Cleaning up after Thanksgiving dinner is a big job. Invariably, some tough parts of the turkey carcass get shoved into the garbage disposal along with bits of yams and other leftovers scraped from dinner plates. When the switch is thrown to grind it up, there is nothing but a humming sound of the disposal motor trying to work. So here’s what to do when turkey is stuck in the garbage disposal…
Wooden Spoon Trick
1. Shut off the power to the disposal at the breaker box. Helpers may accidentally hit the switch thinking it is for something else. An old wooden spoon is the perfect tool to get a garbage disposal unstuck. Invert the spoon and insert it handle side down into the disposal. The spoon needs to be long enough to reach the bottom of the disposal.
2. Work the spoon around the inside perimeter of the bottom of the disposal. The loose objects should move about freely. Feel for something stuck against the outer edge right at the bottom. It should be easy to tell the metal parts of the impeller blade from bones and other food items. When the stuck object is found, work it back and forth with the spoon to dislodge it.
3. Use the spoon to apply pressure to the impeller at the bottom too. It is just a disk that spins. When the impeller moves back and forth easily, the disposal is unstuck. It may be good to remove the food object that caused the problem in the first place.
The Pop Up Thermometer
The plastic thermometer placed in turkeys that let the cook know when the proper internal cooking temperature has been reached are notorious for getting stuck in disposals. They are made of plastic and have a metal spring. They are sized just right to get stuck between the impeller and outer edge of the disposal.
1. To remove a stuck thermometer, empty the disposal using your hands for solids and a ladle for liquids. Carefully explore the bottom of the disposal with your hands. The impeller can be sharp in spots. Move slowly. Use a pair of regular or needle-nose pliers to grasp the thermometer. Carefully and slowly work it free and remove it.
2. These two things fix most of the problems of a stuck garbage disposal during the holidays. If the impeller is freely moving, the small drain of the disposal may be clogged. That requires disassembly of the drain pipe to clear it.
If these methods fail you, call TalkLocal to find a service professional to help you now!
