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GE GFC525N 1/2-HP vs InSinkerator Badger 5 Side-by-Side Comparison

By , , and ·Published

GE GFC525N 1/2-HP

$99.99 from Amazon

InSinkerator Badger 5

$113.42 from Amazon
GE GFC525N 1/2-HP vs InSinkerator Badger 5

Overall Verdict

Ranking by
Showing: 2/2 Items

Pros & Cons

  • High-speed motor
  • Affordable 
  • Easy installation
  • High capacity
  • Compact design
  • Affordable
  • External unjam mechanics
  • Small capacity
  • No noise/vibration insulation
  • Faulty details
  • Mediocre performance
  • Heavy build
  • Non-removable splash guard
  • Loud operation

Key Specs

Type of feed
Continuous
Continuous
Horsepower
1/2
1/2
Motor type
Permanent magnet
Induction
Averaged RPM
4317
1480
Family size
1-2 people
1-2 people
Dimensions
L5.4 x W5.8 x H12.7 inches
L4.8 x W6.3 x H11.5 inches

Where to Buy

Price at publication
$103.13
$108
$99.99 at Amazon
$113.42 at Amazon

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Analysis and Test Results

Performance

Overall Performance Scoring
6.0
1.6

Scrap Mix

5.8
3.2
GE GFC525N 1/2-HP Garbage Disposal Scrap Mix Test
11.67 ounces of fish pin bones in mess of assorted scraps from garbage disposal on digital scale on granite-looking top.
14.19 ounces of ground products from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of assorted scraps, including fibers, bones, etc.
0.12 ounces of ground products from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Shredded pieces of dietary fiber.
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 53 sec
4 min
Layer 1
11.7 oz (331 g)
13.3 oz (377 g)
Layer 2
14.2 oz (402 g)
21.2 oz (602 g)
Leftovers
0.1 oz (3 g)
0.6 oz (16 g)

Raw Fish Scraps

5.6
0.0
GE GFC525N 1/2-HP Garbage Disposal Raw Fish Scraps Test
6.01 ounces of ground fish scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Pin bones among a mess of raw fibrous tissue.
1.89 ounces of ground fish scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of assorted shredded bones and raw fibrous tissue.
3.79 ounces of ground fish scraps from a garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of shredded fish backbone and 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
6.0 oz (170 g)
4.8 oz (135 g)
Layer 2
1.9 oz (54 g)
2.5 oz (72 g)
Leftovers
3.8 oz (107 g)
8.6 oz (243 g)

Raw Chicken Scraps

6.8
0.0
GE GFC525N 1/2-HP Garbage Disposal Raw Chicken Scraps Test
0.8 ounces of ground chicken scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of shredded soft tissues and shredded bones.
2.25 ounces of ground chicken scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of shredded tendons and shredded bones.
0.29 ounces of ground chicken scraps from a garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of soft tissue and pieces of shredded 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
3 min
3 min
Layer 1
0.8 oz (23 g)
1.1 oz (30 g)
Layer 2
2.3 oz (64 g)
1.1 oz (31 g)
Leftovers
0.3 oz (8 g)
1.9 oz (54 g)

Design

Overall Design Scoring
7.9
7.5

In the Box

GE Disposall GFC525N 1/2-HP Garbage Disposal with EZ Mount assembly on top, next to its box, user manual, registration slip, sink stopper, elbow tube, and two sets of flanges and bolts.
Badger 5 with 3-Bolt Mount, box, register slip, user manual, stopper, elbow tube, rubber gasket, flange, bolts, and wrench.

Dimensions

GE GFC525N 1/2 HP Garbage Disposal with mount assembly and elbow tube. Dimensions show 5.8-inch width, 12.7-inch height, 4.1-inch depth to dishwasher outlet, 6.1-inch depth to outlet, 5.4-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
5.4" (13.7 cm)
4.8" (12.2 cm)
Width
5.8" (14.7 cm)
6.3" (16.0 cm)
Height
12.7" (32.3 cm)
11.5" (29.2 cm)
Weight
7.7 lbs (3.5 kg)
12.1 lbs (5.5 kg)

Mount Assembly

EZ Mount assembly for garbage disposals placed on white platform. “Disposall” engraving on rim of sink flange. Sink stopper in position.
EZ Mount assembly for garbage disposals placed on white platform. “Disposall” engraving on rim of sink flange. Sink stopper in position.
Support ring, mounting ring, cushion mount, fiber gasket, rubber gasket, sink flange, stopper, removable sink 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

6.5
6.5
Top view of GE GFC525N 1/2 HP garbage disposal after testing, looking at layout of grinding components.
Top view of GE GFC525N 1/2 HP garbage disposal after testing, looking at layout of grinding components.
Grind chamber of GE GFC525N 1/2 HP garbage disposal, showing grater/grinder ring and details on flywheel.
Grind chamber of GE GFC525N 1/2 HP garbage disposal, showing impellers and details of flywheel and grinder ring.
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
23 fl.oz.
32.0 fl oz (946.4 ml)
Verticality
6.1" (15.5 cm)
4.5" (11.4 cm)
Flywheel
4.4" (11.2 cm)
5.3" (13.3 cm)
Assembly Material
Basic
Galvanized steel
Layout
Galvanized Steel
Basic

Motor

8.5
7.0
A digital tachometer is measuring the speed of the motor/flywheel of the GE GFC525N 1/2-HP garbage disposal in our speed test. A smartphone is running the timer app.
Horsepower
1/2
1/2
Speed
2300 RPM
1725 RPM
Real Speed
4363 RPM
1480 RPM
Voltage
120 V (60 Hz)
120 V
Current
4.5 A
6.3
Wattage
540 W
756
Heat
n/a
N/a
Reverse
No
No

Power Cord

Bottom view of GE GFC525N 1/2 HP Garbage Disposal corded garbage disposal with type-B power cord.
Bottom view of InSinkErator Badger 5 1/2 HP garbage disposal without power cord.
Length
34.5" (87.6 cm)
NaN" (NaN cm)
Type
3-prong (B)
n/a

Accessories

Standard outlet/discharge set for garbage disposals on granite-looking top, showing elbow pipe, rubber gasket, flange, 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

8.5
8.5
GE GFC525N 1/2 HP garbage disposal with EZ Mount assembly on top and outlet/discharge set installed.
InSinkErator Badger 5 1/2 HP Garbage Disposal, with 3-Bolt Mount assembly on top and outlet/discharge set in place.
Noise Reduction
No
No
Vibration Reduction
No
No

Usability

Overall Usability Scoring
7.4
7.6

Ease of Use

6.0
8.0

Installation

10
8.0

Smooth Operation

8.0
7.0

Unjam Mechanics

0.0
5.0
Inside view of permanent-magnet garbage disposal showing manual unjam mechanics with wooden stick in flywheel’s opening/gap.
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