Best Garbage Disposal Review Guide For 2023-2024

Best Garbage Disposal Review Guide For 2023-2024 – Garbage disposals are a convenient way to get rid of food waste in the kitchen. But whether you’re seeking your first-ever disposal unit or looking to replace an old one, you’re going to want the best of the best. That’s where we can help. We’ve combed everything from customer forums to plumbers’ blogs to track down the garbage disposals real people own and love. And after many hours of research, we’ve selected the best garbage disposals and put them into our Best Garbage Disposal Review Guide For 2023-2024 for you and your family.

Best Garbage Disposal Buyers Guide For 2023-2024:

Why Should You Buy a Garbage Disposal?

Garbage disposals are just plain handy when it comes to handling, well, garbage. This includes food scraps, smelly leftovers you forgot in the back of the fridge, or even flowers kept a little past their prime. Sure, a good kitchen trash can serves a similar function just effective, but people are crazy about their disposals for other reasons.

For starters, there’s the convenience factor. Prepping and cooking often produces a lot of food discards. And each time you have to reach for the trash can, it interferes with the flow of the cooking process. If you think about it, dropping your waste down the sink is actually much more intuitive—not to mention, cleaner.

Furthermore, each food scrap you stick down the disposal is one less item you’re throwing in the trash. And with a smaller amount of waste to stink up or overflow the bin, you’ll find yourself taking out the trash a lot less frequently. In-sink garbage disposals may not eliminate the dreaded chore altogether, but it’s a step in the right direction. Plus, you may find that your bins are less appealing to pets and neighborhood critters in search of a snack. It’s another perk of putting your most edible garbage down the disposal.

Finally, using a food waste disposer to grind up food waste can actually lead to enormous potentials in renewable energy, which we’ll go into more detail below.

Are Garbage Disposals Good for the Environment?

The environmental impact of garbage disposals has long been the subject of debate. Over the years, researchers have struggled to provide a definitive answer as to whether a grinder or a landfill is the more eco-friendly option. However, recent research has brought forth evidence in favor of garbage disposals.

According to a study about food waste published on Oregon.gov, food treatment with in-sink grinding (ISG) ranks above landfill, depositing in all accounts when considering climate impact, energy concerns, and effects on soil productivity. In fact, ISG is considered to have great potential for renewable energy production.

Another study has suggested that home food waste deposited in municipal sewage systems via garbage disposals could be a very potent resource for biogas harvest. By applying biogas recovery technology to these treatment systems, organic waste by-products from anaerobic digestion could be controlled and exploited.

How to Choose the Best Garbage Disposal:

What makes an in-sink garbage disposal system good or bad? There are a few basic aspects that consumers should consider prior to purchase.

How Noisy Are Garbage Disposals?

If you’re sensitive to noise, you should know that all garbage disposals produce it but some are louder offenders than others. When choosing a garbage disposal, you’ll want to carefully consider the noise levels that work best for you.

To make your choice a little easier, we’ve prepared a chart that compares some of the top models on the market at peak volume. If loud noises bother you, you might be a great candidate for the whisper-quiet InSinkErator Evolution Excel, while those with less sensitive ears might be happy with InSinkErator’s slightly louder Evolution XTR or even Badger 5 models.

How Noisy Are Garbage Disposal:

However, a lower volume often requires a bigger budget. The machines with better sound insulation are often more advanced—and more expensive. The Evolution Excel is the optimal choice, but only if you have a little extra cash to spare. If you’re trying to spend as little as possible, the cheaper but noisier Waste King L-8000 or Badger 5 should suit your needs.

It’s worth noting that apart from the disposal unit itself, other factors may also affect the noise level. If you value your peace and quiet, you may want to ensure your sink is sound-insulated so as to avoid amplifying the noise of the attached disposal. These days, all the best sinks have foam-coating and deadening pads. If your sink lacks these features, perhaps it’s time for an upgrade.

How Much Food Waste Do You Produce?

A large volume of rubbish requires a powerful motor to get the disposal job done. So, before you buy a disposer, think about how much horsepower (HP) would be sufficient to deal with your daily load of garbage.

Here’s what we infer after digging around:

• ⅓ or ½ HP: for a small house or apartment with 1-3 people
• ¾ HP: for families with 4-6 people
• 1 HP: able to support a family of 7-9 people
• 2 HP: powerful enough for more than 9 people, usually used for commercial ends.

We don’t think that ⅓ HP models are capable of meeting the average person’s garbage disposal needs and have therefore chosen to exclude them from our picks. On the flip side, 2 HP models provide more power than you’d need in an ordinary home. However, we think that ½ to 1 HP models are totally suitable for most families—just opt for the HP that matches the size of your household.

We’ve made the choice a little simpler by putting together a table that pairs each of our picks with its suggested household size, assuming a fairly ordinary family routine with three meals a day and no guests.

Suggested Disposals Based on Family Size:

If your family is small but loves to throw dinner parties, feel free to go for a more powerful machine, like the InSinkErator Evolution Excel. But if you don’t cook at home that often, a lower-HP model such as the Badger 5 should do just fine. Just think about what’s right for your lifestyle.

How Strong Do You Want Your Motor?

Motor strength doesn’t simply dictate the amount of waste your disposal can tackle—it also determines how well it can actually grind everything up. Stronger motors can tackle tougher garbage, grinding it up more finely than weaker motors. This matters because the finer the grind, the less likely it will clog the drain.

That said, weaker models are quite popular among certain groups. ⅓ HP models are the weakest ones on the market, yet they sell relatively well. This might be because these models are more affordable, or simply because 45 percent of the US adult population is single and may live in small apartments or studios that do not have the space for bigger models.

½ HP models are a bit stronger and are a more ideal choice for small homes. Both the ½ and ⅓ HP motors are recommended for regular light use only and should be treated gently.

If you want your disposal to tackle garbage that the ½ and ⅓ HP motors can’t handle, you’ll want a ¾ or 1-2 HP model. ¾ HP motors have the strength and technology to deal with bones and hard, fibrous vegetables that would stump weaker models. 1-2 HP motors can withstand heavy use and even tougher food waste.

If you’re curious how our picks compare to one another when it comes to grinding capabilities, we’ve prepared a chart to demonstrate.

Garbage Disposal Capability:

Weaker models like the InSinkErator Badger 5 and Waste King L1001 can’t grind anything tougher than fibrous veggies, while the stronger Evolution Excel is able to handle all sorts of food scraps in the kitchen, including meat bones..

Waste King L-8000 Garbage Disposal – Best Value Kitchen Garbage Disposal

With a 1 HP motor, the highly affordable Waste King Legend L8000 is our best value pick.

Using a 1 HP permanent magnet motor and a turnplate spinning at 2800 rpm, the machine does a wonderful job grinding up 98-99% of all food waste types, from fruit to chicken bones.

Permanent magnet motors make less noise when operating compared to the common induction motors, which makes the L-8000 fairly quiet. Besides, their ability to achieve maximum speed in a short period of time reduces the risk of jamming.

The L-8000 is also downright durable. All of its grind components are made of stainless steel to shred even the toughest food waste and stand the test of time. Moreover, the housing is framed with polymer (or plastic), which is well-known for its lightweight nature and corrosion resistance.

However, the main reason the L-8000 has earned a place as our best value pick boils down to the right mix of affordability and quality. Permanent magnet motors can often be fairly pricey, as can top materials like stainless steel. Yet even with such traits, the machine doesn’t cost nearly as much as the other 1 HP models on the market.

But here comes the catch: the polymer casing, despite its advantages, can be quite thin and flimsy. In other words, physical damage can be very unforgiving to the casing and what it protects. That said, garbage disposals stay sheltered by the cabinet for pretty much its entire lifetime except for its installation. So you only need to be extra careful that one time.

If you’re not quite the handyperson or just want to make sure that everything is off to a good start, you should hire professional service. It’s the safest bet and it helps save a lot of time.

Waste King offers a lifetime limited in-home warranty. The Waste King L8000 should be perfect for a household of 8 or smaller.

Product Details:

• High-Speed Motor: The 1 HP, 2800 RPM (115v) permanent magnet motor is sound-insulated and jams less
• Easy Installation And Cleaning: EZ Mount for a quick and easy kitchen sink installation, removable splashguard for easy cleaning
• 20 Year Protection: 20-year Limited
• No Electrical Expertise Needed: Pre-installed power cord, no electrical work required.
• Durability: Compact and lightweight garbage disposer with all stainless steel grind components.
• Continuous Feed Disposal: Activated by a wall switch, the disposal quickly grinds food waste continuously as it runs
• Note From The Manufacturer: Customers may receive product with the original brand logo or updated logo and packaging.
• Size: 8. 5 x 8. 5 x 16 inches

Pros:

• Relatively quiet
• Strong motor (1 HP)
• Surprisingly affordable
• Handles most food types
• Lifetime warranty

Cons:

• Parts are mostly plastic
• No unjam option exteriorly

Moen GXS75C GX Series 3/4 HP Garbage Disposal – Best Moen Food Waste Disposer

Moen has long been a respected name in kitchen fixtures, including faucets and garbage disposals. After years of positive user reviews, their faucets have become the standard after which other brands are measured. Though Moen is relatively new to the kitchen waste disposal scene, we expect their line of garbage disposals to perform as impressively as their faucets.

The Moen GXS75C GX Series uses a permanent magnet motor to power its operation. The ¾ HP motor spins at 2700 rpm, fast enough to make jamming unlikely to occur. While the galvanized steel grinding chamber is not exactly ideal, it should be able to work most types of food at such a high velocity, save for bones and maybe fibrous materials

If you prefer stainless steel, there’s the Moen GX75C.

Units at this price point are often devoid of sound insulation, but the model does feature it (Moen calls it SoundSHIELD). However, the jury is still out on the noisiness of the GXS75C. User feedback shows that some deem the device surprisingly loud, while others consider it “not that bad”.

In the future, it will be interesting to see what Moen produces when it’s more established in the category of garbage disposal. Until then, the GXS75C is a strong start—and it’s covered by a 5-year limited warranty.

Product Details:

• Host Series: Designed for those who frequently cook for guests and need advanced cleanup power
• Powerful Grinding: 2,700 RPM, ¾ horsepower Vortex motor provides fast, powerful grinding of tough food scraps and helps reduce jamming
• Noise Reduction: Designed with SoundSHIELD sound-deadening insulation
• Simple Swap: Fits most existing assemblies, including other brand; includes pre-installed power cord; compact design is lightweight for easy installation and frees up valuable space under the sink
• Septic Safe: Safe to use with properly sized septic tanks
• Reduce Waste: Disposals reduce waste sent to landfills, making them an eco-friendly option for your home
• Built To Last: 10-year limited warranty with in-home service guarantees help is there when you need it

Pros:

• Strong motor
• Jamming preventive
• Affordable
• 5-year warranty

Cons:

• Can be loud

InSinkErator Evolution 3/4 HP Household Garbage Disposal – Best Septic System Safe Disposal

Households with septic tanks need to keep a careful eye on the garbage that goes through the drain pipes, especially if fat, grease, or oil are involved. Even if you avoid pouring these types of waste down the drain, food remains might carry them into your pipes and your septic system.

The safest way to keep your system running smoothly is to eliminate this issue altogether with the use of garbage disposal specifically designed to be used with septic tanks. The InSinkErator Evolution Septic Assist with Bio-charge technology, approved by the Department of Health of Washington State, is designed to handle potential troublemakers like grease or oil. It takes advantage of a natural microorganism that provides enzymes to break down fat, grease, oil, protein, and starch.

The bottle (included) is 16 oz or 473 ml, which will last for three to four months on average use.

The Evolution Septic Assist features a ¾ HP Dura Drive induction motor, which is strong enough to manage the food waste produced by a family of 4 people. It can tackle bones and fibrous foods, and its 2-stage MultiGrind mechanism helps better pulverize garbage while preventing clogging.

The unit is a quiet one thanks to the Evolution Series’ Sound Seal technology. Top-tier insulation, anti-vibration connection, and a Quiet Collar Sink Baffle work to keep sound at a minimum.A 4-year in-home limited warranty ensures that your device will last for a long while.

Product Details:

• Garbage Disposal: While all of our disposals are septic friendly, the Evolution Septic Assist garbage disposal adds extra confidence to homes with septic systems. Bio-Charge, an automatic injection of microorganisms, helps break down food waste.
• Quiet But Powerful: This innovative food waste disposal features advanced noise reducing SoundSeal Technology, our exclusive, long lasting 3/4 hp Dura-Drive Induction Motor, and 2-Stage Multigrind Technology to handle the toughest food scraps.
• America’s #1 Disposer Brand: There are more American-built InSinkErator garbage disposals in US homes than all other brands combined. A full line of models means there’s one right for every need and budget.
• Faster, Cleaner, Smarter: From meal prep to cleanup, InSinkErator helps make it fast & easy to keep your kitchen clean with our iconic appliances: garbage disposals & instant hot water dispensers.
• A History Of Innovation For The Sink: We invented garbage disposals in 1927, & we’re the world’s largest manufacturer of garbage disposals & instant hot water dispensers for home & commercial use.

Pros:

• Quiet
• Strong motor
• Helps break down fat or grease
• 4-year warranty

Cons:

• Flimsy Bio-charge add-on
• Big

InSinkErator Essential XTR 3/4 HP Garbage Disposer – Best To Buy in 2020

The InSinkErator Essential XTR is capable and robust, making it the perfect garbage disposal for a regular home. The machine is able to tackle tougher foods like beef bones and can easily manage the trash load of a 4-6 person household.

The InSinkErator Evolution Essential XTR is the updated version of the formerly successful InSinkErator Evolution Compact, with some minor changes made to the housing. The Evolution Compact was an effective machine, and the Evolution Essential XTR keeps what works while enhancing what can be bettered. If you ask us, that’s what makes it the best ¾ HP garbage disposal on the market.

One of the solid upgrades is the soundproofing of the device: the SoundSeal insulation. The company promises a much quieter performance compared to the Compact. Positive feedback on multiple forums and customer reviews suggests that the XTR is indeed more silent.

Additionally, the Evolution Essential XTR now comes with attachments by default, including a SinkTop Switch and a power cord. Otherwise, the rest of the features are the same as the good old Evolution Compact. It’s still a ¾ HP garbage disposer with a Dura Drive induction motor that spins the grind chamber at 1725 rpm. There are no changes to the 2X MultiGrind® Technology where food is processed through 2 stages and ground to finer and smaller particles.

What’s the downside? 1725 rpm isn’t necessarily the best rotational velocity on the market, but it’s worth noting that InSinkErator doesn’t make disposals with other velocities either. It seems that, with almost 80 years in the industry under its belt, the company has found the optimal number. They cut down the power used on pace and spend it on torque instead. And it works splendidly!

All in all, the Evolution Essential XTR is our pick for the best food waste disposal for most kitchens. It’s strong and quiet, reasonably priced, and comes with a 6-year limited warranty. We don’t think you’ll find anything better.

Product Details:

• QUIET BUT POWERFUL: This innovative food waste disposal features advanced noise reducing SoundSeal Technology, our exclusive, long lasting 3/4 hp Dura-Drive Induction Motor, and 2-Stage Multigrind Technology to handle the toughest food scraps.
• DURABLE COMPONENTS AND EXTRAS: This garbage disposal features alloy stainless steel components with a LeakGuard Liner for the highest durability. It also includes a Satin Nickel air switch & power cord – perfect for a kitchen renovation.
• AMERICA’S #1 DISPOSER BRAND: There are more American-built InSinkErator garbage disposals in US homes than all other brands combined. A full line of models means there’s one right for every need and budget. Volts- 120. HZ- 60. RPM -1725.Amp. (Avg. Load)- 8.1
• FASTER, CLEANER, SMARTER: From meal prep to cleanup, InSinkErator helps make it fast & easy to keep your kitchen clean with our iconic appliances: garbage disposals & instant hot water dispensers.Average Electrical Usage:3-4 KWh Per Year
• A HISTORY OF INNOVATION FOR THE SINK: We invented garbage disposals in 1927, & we’re the world’s largest manufacturer of garbage disposals & instant hot water dispensers for home & commercial use.

Pros:

• Quiet
• Strong motor
• 2-stage multigrind
• 6-year warranty
• handles most food types

Cons:

• None

InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1 HP Garbage Disposal – Best High-End Disposer

Equipped with not only a strong motor but also with top-notch technologies, the InSinkErator Evolution Excel is a great high-end choice for a luxury kitchen.

Chief among the Evolution Excel’s best qualities is its superior sound insulation. The machine’s patented Sound Seal technology combines advanced insulation and anti-vibration properties to keep the Excel nice and quiet. Not to oversell it but so far, it’s the quietest disposal unit for residential use.

The unit has a 1 HP (1725 rpm) Dura Drive induction motor at its base, allowing the motor to operate with high efficiency and a decreased demand for maintenance. The stainless steel grind chamber and the strong-torque motor can easily handle bones, seeds, and fibrous waste.

The Evolution Excel also features 3-stage MultiGrind technology. What it does is grind the same batch of food waste three times to ensure it’s thoroughly pulverized. This lessens the likelihood of clogging or jamming even further.

However, when clogging does occur, the Evolution Excel is able to detect these incidents by itself. To free up the chamber, it auto-boosts the torque and auto-reverses the spin, fixing the problem before you’ve even noticed anything amiss.The InSinkErator Evolution Excel is covered with a 7-year in-home limited warranty.

Product Details:

• Quiet But Powerful: This innovative food waste disposal is the quietest disposal on the market, featuring advanced noise reducing, insulated SoundSeal Technology, and our exclusive, long lasting 1 hp Dura-Drive Induction Motor.
• Durable Components For The Toughest Food Scraps: This garbage disposal features alloy stainless steel components with our LeakGuard Liner for the highest durability and 3-Stage Multigrind Technology with jam assist to handle the toughest food scraps.
• America’s #1 Disposer Brand: There are more American-built InSinkErator garbage disposals in US homes than all other brands combined. A full line of models means there’s one right for every need and budget.
• Faster, Cleaner, Smarter: From meal prep to cleanup, InSinkErator helps make it fast & easy to keep your kitchen clean with our iconic appliances: garbage disposals & instant hot water dispensers.
• A History Of Innovation For The Sink: We invented garbage disposals in 1927, & we’re the world’s largest manufacturer of garbage disposals & instant hot water dispensers for home & commercial use.
• 40-ounce grind chamber with galvanized steel grind system
• 1 horsepower dura-rive induction motor
• Power cord included

Pros:

• Strong motor
• Super quiet
• Handles most food waste
• 3-stage multigrind
• Auto unjam
• 7-year warranty

Cons:

• None We highly recommend this one

Conclusion:

We hope you found our Best Garbage Disposal Review Guide For 2023-2024 helpful.