There is only a specific process if one wants to get into it, get fussy, push for the maximum efficiency, want compost NOW. Putting aside all that folderol, composting is letting organic things of any sort rot down (break down) in a spot of one's own choosing, and is no more complicated than that. Dump it on said spot and start collecting more.

Yep, there is no time limit on compostables. It's limited only by your willingness to handle the stuff. When I clean out the fridge, I have to breathe through my mouth now and then when opening those mystery containers of yuck. But it all goes in the compost.

While some may tell you that food waste never goes bad keep in mind that many foods, as they spoil, produce toxins that may not be mitigated by the composting process. If the stuff smells bad it may be a good idea to not compost it for just that reason.

kimmq is kimmsr

"toxins that may not be mitigated by the composting process"

My microbiology background says that this is not a concern. Those "toxins" (botulism, staph enterotoxin, etc.) are proteins, and they will be destroyed during composting just like any other protein.

According to others that have studied composting these toxins may be killed if the temperature of the compost pile reaches the right levels. Few of us will have any problem with these toxins because we compost the food waste long before they develop in th efood.

kimmq is kimmsr

Kimmsr ... the toxin is a protein molecule which is readily digested by the various soil microorganisms.

The Clostridium spores can survive composting easily, even "hot" composting.

I have not really heard about anything like this persisting through composting at a level that is relevant in terms of gardening in soil amended with the compost. Like I always say, don't eat the compost and everything will be fine. :-D

I'm always confused my the idea that spoiled food can't be composted. It seems to me that the planet would be blanketed in rotten food if that were the case.

But it maybe I'm missing something.

You're not missing anything. It does seem strange to experience composters, but given how often this question is asked (both here and in compost workshops that I do), it appears to be a fairly common issue.

What people seem to be concerned about is not that it won't continue to decompose, but whether it would somehow be harmful to the compost pile or plants. Usually they worry about mold, due a vague concern that plants might be harmed by fungal diseases. Once you explain that there are fungi everywhere and that most are not harmful, and how the compost pile is the great equalizer and will balance out odors, microbes, fungi and all into a healthy compost product, people are OK with it. Most beginners do not really understand the microbial process that makes compost, or its similarities with and differences from other microbial processes occurring in the refrigerator, digestive tract, sewage plant, etc. etc.