Him Indoors always says to cut things up small as it speeds up the rotting time. It's a chore but seems to be worth it.

Never had the time to do that, might smash the old apples with the spade if I am feeling up to it, otherwise never bother.
Woody material does go through the shredder though.

Agree with the others - it does speed things up, but if you're not in any particular hurry, then don't bother. A banana skin chucked on the heap in high summer will be unrecognisable after a week anyway... not so quick in winter though. Its woody stuff, as Owdboggy suggests, that's definitely best cut or shredded first.

I always cut things up to smaller bits but only to spread it through evenly and that all my wormy friends gets a little something to eat. However, it's really not necessary.

I also don't bother, I do turn it a lot though, its full of worms and steam comes off when the sun's been on it so its working ok.....

I do cut stuff up for my 2 'Dalek' style compost bins ... and like Lincs says above I turn it with a garden fork regularly so it's not the stuff in the centre that's heating up.

How do you turn it Shirley? I find it a real struggle in a Dalek bin and normally just bung stuff in and wait for it to rot. It does eventually. Kitchen waste goes in still in its biodegradeable bags. The only gesture I make to cutting things up is to split cabbage and broccoli stems. I am an idle so and so. Garden waste goes in just as it is.
I bought a little gadget that you push deep into the bin and when you pull it out again it is supposed to open out two wings that lift and turn the compost, but it doesn't work very well.

Sue, I have a small garden fork with a really long handle, it belonged to my Grandad and is only ever used on the compost. I just twist and turn it until I think the composting material has been moved around enough, seems to work.

I read poor reviews on those gadgets which put me off getting one.

Anyway, for the time being don't you dare even think of turning compost until those muscles have healed. We're watching you, ha ha! :o))

Stera I have one of those its absolutely useless, I think the only way I could use it would be if I was a very strong chap over 7ft in height..My tool for turning mine is an old metal broken clothes prop, I force it well down into the bin and then twist it round and round causing a whirlpool effect in the compost, the top layer then falls into the centre, then I dig around the edges and bring the sides back over the top again, making sure my worms can get back down to continue their work.
As Shirley has stated we are watching you, lol......

Ooooer, I promise not to try it then...
Sue and Shirley your compost sounds looser than mine - i don't think ours is stirable but it doesn't matter because I'm not going to stir it...

I have 3 bins Stera and two of them rarely get the kitchen waste or added paper and tissue as they are tucked away in the cubby behind my bottom pond, neither of them break down as quickly as my Dalek does, also I use garden friendly cat litter so after a clean up with my little tool I tip said litter in that bin, its like sawdust and really helps with breaking up the contents of that bin..... ...

Thanks for your comments guys, made interesting reading. Will carry on cutting it up small.

I have three bins too, all Daleks, but only the one near the back door gets the kitchen waste.

Hank, you make me feel idle - more power to your elbow, you deserver good compost!HANK, MORE POWER TO YOUR ELBOW - MKES ME FEEL IDLE...