks sealed
• Burial/soil integration: 2–4 weeks

Total time from first scrap to usable soil amendment: 6–12 weeks

Roughly comparable on total time, with Bokashi requiring active management of the burial step.

Smell and Odor Management

Reencle

Aerobic decomposition produces minimal odor when the unit is sealed and the filter is maintained. The occasional earthy smell when opening the lid is similar to finished compost — not unpleasant. No odor escapes under normal operation.

Bokashi

Sealed Bokashi buckets are odorless when sealed correctly. The fermented material, when the bucket is opened, has a distinct pickled/sour smell — noticeably vinegary. This is normal (fermentation produces lactic acid), not a sign of a problem, but it surprises some users. When burying the material outdoors, the smell is strong temporarily.

Advantage: Reencle if any fermentation smell is a concern. Bokashi's odor is contained and temporary, but more pronounced when handling than Reencle's aerobic output.

Cost Comparison

Advantage: Bokashi on upfront cost, significantly. Reencle has lower total cost of ownership over 3+ years, and no ongoing bran purchasing.

Who Each Method Is Best For

Choose Reencle if:

• You live in an apartment or have no outdoor soil access
• You want finished compost without a burial step
• You prefer a hands-off system (no bran management, no bucket rotation)
• Upfront cost isn't the primary constraint
• You want to process large quantities of food waste consistently

Choose Bokashi if:

• You have garden access for the burial step
• Upfront budget is a primary concern
• You want a fertilizer tea as a byproduct
• You're comfortable with a two-step process
• You already have an outdoor compost pile to add the pre-compost to

Neither is the wrong answer.

Both solve the core problem: processing all food waste, including meat and dairy, without an outdoor compost pile. The right choice depends on your living situation, budget, and what you want to do with the output.

Can You Use Both?

Yes — Bokashi and Reencle are complementary, not competitive.

Some households use Bokashi for large batches of food waste that accumulate faster than the Reencle can process (particularly during parties or meal prep), then add the fermented material to the Reencle. The acidic fermented material is actually a good microbial input for the Reencle culture.

Others use Bokashi as a temporary solution (lower upfront cost) while saving for a Reencle, or use Bokashi for overflow during periods of unusually high food waste.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Does Reencle need Bokashi bran? No. The Reencle contains its own proprietary microbial culture (ReencleMicrobe) that is factory-loaded and self-sustaining. No bran or external inoculant is needed or recommended.

Can I add Bokashi fermented material to my Reencle? Yes. Fermented Bokashi pre-compost can be added to the Reencle. The acidic material integrates with the existing culture. Add in moderate amounts — not an entire bucket at once — to allow the culture to adjust.

Is Bokashi real composting? Technically, Bokashi is fermentation, not composting. The biological process is anaerobic fermentation (similar to making pickles or kimchi). Actual decomposition happens after burial. Some people use "composting" loosely to include the full Bokashi process; strictly speaking, the fermentation stage is not composting.

Is the Reencle output real compost? The Reencle produces material through aerobic microbial decomposition — the same biological process as traditional composting. The output requires a curing period before direct application, after which it functions as finished compost.

Can Bokashi be used in an apartment without outdoor access? If you have no outdoor soil access and no compost pile to add the fermented material to, the Bokashi cycle cannot complete. Some urban users work around this by adding the material to potted plant soil (in small quantities, heavily buried) or connecting with community gardens. Without outdoor access, Reencle is the more practical choice.