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GE GFC1020N 1 HP vs InSinkerator Badger 5 Garbage Disposal Side-by-Side Comparison

By , , and ·Published

GE GFC1020N 1 HP

$199 from Amazon

InSinkerator Badger 5

$112.7 from Amazon
GE GFC1020N 1 HP vs InSinkerator Badger 5

Overall Verdict

Ranking by
Showing: 2/2 Items

Pros & Cons

  • Noise reduction
  • High torque 
  • High speed 
  • Stainless steel grind components
  • Strengthened chamber layout
  • High capacity
  • Compact design
  • Affordable
  • External unjam mechanics
  • Heavy build
  • Space-consuming design
  • Can be loud
  • No power cord
  • Mediocre performance
  • Heavy build
  • Non-removable splash guard
  • Loud operation

Key Specs

Type of feed
Continuous
Continuous
Horsepower
1
1/2
Motor type
Permanent magnet
Induction
Averaged RPM
4149
1480
Family size
5-6 people
1-2 people
Dimensions
L5.5 x W8.4 x H16.2 inches
L4.8 x W6.3 x H11.5 inches

Where to Buy

Price at publication
$199.58
$108
$199 at Amazon
$112.7 at Amazon

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Analysis and Test Results

Performance

Overall Performance Scoring
7.5
1.6

Scrap Mix

7.9
3.2
GE GFC1020N Continuous Feed Garbage Disposal Scrap Mix Test
6.67 ounces of ground products from a garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on a granite-looking table. Visible fish pin bones in mess of assorted scraps.
16.31 ounces of ground products from a garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on a granite-looking table. Mess of assorted scraps, including fibers, bones, etc.
0.14 ounces of ground products from a garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on a granite-looking table. Shredded pieces of fish bones and vertebrae.
InSinkerator Badger 5 1/2 HP Garbage Disposal Scrap Mix Test
13.31 ounces of fish pin bones in mess of assorted scraps from garbage disposal on digital scale on granite-looking top.
21.24 ounces of ground products from garbage disposal on digital scale on granite-looking table.
0.58-ounce piece of lemon peel from garbage disposal on digital scale on granite-looking table
Input Load
90.0 oz (2551 g)
90.0 oz (2551 g)
Time
2 min
4 min
Layer 1
7.7 oz (217 g)
13.3 oz (377 g)
Layer 2
16.3 oz (462 g)
21.2 oz (602 g)
Leftovers
0.1 oz (4 g)
0.6 oz (16 g)

Raw Fish Scraps

7.7
0.0
GE GFC1020N Continuous Feed Garbage Disposal Raw Fish Scraps Test
7.7 ounces of ground fish scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Visible pin bones among mess of raw fibrous tissue.
3.39 ounces of ground fish scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on a granite-looking table. Mess of assorted shredded bones and fibrous tissue.
1.02 ounces of ground fish scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Fish vertebrae among mess of shredded fish skin.
InSinkerator Badger 5 1/2 HP Garbage Disposal Raw Fish Scraps Test
4.77 ounces of visible pin bones in a mass of raw meat and skin from fish scraps on digital scale on granite-looking top.
2.55 ounces of visible pin bones in a mass of raw meat and skin from fish scraps on digital scale on granite-looking top.
8.56 ounces of broken fish vertebrae and shredded fish skin on digital scale on granite-looking top.
Input Load
49.4 oz (1400 g)
49.4 oz (1400 g)
Time
3 min
3 min
Layer 1
7.7 oz (218 g)
4.8 oz (135 g)
Layer 2
3.4 oz (96 g)
2.5 oz (72 g)
Leftovers
1.0 oz (29 g)
8.6 oz (243 g)

Raw Chicken Scraps

6.4
0.0
GE GFC1020N Continuous Feed Garbage Disposal Raw Chicken Scraps Test
1.12 ounces of ground chicken scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of shredded soft tissue and bones.
2.62 ounces of ground chicken scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of fibrous soft tissue and shredded bones.
0.48 ounces of ground chicken scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of soft tissue and crushed cartilage.
InSinkerator Badger 5 1/2 HP Garbage Disposal Raw Chicken Scraps Test
1.07 ounces of crushed chicken bone, shredded tendon, and fatty tissue on digital scale on granite-looking top.
1.09 ounces of crushed chicken bone and cartilage, and shredded tendon and meat on digital scale on granite-looking top.
1.92 ounces of shredded fatty tissue and broken cartilage from chicken scraps on digital scale on granite-looking top.
Input Load
7.4 oz (210 g)
7.4 oz (210 g)
Time
2 min 18 sec
3 min
Layer 1
1.1 oz (32 g)
1.1 oz (30 g)
Layer 2
2.6 oz (74 g)
1.1 oz (31 g)
Leftovers
0.5 oz (14 g)
1.9 oz (54 g)

Design

Overall Design Scoring
9.5
7.5

In the Box

GFC1020N, EZ Mount, box, registration slip, instruction slip, user manual, stopper, adapter, tube, gasket, flange, bolts, and wire nuts.
Badger 5 with 3-Bolt Mount, box, register slip, user manual, stopper, elbow tube, rubber gasket, flange, bolts, and wrench.

Dimensions

GE GFC1020N, mount assembly, elbow tube, orange sticker. Showing 8.4-inch width, 16.2-inch height, 4.3-inch depth to dishwasher outlet, 7.4-inch depth to outlet, 5.5-inch distance to elbow tube.
Badger 5 with mount assembly and elbow tube. Showing 6.3-inch width, 11.5-inch height, 3.5-inch depth to dishwasher outlet, 6.7-inch depth to outlet, 4.8-inch distance to elbow tube.
Length
5.5" (14.0 cm)
4.8" (12.2 cm)
Width
8.4" (21.3 cm)
6.3" (16.0 cm)
Height
16.2" (41.1 cm)
11.5" (29.2 cm)
Weight
12.7 lbs (5.8 kg)
12.1 lbs (5.5 kg)

Mount Assembly

EZ Mount assembly for garbage disposals with splash guard on white platform, GE logo and “Disposall” engravings on rim.
EZ Mount assembly for garbage disposals with splash guard on white platform, GE logo and “Disposall” engravings on rim.
Support ring, mounting ring, cushion mount, fiber gasket, rubber gasket, engraved sink flange, stopper, and splash guard.
InSinkerator Badger 5 1/2-HP Garbage Disposal Mount Assembly3-Bolt Mount assembly for garbage disposals with “insinkerator” engravings placed on white platform with stopper in position.
InSinkerator Badger 5 1/2-HP Garbage Disposal Mount Assembly3-Bolt Mount assembly for garbage disposals with “insinkerator” engravings placed on white platform with stopper in position.
Backup flange, mounting ring, snap ring, fiber gasket, cushion mount, sink flange, stopper, lower mounting ring.

Grind Chamber

9.0
6.5
Top view of GE GFC1020N into chamber, showing layout of grinding components, swivel impellers, flywheel, and precutter.
Top view of GE GFC1020N into chamber, showing layout of grinding components, swivel impellers, flywheel, and precutter.
Inside view of GE Disposall GFC1020N, showing details of two-level precutter and flywheel.
Inside view of GE Disposall GFC1020N, showing details of impellers, precutter, and flywheel.
InSinkerator Badger 5 1/2-HP Garbage Disposal Grind ChamberTop view of grinding components in InSinkErator Badger 5 looking at layout of flywheel and impellers.
InSinkerator Badger 5 1/2-HP Garbage Disposal Grind ChamberTop view of grinding components in InSinkErator Badger 5 looking at layout of flywheel and impellers.
Precutter/grater ring in InSinkErator Badger 5 showing layout of cutters and grinding teeth.
Grinding components in InSinkErator Badger 5 showing design of flywheel and impeller(s).
Capacity
30.0 fl oz (887.2 ml)
32.0 fl oz (946.4 ml)
Verticality
6.8" (17.3 cm)
4.5" (11.4 cm)
Flywheel
4.4" (11.2 cm)
5.3" (13.3 cm)
Assembly Material
Strengthened
Galvanized steel
Layout
Stainless steel
Basic

Motor

10
7.0
Horsepower
1
1/2
Speed
2800 RPM
1725 RPM
Real Speed
4149 RPM
1480 RPM
Voltage
120 V (60 Hz)
120 V
Current
7 A
6.3
Wattage
840 W
756
Heat
N/A
N/a
Reverse
No
No

Power Cord

Bottom view of GE GFC1020N non-corded garbage disposal, pre-cut electrical wires, and specification sticker.
Bottom view of InSinkErator Badger 5 1/2 HP garbage disposal without power cord.
Length
NaN" (NaN cm)
NaN" (NaN cm)
Type
n/a
n/a

Accessories

Standard outlet/discharge set for garbage disposals on granite-looking top, elbow pipe with rubber gasket, flange, and bolts.
Standard outlet/discharge set for garbage disposals on white top, showing elbow pipe, rubber gasket, flange, and bolts.
Width
3.3" (8.3 cm)
3.3" (8.3 cm)
Length
5.3" (13.3 cm)
5.3" (13.3 cm)
Material
PVC
PVC

Build Quality

9.5
8.5
GE Disposall GFC1020N with EZ Mount assembly on top, discharge set, and orange sticker.
InSinkErator Badger 5 1/2 HP Garbage Disposal, with 3-Bolt Mount assembly on top and outlet/discharge set in place.
Noise Reduction
Yes
No
Vibration Reduction
No
No

Usability

Overall Usability Scoring
7.3
7.6

Ease of Use

8.0
8.0

Installation

7.0
8.0

Smooth Operation

8.0
7.0

Unjam Mechanics

0.0
5.0
Inside view of garbage disposal showing manual unjam mechanics with wooden stick in flywheel’s opening/gap, partially showing details of flywheel and grater/grinder ring.
Bottom view of Badger 5 1/2-hp garbage disposal showing jam buster wrench in manual unjam slot.
External
No
Yes
Auto Unjam
No
No