Buyers Guide & Information

Best Kitchen Garbage Disposals Reviews

Search no further if you’re looking for a garbage disposal for your kitchen. This guide will help you find the optimal one for your household!

by Holly Curell

Even though it’s an integral part of your kitchen, most of us don’t think twice about our garbage disposals unless there is a problem. However, why wait until something is broken before you decide to fix it? What if you could upgrade your current system and make things much more efficient in the process?

With that in mind, I have compiled a list of some of the best Kitchen Garbage Disposals you can find, and I’ve listed them in order from smallest to biggest. Even if your current model still has some life left in it, you should still take a minute to see what these have to offer. If it’s worth the investment, then why wait?

Best Kitchen Garbage Disposals - Comparison Chart

How to Choose the Best Kitchen Garbage Disposals

At its core, a disposal is a very straightforward machine. You dump food and water in and turn it on; then it flushes down the drain. Although the system is incredibly simple, there are still some critical factors that you have to take into account before you purchase one. Thus, you will want to pay attention to these four characterizations when looking at the disposals I’ve listed.

Size​

How big is the space underneath your sink? Is it crowded with all manner of cleaners and doo-dads, or do you have plenty of room to expand? Before you can even think about upgrading your current unit, you first have to determine how much space you have. You don’t want to buy a top of the line model only to find out that it’s too big to install correctly.​

​Thus, be sure to measure the distance from the sink to the bottom of the cabinet, as well as how much space surrounds the disposal itself. Then, you will also have to make sure that you can still connect to the water line. In some cases, you may have room, but the larger device won’t sync up correctly, meaning that you have to get an adapter before you install.

Motor​

Once you’ve figured out how much space you have, then your next decision is how powerful you want your machine to be. It may be tempting to go full bore and get the biggest and the best, but you have to ask yourself if you need that level of performance. After all, if you’re still only throwing away the occasional food scraps, then do you need a motor that can chew through bones?

When looking at garbage disposal motor, you will see two different ratings. The first is horsepower, which is helpful in that it shows you the size and speed of the unit without having to measure it. For example, a ⅓ horsepower motor will be much smaller than a ¾ model, and so on. As a rule, horsepower doesn’t tell you how good a disposal will be, just how much energy it will use.

The second rating that you should see is the rpm level. This will give you an idea of how fast the impellers can go, which will give you an idea of how well it will process foodstuffs. For example, a ⅓ horsepower motor may only operate at 1900 rpm, whereas a larger model can go as fast as 2600 rpm.

​Grind Level

Usually, a garbage disposal works by using blades that chew up the food as it goes into the drain. However, while that is fine for most food particles, many units cannot handle items like fruit peels or fish bones. If you want to get something more robust, then you will have to get a model that has a grind function as well as impellers (blades). If the disposal can grind as well as shred, then it should be able to handle more fibrous material. You should still avoid overloading the machine, however, as tossing hard food into it will make it break down faster.

Installation Process​

Finally, once you have found the right disposal for your needs, you will want to see how easy it is to install. While you might decide to hire professionals for the job, you still need to make sure that it can attach to your sink with relative ease. Fortunately, some brands like InSinkErator have mounting systems that allow you to swap machines and still use the same bracket. If you have a different brand, however, things may get a little more complicated.

Best Kitchen Garbage Disposals - Reviews

1. InSinkErator Badger 5

Our first stop is the InSinkErator Badger 5. As a point of order, I want to let you know that all of the disposals we will be looking at are either from this company or Waste King.

I’ve done a lot of research on different brands, and I’ve found that these two make the best disposals of any out there.

As the smallest disposal on this list, the Badger comes with a modest twenty-ounce grind chamber.


That means that you can only toss so much food inside before it starts to clog, meaning that this model is ideal for people who only have to process the occasional scraps.

As with all InSinkErator models, the Badger 5 has stainless steel components and a one-stage grind setting. This makes it more formidable than other units in its class, but that doesn’t mean that you can toss whatever you want into the drain.

The power of the Badger comes from its ½ horsepower motor, which uses Dura-Drive Induction technology to keep on running for years to come. Speaking of years, the Badger comes with a two-year limited warranty, where technicians will even come to the house to perform maintenance on it should something break. Finally, this product is made in the USA.

Pros

  • Compact design
  • 20-oz grinding chamber
  • One level of grinding capability
  • ½ horsepower motor
  • Stainless steel components
  • Quick mounting system
  • Two-year limited warranty
  • Made in USA

Cons

  • Can be a bit loud
  • In rare cases, the unit may stop working suddenly
  • Does not come with power cord

2. InSinkErator Evolution Compact

The next model from InSinkErator is the Evolution Compact. This is a step above the Badger, so if you think that you need something with a bit more juice and a lot more power, then the Evolution may be for you.

What I like about InSinkErator disposals is that most of them come with the company’s patented SoundSeal technology.

That means that this device will be much quieter than the competition, even if you have it running continuously as you feed it. With a 34.6-ounce grind chamber, you can handle a lot more food, and it even has two stages of grinding to process it all efficiently.

For this model, the power comes from a robust ¾ horsepower motor, which is more than

enough to take care of most food products, although particularly fibrous material or bones will have a hard time getting through, so plan accordingly. The motor also uses InSinkErator’s Dura-Drive Induction technology to improve the performance significantly.

Best of all, the Evolution comes with a four-year limited warranty, which still includes home service and maintenance if something goes wrong. And, as always, all parts are made in the USA.

Pros

  • Compact design
  • 34.6-oz grinding chamber
  • Two stages of grinding capability
  • ¾ horsepower motor
  • Stainless steel components
  • Dura-Drive induction motor
  • Quick mounting system
  • SoundSeal technology for quiet operation
  • Four-year limited warranty
  • Made in the USA

Cons

  • In rare cases, some components may rust over time
  • In some instances, the unit may not drain efficiently

3. Waste King L-111

Moving on from InSinkErator, we now come to our next brand Waste King.

The L-111 series disposal is the smallest they offer, which makes it ideal for small families or single person dwellings. If you don’t toss that much food into your sink, then this machine will be perfect for your needs.

What I like about Waste King disposals is that they are made with high-quality materials.

The stainless steel impellers are corrosion-proof, and they won’t rust, even after years of use. I also like that there is a splash guard included to keep things neat and tidy.

Driving the L-111 is a ⅓ horsepower motor, which operates at 1900 rpm, which is more

than enough for most soft food products. Best of all, the unit is insulated to help reduce the noise level, so you don’t have to worry about creating a racket (unless you drop a spoon inside by accident).

The other thing that I like about Waste King products is that they come with their own mounting system. InSinkErator has a proprietary mounting bracket as well, but I find that Waste King’s is a bit more intuitive. Finally, the L-111 comes with a two-year limited warranty on parts and labor.

​Pros

  • Compact size
  • Stainless steel components
  • Corrosion proof
  • Rust resistant
  • ⅓ horsepower motor
  • 1900 rpm capacity
  • Insulated to reduce noise
  • E-Z mounting system
  • Two-year limited warranty

​Cons

  • Cannot handle large pieces of food
  • In rare cases, the unit may vibrate significantly while operating

4. Waste King L-2600

Stepping up from the 111 we have the L-2600. Unlike the 111 model, the number 2600 refers to the rpm level of this machine. With a ½ horsepower motor you can power through more food in less time, and with a larger receptacle, you won’t have to worry about clogging up so fast.

If you have a larger family or don’t like to toss food in the garbage before washing your dishes, then the L-2600 should be perfect for you.

As with all Waste King disposals, the 2600 is insulated to reduce noise, and all of the components are made of high-quality stainless steel.

That means that you don’t have to worry about rust or corrosion, and a splash-guard makes sure that you won’t get messy while operating the unit.

What I like about this particular model is that it has a front reset button should things get jammed, and it comes with a stellar five-year warranty in case you aren’t able to fix things yourself.​

Pros​

  • Durable construction
  • ½ horsepower motor
  • 2600 rpm capacity
  • Corrosion proof
  • Rust resistant
  • Insulated to reduce noise
  • Front reset button
  • Stainless steel components
  • E-Z mounting system
  • Five-year limited warranty

​Cons

  • May not fit under some sinks
  • Even with insulation, it can be loud sometimes
  • Some components may break faster than others

5. Waste King L-1001

Our final stop with Waste King is the L-1001. Why the company doesn’t stick to a more sensible naming structure is beyond me, but this is a more compact version of the 2600 model.

What that means is that you still get the same level of power and performance, but you don’t have to make as much room when installing it.

The L-1001 comes with a ½ horsepower motor, which spins at a rate of 2600 rpm.

Stainless steel impellers won’t rust or corrode over time, and the speed means that you can process most food without any problems.

The only major difference between this model and the 2600 (besides the size) is

that this one comes with a two-year warranty instead of five. Why they reduced the warranty for this unit is unknown, but it should still last as long as the 2600 as all of the parts are the same.

Pros

  • Durable construction
  • Compact design
  • ½ horsepower motor
  • 2600 rpm capacity
  • Insulated to reduce noise
  • E-Z mounting system
  • Corrosion proof
  • Rust resistant
  • Stainless steel components
  • Two-year limited warranty

Cons

  • In rare cases, the motor may stop working unexpectedly
  • In rare instances, the unit may arrive with damage
  • Even with insulation, it can be somewhat loud

6. InSinkErator Evolution Excel

Finally, we come to the biggest and baddest disposal of them all. If you run a commercial kitchen or you just want to pulverize your leftovers with impunity (and don’t mind paying higher utility bills), then the Evolution Excel is for you.

What sets this beauty apart from the pack is its size and power. One full horsepower drives the motor, which spins so fast that any food you toss in won’t know what hit it. You also get a huge forty-ounce grinding chamber, meaning that you can throw in a lot of leftovers or food waste without worrying about clogging the machine.

The Excel also comes with a triple-stage

grinding system. That means that almost anything (except thick bones) can go through with ease, although I would not recommend pushing your luck. The harder the food is, the quicker you will wear down the blades, so only do it sparingly.

What I like about the Excel is that it comes with a stunning seven-year warranty. That shows that InSinkErator stands behind the quality of this machine, as no other model has a warranty that long. That, coupled with the SoundSeal technology means that this is the best of the best. However, that being said, don’t get this unit unless you really need all that power.​

Pros

  • Durable construction
  • Powerful 1 horsepower motor
  • 40-oz chamber
  • Three stages of grinding
  • SoundSeal technology to reduce noise
  • Dura-Drive induction motor
  • Stainless steel components
  • Quick mounting system
  • Seven-year limited warranty
  • Made in the USA

Cons

  • Much larger than most disposals
  • Power cord costs extra to include
  • May not fit under your sink
  • Even with insulation, it is loud
  • In some cases, it may vibrate significantly when in use

Do You Need a New Disposal?

So, looking at all of these disposals, you may be asking yourself if you need to upgrade your current unit. Well, it depends on how old it is. If you can’t remember the last time you changed your disposal (or worse, you never have), then you should be thinking about buying a new one. Good disposals can last up to ten years or more, but that doesn’t mean that you should push it. If it’s been more than six or seven years, then you might want to check yours out and see how well it can operate.

The one thing that you don’t want to do is wait until the thing breaks on you. If that happens, then you will have bigger problems on your plate, and you’ll be forced to buy something quickly, rather than take your time to make the right decision.

Final Verdict​

When looking at the disposals on this list, I have to say that I have a bit of a bias towards InSinkErator. I have used this brand for years without any issues, meaning that I would highly recommend the Badger or the Evolution Compact. Although the Excel is top-notch, I don’t think that any household needs that kind of power, so only get that model if you have a home catering business or a commercial kitchen that needs something so robust.

Overall, however, each of these units are highly rated and will be a welcome addition to your kitchen. Just be sure that you get a model that has enough power for your needs, so you aren’t overloading it.​

Holly Curell is the editor extraordinaire for Plumbing Lab. Having grown up in Michigan, Holly has spent time living in New York, Virginia, & currently North Carolina, where she lives with her husband & family. Holly loves DIY & has years of experience with at-home plumbing problems that arise from having 3 kids & living in colder climates. When she's not writing about her plumbing knowledge, Holly enjoys reading, hiking & relaxing with family.

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