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InSinkErator Evolution Essential XTR vs Waste King L-8000 Side-by-Side Comparison

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InSinkErator Evolution Essential XTR

Check Price on Amazon

Waste King L-8000 1 HP

$97.75 from Amazon
InSinkErator Evolution Essential XTR vs Waste King L-8000

Overall Verdict

While the InsinkErator Badger series never proved a match for the Waste King L-8000, the InSinkerator Evolution series fares much better.  The Evolution Essential XTR was even better than the Waste King at grinding down mixed scraps, and it excelled at dealing with raw chicken scraps. 

Since the InsinkErator costs considerably more, you may be wondering what else it has to offer? The Evolution Essential proved to be one of the quietest and most stable disposals we have tested. Although its 3/4 HP motor is slower, it never proved less capable, and the grind chamber is actually slightly larger than the Waste King

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Pros & Cons

  • Noise cancelation
  • Vibration damping
  • High-torque motor
  • Strengthened chamber layout
  • High capacity
  • Stainless steel grinding components
  • Included sink top switch
  • Noise reduction
  • High torque 
  • High speed 
  • Stainless steel grinding components
  • Affordable
  • Heavy
  • Space-consuming
  • Heavy build
  • Takes up a lot of space 
  • Can be loud

Key Specs

Type of feed
Continuous
Continuous
Horsepower
3/4
1
Motor type
Induction
Permanent magnet
Averaged RPM
1478
4149
Family size
3-4 people
3-4 people
Dimensions
L6.1 x W8.6 x H12.4 inches
L5.5 x W8.4 x H16.2 inches

Where to Buy

Price at publication
$295.55
$111.07
Check Price on Amazon
$97.75 at Amazon

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Analysis and Test Results

Performance

Overall Performance Scoring
7.3
6.9

Scrap Mix

6.6
8.1
InSinkErator Evolution Essential XTR Scrap Mix Test
12.19 ounces of fish pin bones in mess of assorted scraps from garbage disposal on digital scale on granite-looking top.
21.46 ounces of ground products from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of assorted scraps, including fibers, bones, etc.
Almost 0 ounces of ground products from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Pieces of shredded dietary fiber.
8.11 ounces of visible fish pin bones in mess of ground assorted scraps, on digital scale, on granite-looking top.
Layer 1
8.11 ounces of visible fish pin bones in mess of ground assorted scraps, on digital scale, on granite-looking top.
12.56 ounces of ground assorted scraps, including dietary fibers, bones, etc., on digital scale, on granite-looking top.
0.15 ounces of shredded pieces of fish backbone and celery stalk, on digital scale, on granite-looking top.
Input Load
90.0 oz (2551 g)
90.0 oz (2551 g)
Time
2 minutes
2 min
Layer 1
12.2 oz (346 g)
8.1 oz (230 g)
Layer 2
21.5 oz (608 g)
12.6 oz (356 g)
Leftovers
0.00 oz (0 g)
0.1 oz (4 g)

Raw Fish Scraps

8.3
6.7
InSinkErator Evolution Essential XTR Raw Fish Scraps Test
7.24 ounces of ground fish scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Broken fish bones among a mess of raw fibrous tissue.
3.52 ounces of ground fish scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of assorted shredded fish bones and raw fibrous tissue.
0.12 ounces of ground fish scraps from a garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of shredded fish skin and a piece of pin bone.
5.71 ounces of visible pin bones among mess of raw fibrous tissue from fish scraps, on digital scale, on granite-looking top.
Layer 1
5.71 ounces of visible pin bones among mess of raw fibrous tissue from fish scraps, on digital scale, on granite-looking top.
2.47 ounces of shredded bones and fibrous tissue from fish scraps, on digital scale, placed on granite-looking top.
2.8 ounces of fish vertebrae among mess of 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
7.2 oz (205 g)
5.7 oz (162 g)
Layer 2
3.5 oz (100 g)
2.5 oz (70 g)
Leftovers
0.1 oz (3 g)
2.8 oz (79 g)

Raw Chicken Scraps

7.8
4.6
InSinkErator Evolution Essential XTR Raw Chicken Scraps Test
3.03 ounces of ground chicken scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of shredded soft tissue and pieces of shredded bones.
1.01 ounces of ground chicken scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of shredded tendons and pieces of shredded bones.
0.3 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.
1.44 ounces of fibrous soft tissue and few pieces of shredded chicken bones, on digital scale, on granite-looking top.
Layer 1
1.44 ounces of fibrous soft tissue and few pieces of shredded chicken bones, on digital scale, on granite-looking top.
1.79 ounces of shredded soft tissue and pieces of shredded chicken bones, on digital scale, on granite-looking top.
0.91 ounces of shredded soft stringy tissue and 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
3.0 oz (86 g)
1.4 oz (41 g)
Layer 2
1.0 oz (29 g)
1.8 oz (51 g)
Leftovers
0.3 oz (9 g)
0.9 oz (26 g)

Design

Overall Design Scoring
8.9
9.2

In the Box

InSinkErator Evolution Essential XTR 3/4 HP with 3-Bolt Mount assembly on top, next to its box, user manual, registration slip, sink stopper, hose clamp, elbow tube, straight tube, wrench, and bolts.
L-8000, EZ Mount on top, its box, user manual, stopper, adapter kit, elbow tube, rubber gasket, flange, bolts, wire nuts.

Dimensions

InSinkErator Evolution Essential XTR 3/4-hp food disposer with mount assembly and elbow tube. Dimensions show 8.6-inch width, 12.4-inch height, 3.4-inch depth to dishwasher outlet, 6.6-inch depth to outlet, 6.1-inch distance to elbow tube.
Waste King 1 HP with mount assembly, elbow tube. Showing 8.4-inch width, 14.6-inch height, 4.3-inch depth to dishwasher outlet, 7.4-inch depth to outlet, 5.4-inch distance to elbow tube.
Length
6.1" (15.5 cm)
5.5" (14.0 cm)
Width
8.6" (21.8 cm)
8.4" (21.3 cm)
Height
12.4" (31.5 cm)
16.2" (41.1 cm)
Weight
16.0 lbs (7.3 kg)
12.7 lbs (5.8 kg)

Mount Assembly

3-Bolt Mount assembly for garbage disposals placed on white platform. “food waste disposer” and “InSinkErator” engraving on rim of sink flange. Sink stopper in position.
3-Bolt Mount assembly for garbage disposals placed on white platform. “food waste disposer” and “InSinkErator” engraving on rim of sink flange. Sink stopper in position.
Parts of 3-Bolts Mount assembly on platform, including backup flange, mounting ring, snap ring, fiber gasket, stopper, cushion mount, sink flange with “food waste disposer” and “InSinkErator” engravings, removable sink baffle, lower mounting ring.
EZ Mount assembly for garbage disposals placed on white platform with stopper in position.
EZ Mount assembly for garbage disposals placed on white platform with stopper in position.
Support ring, mounting ring, cushion mount, fiber gasket, rubber gasket, sink flange, stopper, removable sink splash guard.

Grind Chamber

8.5
8.5
Top view through collar of InSinkErator Essential XTR 3/4-hp garbage disposal into grinding chamber after testing. Highlighting layout of grinding components, showing swivel impellers, flywheel, and grater/grinder ring.
Top view through collar of InSinkErator Essential XTR 3/4-hp garbage disposal into grinding chamber after testing. Highlighting layout of grinding components, showing swivel impellers, flywheel, and grater/grinder ring.
Inside view of Evolution Essential XTR 3/4-hp garbage disposal, highlighting design of GrindShear grater ring by InSinkErator, partially showing details of flywheel.
Inside view of InSinkErator Evolution Essential XTR 3/4-hp garbage disposal after testing, highlighting design of impellers, partially showing details of flywheel and grater/grinder ring.
Top view into chamber of Waste King L-8000 garbage disposal after testing, looking at layout of grinding components.
Top view into chamber of Waste King L-8000 garbage disposal after testing, looking at layout of grinding components.
Inside view of Waste King L-8000 garbage disposal, showing design of two-level grater/grinder ring and details on flywheel.
Inside view of Waste King L-8000 food disposer, showing design of impellers and details of flywheel and grater/grinder ring.
Capacity
32.0 fl oz (946.4 ml)
30.0 fl oz (887.2 ml)
Verticality
5.4" (13.7 cm)
6.8" (17.3 cm)
Flywheel
5.3" (13.3 cm)
4.4" (11.1 cm)
Assembly Material
Stainless steel
Intermediate
Layout
Strengthened
Stainless steel

Motor

8.0
10
Horsepower
3/4
1
Speed
1725 RPM
2800 RPM
Real Speed
1482 RPM
4149 RPM
Voltage
120 V (60 Hz)
115 V (60 Hz)
Current
8.1 A
7 A
Wattage
972 W
805 W
Heat
N/A
n/a
Reverse
No
No

Power Cord

Bottom view of InSinkErator Evolution Essential XTR 3/4-hp with two pre-cut electrical wires and no power cord. (Unscrewed) cover plate and screw to the sides.
Bottom view of Waste King L-8000 1 HP corded garbage disposal with type-B power cord.
Length
NaN" (NaN cm)
2.8 ft (0.9 m)
Type
n/a
3-prong (Type B)

Accessories

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

Build Quality

10
9.0
InSinkErator Evolution Essential XTR 3/4 HP Continuous Feed Garbage Disposal, with 3-Bolt Mount assembly on top and outlet/discharge set installed.
Waste King Legend Series L-8000 1 HP Garbage Disposal, with EZ Mount assembly on top and outlet/discharge set installed.
Noise Reduction
Yes
Yes
Vibration Reduction
Yes
No

Usability

Overall Usability Scoring
8.4
7.3

Ease of Use

9.0
8.0

Installation

7.0
7.0

Smooth Operation

10
8.0

Unjam Mechanics

5.0
0.0
Bottom view of InSinkErator Evolution Essential XTR disposal, showing jam buster wrench in manual unjam slot.
Inside view of permanent-magnet garbage disposal showing manual unjam mechanics with wooden stick in flywheel’s opening/gap.
External
Yes
No
Auto Unjam
No
No