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Waste King L-1001 vs InSinkerator Badger 5 Garbage Disposal Side-by-Side Comparison

By , , and ·Published

Waste King L-1001

$84.95 from Amazon(+1 more)

InSinkerator Badger 5

$115.96 from Amazon
Waste King L-1001 vs InSinkerator Badger 5

Overall Verdict

The InSinkErator Badger 5 is a low cost alternative compared to other InSinkErators, as is the Waste King L-1001. Both these disposals are a 1/2 HP design, however, the Badger has a much larger grinding chamber (32 vs 23 fl oz) and it installs with a 3-bolt mechanism while the Waste King uses an EZ mount installation.

Performance wise, the Waste King deals reasonably well with most scraps, although nowhere near excellent, while the Badger is really not good for anything other than a barely acceptable job at mixed scrapping. Both have their limitations, but for considerably less on the price tag, the Waste King is a far better budget choice.

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
  • 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
$64.01
$108
$84.95 at AmazonCheck Price on Homedepot
$115.96 at Amazon

*You help support Shouldit's product testing and reviews by purchasing from our retail partners.

Analysis and Test Results

Performance

Overall Performance Scoring
6.8
3.8

Scrap Mix

7.5
6.3
Waste King L-1001 Garbage Disposal Scrap Mix Test
8.98 ounces of assorted scraps from garbage disposal on digital scale on granite-looking top.
17.85 ounces of assorted scraps, including fibers, bones, etc on digital scale.
0.06 ounces of shredded dietary fiber on digital scale.
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
3 min
4 min
Layer 1
9.0 oz (255 g)
13.3 oz (377 g)
Layer 2
17.9 oz (506 g)
21.2 oz (602 g)
Leftovers
0.1 oz (2 g)
0.6 oz (16 g)

Raw Fish Scraps

5.9
0.0
Waste King L-1001 Garbage Disposal Raw Fish Scraps Test
6.08 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.
1.97 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.
3.43 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
6.1 oz (172 g)
4.8 oz (135 g)
Layer 2
2.0 oz (56 g)
2.5 oz (72 g)
Leftovers
3.4 oz (97 g)
8.6 oz (243 g)

Raw Chicken Scraps

5.7
0.0
Waste King L-1001 Garbage Disposal Raw Chicken Scraps Test
0.67 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.
1.86 ounces of ground chicken scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of shredded tissues and shredded bones.
0.87 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
0.7 oz (19 g)
1.1 oz (30 g)
Layer 2
1.9 oz (53 g)
1.1 oz (31 g)
Leftovers
0.9 oz (25 g)
1.9 oz (54 g)

Design

Overall Design Scoring
7.9
7.5

In the Box

Waste King L-1001 Garbage Disposal In the Box
Waste King L1001 1/2 HP Garbage Disposal with EZ Mount assembly on top, next to its box, user manual, registration slip, sink stopper, elbow tube, and a set of flange and bolts.
Badger 5 with 3-Bolt Mount, box, register slip, user manual, stopper, elbow tube, rubber gasket, flange, bolts, and wrench.

Dimensions

Waste King L1001 1/2 HP Garbage Disposal with mount assembly and elbow tube. Dimensions show 5.8-inch width, 12.7-inch height, 3.3-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. Sink stopper in position.
EZ Mount assembly for garbage disposals placed on white platform. 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 Waste King L1001 1/2 HP garbage disposal after testing, looking at layout of grinding components.
Top view of Waste King L1001 1/2 HP garbage disposal after testing, looking at layout of grinding components.
Grinder chamber of Waste King L1001 1/2 HP garbage disposal, showing grater/grinder ring and details on flywheel.
Grinder chamber of Waste King L1001 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. (639 ml)
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
Galvanized steel
Galvanized steel
Layout
Basic
Basic

Motor

8.5
7.0
A digital tachometer is measuring the speed of the motor/flywheel of the Waste King L-1001 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
4317 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 Waste King L1001 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
Waste King L1001 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