The Best Garbage Disposals Tested & Reviewed
Garbage disposals are essential to many modern households as they help promote clean and hygienic kitchens and prevent clogs happening further down the line. But it’s tough finding the right one, given the many choices nowadays. That’s why we’ve tested the top models on the market, putting them through rigorous tasks, so we can bring the best garbage disposal to our readers.
For instance, the InSinkErator Evolution 0.75HP is our top recommendation thanks to its premium build, strong performance, and highly efficient noise-treatment at a reasonable price. The InSinkErator Advanced 1.0HP is our upgrade pick thanks to its industry-leading features, enjoying top-quality craftsmanship and technology. However, if you’re looking for strong grinding performance, the GE Disposall 3/4-HP might be more preferable.
Everything We Recommend
With the most balanced build on the market, featuring multi-stage grinding, anti-vibration technology, and durable construction, this disposal is perfect for almost anything. InSinkErator’s renown service warranty is also one of the main reasons why we recommend it.
For the best noise-insulation and construction, this latest model follows the footsteps of the legendary Evolution Excel with a few cuts here and there. The disposal’s premium build, industry-leading features, and quiet operation put it on an entirely different level in terms of quality.
This disposal runs on a high-speed permanent magnet motor that avoids jamming effectively, even when grinding large amounts of scraps. Its ample power and stainless steel grinding components easily take care of daily kitchen scraps while offering high durability.
If you want something more compact that fits in tight spaces, this is one of the better choices. Although it’s not very impressive in terms of grinding power, the disposal handles common scraps in small amounts effectively and is more budget-friendly.
How We Test
Our main objective is to see how each garbage disposal deals with various types and amounts of food scraps. Each unit’s performance is assessed based on the data we’ve collected through running tests, each designed to reflect aspects of practicality:
In the Scrap Mix test, the disposals’ ability to deal with common food scraps is highlighted by pitting them against 11 different types of food.
The Raw Fish Scraps test, in turn, challenges their grinding capabilities against raw salmon bones.
Finally, the Raw Chicken Scraps test further showcases the disposals’ ability to handle raw chicken thigh bones.
To inform our decisions, we draw on insights from Design and Usability examinations. The layout of the grinding chambers, motor power, and build quality are our main focus. Personal impressions on the overall user experience, including difficulties and malfunctions during installation or operation are also considered.
Check out full How We Test and Score Garbage Disposals for more information.
How We Decide
In this list, our decisions and recommendations regarding the products’ ranking are based heavily on the evaluation scores. Ultimately, we take into account their grinding capabilities, their build quality, and their economical values in relation to how they performed. The availability of the products also affects the current list.
InSinkErator Evolution 3/4 HP Garbage Disposal
Best to Buy
With the most balanced build on the market, featuring multi-stage grinding, anti-vibration technology, and durable construction, this disposal is perfect for almost anything. InSinkErator’s renown service warranty is also one of the main reasons why we recommend it.
Things We Like
- Anti-vibration details
- Premium build
- Fine output
- Auto-reset circuit breaker
- EZ hardwire connection
- 9-year in-home warranty
Things We Don’t Like
- Heavy
The Evolution .75HP is the upgraded version of the once best-selling Evolution Compact which now has been discontinued. The Evolution Compact was beloved for its convenient anti-vibration and reliable durability for $200, and it’s one of the best disposals we’ve evaluated.
Both disposals tackle tough and fibrous food scraps with a stainless steel grinding chamber and torqueful induction motor. But, the .75HP is equipped with the innovative undercutter disc—one of Advanced series’ new additions—to ensure that all foods are reduced to fine particles before being released.
Compared to its predecessor, our mixed scraps test reveals that the disposal takes longer to grind (3 minutes for 90 ounces of food) but produces much finer output, therefore reducing the risk of clogging even more. It consistently delivers strong performance breaking down tough edible fibers, avocado pits, and even cooked chicken bones. The results are far from the best we’ve seen, but very satisfying, nonetheless, when taking into account the reasonable $200 price tag.
Furthermore, this new chamber design is apparently less effective against raw fish remains but works great against raw chicken bones, according to our testing data.
Besides its reliable performance, the Evolution .75HP has easily the best build on the market, second only to its 1HP sibling, with high-quality materials and experienced craftsmanship. Moreover, the disposal enjoys premiums such as auto-reset circuit protection, EZ hardwire connection, and noise-reduction system consisting of the Quiet Collar Sink Baffle, vibration-reducing cushion mount, and noise-damping shell.
Considering everything, the Advanced Evolution .75HP is the best disposal to buy in our opinion. If it’s not the industry-leading quiet performance or multi-stage grinding, then it’s InSinkErator’s quality control and the disposal’s 9-year We Come to You service warranty that seal the deal.
Read our full InSinkErator Evolution 3/4 HP Garbage Disposal in-depth review
InSinkErator Evolution 1.0 HP Garbage Disposal
Upgrade Pick
For the best noise-insulation and construction, this latest model follows the footsteps of the legendary Evolution Excel with a few cuts here and there. The disposal’s premium build, industry-leading features, and quiet operation put it on an entirely different level in terms of quality.
Things We Like
- Anti-vibration details
- Noise-damping shell
- Premium build
- Fine output
- Auto-reset circuit breaker
- EZ hardwire connection
- 10-year in-home warranty
Things We Don’t Like
- Heavy
- Costly
The Evolution 1 HP is the updated version of the once best-selling, recently discontinued Evolution Excel. The Excel is a legend in the industry for its power and top-end features. For roughly $100 cheaper, the 1.0HP employs a neater design with a trim casing and a simplified chamber that marks the end of the signature tri-action lug system. The renown 4-stage grinding system has traded the bone-breaking fins of the old system for a paddle detail that facilitates clean release and reduces clogging.
Compared to the Excel, the 1.0HP is slower when handling mixed scraps, partly explaining its lower cost. Compared to the .75HP’s 3-stage mechanic, on the other hand, the 1.0HP is clearly superior, dealing with various food types more easily. The disposal consistently breaks down tough edible fibers, avocado pits, and even cooked chicken bones throughout testing. Our data also shows that this 4-stage design is effective against both raw fish bones and raw chicken bones.
In addition to solid performance, the Evolution 1.0HP boasts the best configurations on the market at the moment, utilizing premium materials, craftsmanship, and innovative details. Aside from its auto-reset circuit protection, EZ hardwire connection, the disposal’s advanced sound treatment system, using anti-vibration cushion, sound-damping sink baffle—which is similar to the .75HP—and additional layers like the Sound Jacket and anti-vibration tailpipe coupler help keep the grinding process quiet like never before and put the disposal on another level entirely.
With everything taken into account, the Advanced Evolution 1.0HP is a worthwhile upgrade, offering next-level noise treatment and long service life. Even though $280 is not a small sum of money, the disposal’s industry-leading quietness, multi-stage grinding, and InSinkErator’s 10-year We Come to You warranty still makes for an appealing package.
Read our full InSinkErator Evolution 1.0 HP Garbage Disposal in-depth review
GE Disposall 3/4 HP Continuous Feed
Best Performance
This disposal runs on a high-speed permanent magnet motor that avoids jamming effectively, even when grinding large amounts of scraps. Its ample power and stainless steel grinding components easily take care of daily kitchen scraps while offering high durability.
Things We Like
- High-speed, jamless motor
- Remarkable grinding capability
- Stainless steel components
- Strengthened components
- Collar adaptor included
Things We Don’t Like
- Space-consuming design
- Can be noisy
- No power cord
We prefer the GE GFC720N to the other mid-range units in our lab because the disposal time after time delivered outstanding results in the uncooked meat scraps challenge.
The disposal has the typical appearance of a permanent-magnet model. Its simplistic design, offering ample grinding power and strong grinding components, invests heavily on quality materials and craftsmanship. On the outside, a simple, high-quality plastic shell encases everything, and a layer of acoustic foam wraps around the chamber in between the casing and the machinery.
This design philosophy pays off as the disposal demonstrated full competence in performance testing with an impressive input-to-output ratio. The process was also quick and effortless as the disposal went through 90 ounces in just 2 minutes. Furthermore, the disposal also excelled in dealing with raw scraps and outperformed several more powerful and more costly models, including the ones on this list. The disposal’s thick stainless steel impellers, besides its high-speed, jamless magnet motor, are likely the main contributor to such note-worthy results.
With rigid construction and outstanding performance, the GE GFC720N 3/4-HP is a product worth considering at the very least. At $190, it’s not the most affordable, but the disposal’s solid build quality and warranty with up to 5-year for replacement parts do round up the bargain nicely.
Read our full GE Disposall 3/4 HP Continuous Feed in-depth review
Waste King L1001 1/2-HP Garbage Disposal
Best for Small Household
If you want something more compact that fits in tight spaces, this is one of the better choices. Although it’s not very impressive in terms of grinding power, the disposal handles common scraps in small amounts effectively and is more budget-friendly.
Things We Like
- High-speed, jamless motor
- Impressive grinding capability
- Affordable
- Lightweight, compact
Things We Don’t Like
- Small capacity
- Noisy
The disposal has a small chamber which only grinds a small amount of food at a time. Its high-speed permanent magnet motor is also a small 1/2-hp unit, and is mainly why the disposal is so compact. This configuration is loud when it runs but allows the machine to process food scraps incredibly well, especially when the quantity is moderate, while occupying very little space.
Most noticeable is how the disposal handles mixed food scraps better than the Badger 1HP and the Badger 5XP, both larger and more expensive. To elaborate, in the Scrap Mix tests, while the three of them pulverized the foods at much of the same rate, the L1001 released more reassuring output quality. Additionally, it admirably finished the raw meat scrap tests and delivered comparable results while several others outright failed.
Despite its humble plastic casing, small motor, and galvanized steel grinding assembly, this Waste King disposal handled our challenge decisively and outperformed larger disposals, as well. It’s not expensive, is easy to install, offers a 2-year warranty, and essentially one of the best choices if you don’t produce large quantities of food scraps daily, which describes most of us.
Read our full Waste King L1001 1/2-HP Garbage Disposal in-depth review
Honorable Contenders
- The InSinkErator Essential XTR is another splendid 3/4-hp disposal with quiet operation, quality build, and solid grinding performance. However, the disposal couldn’t yield consistent results in the raw scrap challenges.
- The Moen GXS75C Host Series is an up-and-coming disposal with a 3/4-hp jamless magnet motor. The disposal runs well and has been seeing a lot of positive reviews online but is still not quite good enough for an official spot on the list.
- The Waste King Legend L-8000 is another affordable, high-power option with a 1-hp motor and stainless steel components. If you want to upgrade your old Waste King, this could be worth checking out.
FAQ
If the disposal hums but doesn’t run when you flip the switch, there’s still power and the disposal is stuck. Find a way to rotate the chamber manually to unjam. If your disposal does not turn on, there’s either a problem with the disposal’s internal circuit, the switch, or the kitchen circuit. You can try the disposal’s reset button or check the power supply (switch, outlet, breaker, etc.)
First, set up a mounting assembly. You can use the old assembly if it fits and doesn’t leak. Next, hang the disposal onto the mounting assembly and secure it with tools. Finally, hook the disposal to the drainpipe. Connect the dishwasher if necessary. Check for leaks. You can find more detailed instructions in this article
Use a plunger to push through clogs and drain standing water. Next, remove and clean the pipes and p-trap. Use a plumbing snake to clear the waste line (into the wall or floor). Unjam and reset the garbage disposal if necessary and put everything back. Flush the line and check for leaks.
Try baking soda, vinegar, and hot water once a month or every two months for residual buildup. For regular cleaning, grind ice cubes, chopped citrus fruits (lemons, limes, etc.), and sea salt altogether to scour, disinfect, and deodorize the interior.
Our Expertise
Be Nguyen started his research on garbage disposal back in 2019, when he was preparing for some of his newest technical reviews. In 2022, sorting through dozens of different models, he, Luna, and Shouldit’s test team began examining and testing the most promising food disposers in the market.
With 200+ pounds of common kitchen leftovers (fruit, vegetables, etc.) and 140+ pounds of raw meat scraps (chicken bones, salmon remains, etc.) processed, after 20+ hours spent in preparation and 40+ more in running tests, the team was able to collect crucial data regarding each product’s performance and usability. Working with garbage hasn’t been the most pleasant experience, but thanks to the shared efforts, the team has put together strongly informed reviews on every product as well as helpful recommendations.
