Eco 3 Questions
The most common questions for FoodCycler®Eco 3™owners.
[Eco 3] What are the specifications?
The FoodCycler Eco 3 is designed for smaller households and everyday countertop use. Its bucket holds up to 3.5 L (0.9 gallons) of food waste per cycle, and a typical cycle runs for approximately 4–9 hours depending on the amount, density, and moisture level of the scraps.
For current dimensions, finishes, and included accessories, visit the Eco 3 product page.
[Eco 3] How can I clean my FoodCycler Grinding Bucket?
If dried food waste is stuck to the Bucket, soak it in warm soapy water to remove. While the Bucket can be cleaned in the dishwasher, doing so may reduce its lifespan. If the Bucket is jammed due to food waste coagulating along the bucket interior and blades, we recommend pouring in boiling water and letting the Bucket contents soak before attempting to remove the blockage.
Any residue stuck to the bucket is caused by the oil, grease, or moisture content of the unit cycle. For an all-natural clean, try cycling citrus peels by themselves. This also helps eliminate any trapped odours in the unit's ventilation system.
It's normal to notice some dried food debris stuck to the sides or bottom of your Bucket after a cycle. Dry by-product can actually serve as a beneficial dry mix addition for the next cycle. As long as the grinding blade can fully rotate after emptying the Bucket, you can proceed to fill it for the next cycle.
CAUTION: Do not reach your hand into the FoodCycler Eco 3 Bucket, as the blades are extremely sharp.
[Eco 3] How much electricity does the unit consume?
Each cycle consumes an average of 0.9 kWh, roughly equivalent to running a desktop computer for the duration of the cycle. Depending on where you live, each cycle should cost only a few cents.
The FoodCycler has built-in sensor technology that monitors dryness and humidity. Once complete, the unit stops the cycle automatically.
[Eco 3] How do I reset my Change Filter light?
After you replace your carbon filter pellets, press and hold the Power button for 3 seconds, release, then hold again for another 3 seconds until you hear an audible tone. This resets the Carbon Filter Replacement reminder.
[Eco 3] Why is my FoodCycler emitting an odour?
This is normal. The unit could be emitting an odour for a variety of reasons.
The carbon filtration system is required to ensure a near-odourless cycle. The filters last approximately 500 cycle hours, or 3–4 months with regular use.
Even if the Replace Filter light has not gone on yet, you may need to switch out your carbon pellets. Similarly, you can continue cycling even if the filter light has gone on and no odours are apparent.
Filter life is determined by the moisture quantity in the food waste and the intensity of odours in each cycle. If you are cycling rotten, smelly, or potent food wastes such as rotten meat, fish, or old cheese, your filters may not last as long as if you were cycling simple veggie scraps and coffee grounds.
Tip: Running a cycle of mostly citrus peels will not only help keep your Bucket clean, it also eliminates any trapped odours in the unit's ventilation system.
[Eco 3] How does the FoodCycler work?
The FoodCycler uses a multi-phase cycle to aerate, dry, and pulverize food waste into a fine, dry, odourless by-product that can be used in gardening applications. It greatly reduces food waste volume, odours, liquids, bacteria, and methane gases that would otherwise be generated by sending food waste to landfill.
[Eco 3] How much food waste can the unit cycle at one time?
The Eco 3 bucket holds up to 3.5 L (0.9 gallons) of food waste per cycle. Keep the contents below the indicator line to avoid jams and improve cycle performance.
[Eco 3] Can I add food waste to the FoodCycler once I've already started a cycle?
Yes. For best results, add additional food waste early in the cycle, ideally within the first hour and a half. Adding scraps midway through may extend the cycle or leave some material unprocessed, in which case you can run a second cycle.
[Eco 3] Can the FoodCycler process bones?
Yes, the Eco 3 can process fish, chicken, pork, lamb, and other small bones. Avoid large bones because they can cause jams or damage the bucket grinding gears.
[Eco 3] What can the FoodCycler process?
The FoodCycler can process most food scraps, including fruits, vegetables, grains, small bones, eggshells, and coffee grounds.
[Eco 3] What can I do if my bucket is stuck inside the unit?
- Open the unit, secure the lid to the locked position, and press Start. Let the unit run for 10–20 seconds, or until you hear the grinding arms start to turn. Pause the cycle by opening the lid and try removing the bucket.
- If the contents have formed a solid mass, unplug the unit, add boiling water to the bucket, and let it sit for approximately 10 minutes.
- Use a long plastic or wooden utensil to shift the bucket contents and free the blockage. Run the cycle again for 10–20 seconds, then try removing the bucket.
CAUTION: Do not use your hands to dislodge a blockage. The bucket blades are extremely sharp.
[Eco 3] What do I do if my FoodCycler is malfunctioning?
Prior to seeking customer support, we recommend that customers try a few troubleshooting steps on their own. If your unit is displaying codes 1–4, review the section of your error-code guide that matches what you are seeing. For codes 5–11, please reach out to Customer Support directly at info@foodcycler.in so we can assist you further.
- Start-up light sequence: no action is required. Your unit is running normally.
- Center power LED red: your carbon filter pellets are ready to be replaced, or 500 cycle hours have elapsed since you last reset your filters.
- All but the far left LEDs illuminated: your unit is experiencing temperatures which are either too high or too low to run efficiently. Move it to a room-temperature environment and try another cycle.
- All but the far right LEDs illuminated: your unit is experiencing a motor overload. If this is caused by a blockage in the Bucket, pour boiling water into the Bucket, let the contents soak for about 10 minutes, and attempt to dislodge the blockage with a tool or kitchen implement.
CAUTION: Do not use your hands to dislodge the blockage, as the Bucket blades are extremely sharp and may cause injury.
If the error code persists, contact info@foodcycler.in.
Eco 5 Questions
Answers for the larger-capacity FoodCycler Eco 5
[Eco 5] What are the specifications?
The FoodCycler Eco 5
- Bucket capacity: 5 L
- Unit volume: 28.9 L
- Dimensions: 13.8" H × 13.8" W × 10.3" D
- Progress indicators: real-time progress tracking LEDs
- Processing time: 4–9 hours (overnight)
- Power consumption: <0.35 kWh/L (<1.5 kWh/cycle)
- Filtration: 1 reusable filter (carbon pellets)
- Vent location: top
Visit the Eco 5 product page
[Eco 5] How can I clean my FoodCycler Grinding Bucket?
If dried food waste is stuck to the Bucket, soak it in warm soapy water to remove. While the Bucket can be cleaned in the dishwasher, doing so may reduce its lifespan. If the Bucket is jammed due to food waste coagulating along the Bucket interior and blades, we recommend pouring in boiling water and letting the Bucket contents soak before attempting to remove the blockage.
Any residue stuck to the Bucket is caused by the oil, grease, or moisture content of the unit cycle. For an all-natural clean, try cycling citrus peels by themselves. This will also help eliminate any trapped odours in the unit's ventilation system.
It's normal to notice some dried food debris stuck to the sides or bottom of your Bucket after a cycle. Dry by-product can actually serve as a beneficial dry mix addition for the next cycle. As long as the grinding blade can fully rotate after emptying the Bucket, you can proceed to fill it for the next cycle.
CAUTION: Do not reach your hand into the FoodCycler Eco 5 Bucket, as the blades are extremely sharp.
[Eco 5] How much electricity does the unit consume?
If dried food waste is stuck to the Bucket, soak it in warm soapy water to remove. While the Bucket can be cleaned in the dishwasher, doing so may reduce its lifespan. If the Bucket is jammed due to food waste coagulating along the Bucket interior and blades, we recommend pouring in boiling water and letting the Bucket contents soak before attempting to remove the blockage.
Any residue stuck to the Bucket is caused by the oil, grease, or moisture content of the unit cycle. For an all-natural clean, try cycling citrus peels by themselves. This will also help eliminate any trapped odours in the unit's ventilation system.
It's normal to notice some dried food debris stuck to the sides or bottom of your Bucket after a cycle. Dry by-product can actually serve as a beneficial dry mix addition for the next cycle. As long as the grinding blade can fully rotate after emptying the Bucket, you can proceed to fill it for the next cycle.
CAUTION: Do not reach your hand into the FoodCycler® Eco 5™ Bucket, as the blades are extremely sharp.
[Eco 5] How do I reset my Change Filter light?
After you replace your carbon filter pellets, press and hold the Power button for 3 seconds, release, and then hold again for another 3 seconds until you hear an audible tone to reset the Carbon Filter Replacement reminder.
[Eco 5] Why is my FoodCycler emitting an odour?
This is normal. The unit could be emitting an odour for a variety of reasons.
The carbon filtration systems in each FoodCycler are required to ensure a near-odourless cycle. They last approximately 500 cycle hours, or 3–4 months with regular use.
Even if the Replace Filter light has not gone on yet, you may need to switch out your filter carbon. Similarly, you can continue cycling even if the filter light has gone on and no odours are apparent.
Filter life is determined by the moisture quantity in the food waste and the intensity of odours of each cycle. If you are cycling rotten, smelly, or potent food wastes such as rotten meat, fish, or old cheese, your filters may not last as long as if you were cycling simple veggie scraps and coffee grounds.
Tip: Running a cycle of mostly citrus peels will not only help keep your Bucket clean, it also eliminates any trapped odours in the unit's ventilation system.
[Eco 5] How does the Food Cycler work?
The FoodCycler food waste recycler greatly reduces food waste volume, odors, liquids, bacteria, and methane gasses that would otherwise be generated by putting your food waste in the trash.
The FoodCycler uses a multi-phase cycle which aerates and pulverizes food waste to a fine, dry, odourless powder which can be used in gardening applications.
[Eco 5] How much food waste can the unit cycle at one time?
The Eco 5 is the larger-capacity household FoodCycler model. Keep food waste below the bucket's fill line, avoid packing scraps too tightly, and balance wet scraps with drier material for best results.
[Eco 5] Can I add food waste to the FoodCycler once I've already started a cycle?
Yes, you can add additional food waste to the FoodCycler Eco 5 once the cycle has already begun. For best results, and to avoid extending the cycle period, we recommend adding food waste early in the cycle, or within the first hour and a half of cycling.
Adding food waste midway through the cycle may result in unprocessed food waste at the end of the cycle, as this extends the dehydration and grinding process. If this occurs, we recommend starting a second cycle until the food waste has been completely broken down.
[Eco 5] Can the FoodCycler process bones?
Yes, the FoodCycler Eco 5 can process fish, chicken, pork, lamb, and other small bones. Large bones can cause jams or damage all units’ Bucket grinding gears.
[Eco 5] What can the FoodCycler process?
Most everyday food scraps can be cycled: fruits, vegetables, grains, eggshells, coffee grounds, and small bones.
[Eco 5] What can I do if my bucket is stuck inside the unit?
Stuck Bucket: Open the unit. Secure the lid to the locked position and press Start. Let the unit run for 10–20 seconds, or until you can hear the grinding arms start to turn. You can pause the cycle by opening the unit lid and try removing the Bucket.
If unsuccessful, check the food content. If it is a solid mass, you may need to loosen the by-product inside the Bucket. Unplug your unit, add boiling water to the Bucket enough to submerge the solid contents, and let the Bucket sit for approximately 10 minutes.
Using a long plastic or wooden utensil, attempt to shift the Bucket contents so as to free the blockage from the grinding arm. Run the cycle again for 10–20 seconds, and try again to remove the Bucket.
[Eco 5] What do I do if my Food Cycler is malfunctioning?
Prior to seeking customer support, we recommend that customers try a few troubleshooting steps on their own. Please reference the Error Codes document below. If your unit is displaying codes 1–6, read the section that matches the code you are seeing. For codes 7–12, please reach out to Customer Support directly at info@foodcycler.in so we can assist you further.
- LED ring goes from blue to orange to green to just the power button being illuminated: no action is required. Your unit is running normally.
- Power button illuminated: the unit is plugged in. No action required.
- Blue lights along the LED track: the unit is running a cycle and the track displays cycle progress.
- Carbon filter symbol illuminated: your carbon filter pellets are ready to be replaced, or 500 cycle hours have elapsed since you last reset your filters.
- Four right ring lights illuminated orange: the unit is experiencing temperatures that are either too high or too low to run efficiently. Move it to a room-temperature environment and try another cycle.
- Four left ring lights illuminated orange: the unit is experiencing a motor overload. If this is caused by a blockage in the Bucket, pour boiling water into the Bucket, let it soak for about 10 minutes, and attempt to dislodge the blockage with a tool or kitchen implement.
If the error code persists, contact info@foodcycler.in.
Foodilizer
Your nutrient-rich FoodCycler by-product, explained.
What can I do with my FoodCycler by-product (Foodilizer)?
Foodilizer can be mixed into soil or compost as a nutrient-rich amendment. For best results, mix it thoroughly with soil or carbon-rich materials and allow time for the soil to enrich before planting.
What color and texture should I expect from Foodilizer?
The color and texture of your Foodilizer®will vary depending on the materials added to your FoodCycler®cycle. This is completely normal and part of the natural process.
How do I compost with Foodilizer?
Foodilizer can be used to supercharge compost by adding nutrients and helpful microbes that speed up decomposition. Mix it into your compost pile along with regular food scraps and carbon-rich materials such as dried leaves or yard trimmings. For best results, add Foodilizer a few weeks before planting so the soil has time to enrich.
What if there are odours or animals around my garden after using Foodilizer?
If you notice smells or critters near your garden plot after adding Foodilizer®, it likely means the by-product is not fully mixed into the soil. Add more soil and mix thoroughly to prevent odours and pests.
What happens if Foodilizer gets wet?
Foodilizer can produce odours and be susceptible to mold if moisture is reintroduced. Store it in an airtight container where the temperature does not fluctuate, and make sure there is enough aeration when incorporating it into soil, a garden bed, or compost pile.