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InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1-HP vs InSinkerator Badger 5 1/2-HP Side-by-Side Comparison

By Be Nguyen, Lap Vo, and Nguyen Ntk·Published Jan 16, 2024

InSinkErator Evolution Excel

Check Price on Amazon (+1 more)

InSinkerator Badger 5

$112.7 from Amazon

InSinkErator Evolution Excel vs InSinkerator Badger 5

Overall Verdict

The InSinkErator Badger 5 represents a mid-range option in the garbage disposal market. While it features a well-built and durable grinding mechanism capable of handling common kitchen scraps, it may not be suitable for all users. Its limitations in ensuring drain-safe output, particularly in environments with shared plumbing like apartment buildings, should be considered before purchase.

The InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1-HP caters to a different user need, where it prioritizes superior performance. This premium disposal tackles challenging waste like raw fish bones with ease and incorporates industry-leading noise cancellation technology for a quieter experience. These advanced features contribute to its higher price point compared to the Badger 5.

Ranking by

Showing: 2/2 Items

Pros & Cons

Noise cancelation
Vibration damping
High-torque motor
Advanced chamber layout
Auto-unjam mechanics
Extra high capacity
Stainless steel grinding components

High capacity
Compact design
Affordable
External unjam mechanics

Extra heavy
Space-consuming
No power cord
Expensive

Mediocre performance
Heavy build
Non-removable splash guard
Loud operation

Key Specs

Type of feed

Continuous

Continuous

Horsepower

1

1/2

Motor type

Induction (with auto-reverse feature)

Induction

Averaged RPM

1483

1480

Family size

7-8 people

1-2 people

Dimensions

L6.1 x W8.9 x H12.9 inches

L4.8 x W6.3 x H11.5 inches

Where to Buy

Price at publication

$392.95

$108

Check Price on Amazon Check Price on Walmart

$112.7 at Amazon

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Analysis and Test Results

Performance

Overall Performance Scoring

9.3

1.6

Scrap Mix

9.8

3.2

0.66 ounces of ground products from a garbage disposal, displayed on a digital scale, placed on a granite-looking table. Visible fish pin bones in a mess of assorted scraps.

7.16 ounces of ground products from a garbage disposal, displayed on a digital scale, placed on a granite-looking table. Mess of assorted scraps, including fibers, bones, etc.

0.29 ounces of ground products from a garbage disposal, displayed on a digital scale, placed on a granite-looking table. Broken up pieces of corncob.

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

0.7 oz (19 g)

13.3 oz (377 g)

Layer 2

7.2 oz (203 g)

21.2 oz (602 g)

Leftovers

0.3 oz (8 g)

0.6 oz (16 g)

Raw Fish Scraps

9.3

0.0

4.93 ounces of ground fish scraps from a garbage disposal, displayed on a digital scale, placed on a granite-looking table. Visible pin bones among a mess of raw fibrous tissue.

2.3 ounces of ground fish scraps from a garbage disposal, displayed on a digital scale, placed on a granite-looking table. Mess of assorted shredded bones and raw fibrous tissue.

0.12 ounces of ground fish scraps from a garbage disposal, displayed on a digital scale, placed on a granite-looking table. Small mess of shredded fish backbone and skin.

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

4.9 oz (140 g)

4.8 oz (135 g)

Layer 2

2.3 oz (65 g)

2.5 oz (72 g)

Leftovers

0.1 oz (3 g)

8.6 oz (243 g)

Raw Chicken Scraps

8.5

0.0

0.68 ounces of ground chicken scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on a granite-looking table. Mess of shredded soft tissue and few pieces of shredded bones.

1.07 ounces of ground chicken scraps from a garbage disposal, displayed on a digital scale, placed on a granite-looking table. Mess of fibrous soft tissue and pieces of shredded bones.

0.19 ounces of ground chicken scraps from a garbage disposal, displayed on a digital scale, placed on a granite-looking table. Small mess of soft tissue and pieces of shredded cartilage.

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 30 sec

3 min

Layer 1

0.7 oz (19 g)

1.1 oz (30 g)

Layer 2

1.1 oz (30 g)

1.1 oz (31 g)

Leftovers

0.2 oz (5 g)

1.9 oz (54 g)

Design

Overall Design Scoring

9.6

7.5

In the Box

InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1 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.

Badger 5 with 3-Bolt Mount, box, register slip, user manual, stopper, elbow tube, rubber gasket, flange, bolts, and wrench.

Dimensions

InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1-hp food disposer with mount assembly and elbow tube. Dimensions show 8.9-inch width, 12.9-inch height, 3.4-inch depth to dishwasher outlet, 7.1-inch depth to outlet, 6.1-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

6.1" (15.5 cm)

4.8" (12.2 cm)

Width

8.9" (22.6 cm)

6.3" (16.0 cm)

Height

12.9" (32.8 cm)

11.5" (29.2 cm)

Weight

19.4 lbs (8.8 kg)

12.1 lbs (5.5 kg)

Mount Assembly

InSinkErator Evolution Excel Mount Assembly

InSinkErator Evolution Excel Mount Assembly

InSinkErator Evolution Excel Mount Assembly 1

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

9.5

6.5

Top view through collar of InSinkErator Evolution 1-hp garbage disposal into chamber after testing. Looking at layout of grinding components, showing swivel impellers, flywheel, and grater/grinder ring. — InSinkErator Evolution Excel Grind Chamber

Top view through collar of InSinkErator Evolution 1-hp garbage disposal into chamber after testing. Looking at layout of grinding components, showing swivel impellers, flywheel, and grater/grinder ring.

Inside view of Evolution Excel 1-hp garbage disposal, highlighting design of GrindShear grater ring by InSinkErator, partially showing details of flywheel.

Inside view of InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1-hp garbage disposal after testing, highlighting design of impellers, partially showing details of flywheel and grater/grinder ring.

Inside view of InSinkErator Evolution 1-hp food waste disposer, highlighting parts of Excel Tri-Action Lug system, partially showing details of grater/grinder ring and flywheel.

Top view through collar of Evolution Excel 1-hp garbage disposal into chamber, highlighting parts of Tri-Action Lug system by InSinkErator, partially showing details of 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

37.0 fl oz (1.1 L)

32.0 fl oz (946.4 ml)

Verticality

5.9" (15.0 cm)

4.5" (11.4 cm)

Flywheel

5.3" (13.3 cm)

5.3" (13.3 cm)

Assembly Material

Stainless steel

Galvanized steel

Layout

Advanced

Basic

Motor

9.0

7.0

Horsepower

1

1/2

Speed

1725 RPM

1725 RPM

Real Speed

1483 RPM

1480 RPM

Voltage

120 V

120 V

Current

10.2 A

6.3

Wattage

1224 W

756

Heat

N/A

N/a

Reverse

Yes

No

Power Cord

Bottom view of InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1-hp with two pre-cut electrical wires and no power cord. (Unscrewed) cover plate and screw to the sides.

Bottom view of InSinkErator Badger 5 1/2 HP garbage disposal without power cord.

Length

NaN" (NaN cm)

NaN" (NaN cm)

Type

None

n/a

Accessories

Hose clamp and elbow discharge/outlet tube for garbage disposals displayed on granite-looking top.

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

10

8.5

InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1 HP Continuous Feed Garbage Disposal, with 3-Bolt 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

Yes

No

Vibration Reduction

Yes

No

Usability

Overall Usability Scoring

8.5

7.6

Ease of Use

10

8.0

Installation

5.0

8.0

Smooth Operation

10

7.0

Unjam Mechanics

10

5.0

Bottom view of InSinkErator Excel disposal, showing jam buster wrench in manual unjam slot.

Bottom view of Badger 5 1/2-hp garbage disposal showing jam buster wrench in manual unjam slot.

External

Yes

Yes

Auto Unjam

Yes

No