Waste disposal is one of the most primary tasks while managing a household. If you want to have a healthy and hygienic kitchen, you need to read this guide about the best garbage disposal reviews.
Not only that but it’s our foremost duty as responsible citizens to save our planet. And for that purpose, we need to start with our kitchen by efficiently managing its waste.
By the way, a suitable garbage disposal helps you to keep both foul odor and other insects away from your kitchen.
Page Contents
- 1 The 5 Best Garbage Disposals for 2024 Reviews
- 1.1 1. Waste King Legend Series 1 HP Continuous Feed Garbage Disposal
- 1.2 2. InSinkErator Garbage Disposal, Evolution Excel, 1.0 HP Continuous Feed
- 1.3 3. InSinkErator Garbage Disposal + Air Switch + Cord, Evolution Essential XTR, 3/4 HP Continuous Feed
- 1.4 4. InSinkErator Garbage Disposal, Badger 5, 1/2 HP Continuous Feed
- 1.5 5. Moen GXS75C Host Series 3/4 HP Continuous Feed Garbage Disposal
- 2 How to Choose a Good Garbage Disposal
- 3 How to Clean a Garbage Disposal
- 4 How to Install a Garbage Disposal
- 5 How to Replace a Garbage Disposal
- 6 Conclusion
The 5 Best Garbage Disposals for 2024 Reviews
1. Waste King Legend Series 1 HP Continuous Feed Garbage Disposal
The Waste King Legend Series 1 HP Continuous Feed Garbage Disposal features a high-speed motor of one horsepower, 2800 RPM magnet motor. Courtesy of the pre-installed power cord, you don’t have to do extra electrical work to make the connections.
This reliable garbage disposal comes with stainless steel impellers and grinding components that can handle thick fruit, vegetable peels, and even chicken bones without jamming. It’s a continuous feed garbage disposal, activated by a front reset switch.
The Waste King Legend Series garbage disposal comes with a glass-filled nylon grinding chamber ensuring quiet operations.
On the bright side, this featureful garbage disposal includes all the necessary components such as a gasket, sink flange, removable splash guards, and a drain elbow. It means you don’t have to spend your money on buying extra accessories.
The EZ mount system, featuring a three-bolt mount mechanism, guarantees the no-hassle DIY installation that you can complete in one to two hours.
With a weight of 14.9 pounds, the Waste King Legend garbage disposal comes with a 36 inches long power cord, so you don’t have to make the electrical connections manually. It measures 15.5 inches from the disposal’s bottom to the sink’s underneath, while the drain center measures 7.5 inches from underneath and 13.25 inches from the top.
The limited lifetime warranty covers corrosion, grinding components, and mechanical parts, ensuring a safe investment.
Pros
- One HP, 2800 RPM high-speed motor
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Lightweight and compact
- Continuous feed
- Convenient cleaning
- Quiet operation
Cons
- Pricey
- The sink ring looks scratchy after some time
2. InSinkErator Garbage Disposal, Evolution Excel, 1.0 HP Continuous Feed
The InSinkErator Garbage Disposal, Evolution Excel, 1.0 HP Continuous Feed offers a quiet yet powerful operation with its robust one horsepower Dura-Drive Induction motor. Additionally, the SoundSeal technology helps in reducing the grinding noise.
Since 1927, InSinkErator has been designing innovative garbage disposals to facilitate your daily kitchen waste management.
The one horsepower Dura-Drive induction motor can grind almost all types of food waste, including chicken bones, vegetable peeps, chicken bones, and even celery.
Furthermore, the patented SoundSeal technology makes it one of the quietest garbage disposal, operating almost noise-free. It minimizes both the noise and vibrations with multi-layer sound insulation, anti-vibration sink mount and tailpipe, and quiet-collar sink baffle.
The three-stage grinding technology guarantees maximum output by grinding the hardest waste into liquid form, thus preventing clogging of garbage drain. In addition to that, the grinding chamber includes a GrindShear Ring, Tri-Action Lug, and an Undercutter Disk to puree the food waste.
This USA-made garbage disposal weighs around 25.5 pounds with dimensions of 14 x 11 x 14 inches. Furthermore, the exterior features a brushed stainless steel body, resistant to rust and corrosion.
Additionally, the quick-lock technology automates the installation process, allowing you to simply unscrew the old disposal and screw the new InSinkErator in its place.
This durable garbage disposal comes with a warranty for even years, making it a safe investment.
Pros
- Quiet operations
- One horsepower Dura-Drive Induction motor
- Alloy stainless steel components
- Three-stage multi-grind technology
- Jam assist
- Seven years warranty
Cons
- Heavyweight
3. InSinkErator Garbage Disposal + Air Switch + Cord, Evolution Essential XTR, 3/4 HP Continuous Feed
As the name suggests, the InSinkErator Garbage Disposal + Air Switch + Cord, Evolution Essential XTR, 3/4 HP Continuous Feed is featureful garbage disposal with a robust ¾ HP Dura-Drive induction motor, suitable for a medium to a large household.
This compact garbage disposal weighs around 25 pounds, with dimensions measuring approximately 14 x 10 x10 inches.
Moreover, the powerful ¾ HP motor spins at 2600 RPM to grind different types of waste. Not only that, but the double grinding chamber processes the waste into fine particles.
The two-stage grinding consists of a Tri-Action Lug system and GrindSheer Ring to efficiently grind the food waste within seconds.
Furthermore, the Auto Reverse Grind mechanism spins in a reverse direction to prevent clogging or jamming. The grinding chamber is made of stainless steel to minimize further jamming incidents. Additionally, stainless steel is known for its anti-corrosive and anti-rust properties.
The SoundSeal technology features a rubber cushion known as Anti-Vibration mounting system to keep the sink steady and vibration-free during the grinding operation.
Installing the InSinkErator Evolution Essential is a breeze, courtesy of the quick-lock mechanism, including all the required components.
Lastly, it comes with a warranty of six years to cover both mechanical and in-home labor costs.
Pros
- ¾ HP Dura-Drive induction motor
- SoundSeal technology
- Alloy stainless steel components
- Includes a Satin Nickel air switch
- Two-stage Multigrind technology
- Includes a LeakGuard liner
Cons
- Heavyweight
4. InSinkErator Garbage Disposal, Badger 5, 1/2 HP Continuous Feed
The InSinkErator Garbage Disposal, Badger 5, 1/2 HP Continuous Feed offers a compact and space-saving design featuring robust galvanized steel components to enhance strength and performance.
With a Dura-Drive induction motor of ½ horsepower spinning at 1725 RPM, the InSinkErator garbage disposal grinds different food waste into smaller particles. This sleek and elegant garbage disposal weighs only 13 pounds with dimensions of 7 x 13 inches.
Moreover, you can install it manually with its Quick Lock mount by unscrewing the old disposal and twisting the badger in place. It also includes a specially designed jam-buster wrench to help you clean the jams preventing you from sticking your hands into the grinding chamber.
The continuous feed mechanism ensures a faster and efficient breakdown of food waste into liquid form, allowing it to go through the sewage system easily.
If you are worried about its installation, we have great news for you. It comes with a Quick Lock sink mounting system consisting of two steps in which you need to twist and lock the garbage disposal in the pre-existing mounting bracket.
This sturdy garbage disposal comes with a warranty of two years to ensure a safe investment.
Pros
- Space-saving design
- ½ HP Dura-Drive Induction motor
- Durable galvanized steel components
- Made in America
- Affordable
- Two-year warranty
Cons
- A bit noisy
- Galvanized steel components are prone to rust
- Doesn’t include a power cord
5. Moen GXS75C Host Series 3/4 HP Continuous Feed Garbage Disposal
The Moen GXS75C Host Series 3/4 HP Continuous Feed Garbage Disposal is compact garbage disposal with a powerful ¾ HP Vortex motor that spins at 2700 RPM to grind the food waste. Moreover, the Sound SHIELD technology features deadening insulation to guarantee quiet operations.
You can mount it yourself with its Universal Xpress Mount system without hiring a professional plumber. Additionally, the pre-installed power cord minimizes extra manual labor to make the electrical connections.
Both the exterior and other components are made of stainless steel to enhance grinding performance, robustness and prevent frequent jamming. Not only that, but the body comes with a black finish to give it a stylish outlook.
The metal sink stopper coupled with a removable splashguard offers convenience by preventing accidental falling of unwanted objects into the grinding chamber.
With a weight of 7.8 pounds, the Moen GXS75C Hose Series comes with dimensions of 5.4 x 5.4 x 13.4 inches.
The warranty of ten years ensures a long-term, safe investment.
Pros
- ¾ HP Vortex motor
- Reduces jamming or clogging
- SoundSHIELD sound-deadening insulation
- Easy installation
- Comes with a pre-installed power cord
- 10-year limited warranty
Cons
- Doesn’t include Allen wrench to clear jamming
How to Choose a Good Garbage Disposal
You often get confused with so many options of garbage disposals available in the market. That’s why we have compiled a list of basic features that you should use before selecting good garbage disposal.
Motor Size
The rule of thumb is that motor size is directly proportional to the amount and softness of food. It means a ⅓ or ½ HP motor is perfect for a small household of two people or grinding soft vegetables. On the other hand, a ¾ or one horsepower motor is best suited for a large family who mostly eats at home.
A bigger motor size ensures seamless operation and fine pulverization with minimal jamming. However, you don’t need to buy a larger one if you live alone or with your roommate or partner.
Chamber Size
The chamber size correlates to the motor’s size. It’s because a bigger chamber size means more food, and we need a bigger horsepower motor to grind the food. It’s pretty straightforward maths.
Moreover, you should also consider the material of both the chamber and blades. Your first preference should be stainless steel, which is efficient, rust-resistant, and, most importantly, easy to clean.
Feed Type
You can categorize garbage disposals into two categories – continuous feed and batch feed. People normally opt for continuous feed disposals because they are open-mount disposals that you can turn on and off with a switch.
Conversely, a batch feed disposal requires you to place a stopper lid on its mouth to activate it. This way, it’s almost impossible to turn on the disposal if your hands are still inside the chamber. Furthermore, you can avoid other accidental mishaps in case a fork slips into the disposal.
However, batch feed disposals are relatively more expensive than continuous feed garbage disposals.
Other Features
Modern garbage disposals come with an auto-reverse feature which serves as an anti-jamming feature that reverses the motor’s rotation if something gets stuck in the grinding chamber.
How to Clean a Garbage Disposal
Regular cleaning of garbage disposal ensures its longevity and minimizes odor. You can use the following methods to clean garbage disposal once or twice a week:
Ice and Salt
All you need to do is place ice cubes in the grinding chamber and turn on the garbage disposal. Once the ice cubes start to crush, you can add half a cup of salt to it. Both the ice and salt work together as a team to scrub away all the grease from inside.
In the end, rinse the garbage disposal with a lot of water.
Vinegar and Baking Soda
We all know that baking soda and vinegar together perform as one of the best organic cleaners. First, you can add ¼ of a cup of baking soda down the drain and then pour down the vinegar. You can see concoction foam building up within a few minutes.
In the end, rinse the garbage disposal with running water. One thing to keep in mind is that vinegar can damage the rubber parts of the garbage disposal, so just go easy with the amount of vinegar you use.
Citrus
It’s one of the simplest cleaning techniques in which you need to throw lemon peels in the garbage disposal, and you are done. This way, you can enjoy lemony fresh fragrance in a sparkling clean garbage disposal.
Dishwasher and Bleach
You can use a scrub brush and regular dishwasher to scrub around the rim and reach the deep grooves for thorough cleaning once in a while.
If you aren’t satisfied with any of the above cleaning methods, you can dilute ⅓ of a cup of bleach in water and pour it down in the garbage disposal. Later, run warm water to flush all the bleach out.
How to Install a Garbage Disposal
Installing a garbage disposal is quite an easy task, which doesn’t require you to hire a professional. Before starting the installation process, you need the following tools:
- Putty knife
- Hose clamp
- Wire nuts
- Screwdriver
- Plumber putty
- ⅜ inches clamp connector
All you need to do is to follow these steps and install a garbage disposal yourself:
Disconnecting Existing Connection
First, you need to disconnect the drain pipe using a pipe wrench. The next step is to remove the sink flange from the drain hole. You can use a screwdriver or a putty knife to pull out the flange.
It’s recommended to scrape away excess putty from the sink opening to keep it neat and tidy.
New Flange
You need to form a circle of ½ or ¾ inches thickness of plumber putty around the new flange. This way, you can place the flange in its exact position in the sink opening.
You use a plumber putty to prevent leakage around the sink flange. Moreover, place a towel and a heavy object on top of the flange to keep it stable.
Underneath Installation
Now you can start working underneath the flange by stacking a fiber gasket on top of the backup flange. All you need to do is to palace the mourning rink on the bottom using three bolts.
On the underneath, you can see excessive plumber putty seeping between the sink flange and the sinkhole. However, it’s up to you to either remove or leave it.
The next step is to install a fiber gasket, backup flange, and a mounting ring under the flange. You can either install them together or in one-piece simultaneously; however, install them in the correct order. Keep in mind; you need to palace the smooth side of the backup flange against the sink.
You can tighten the bolts to keep the backup flange in position keeping in view the sink flange doesn’t move from its original place.
Installing the Garbage Disposal
It’s time to install the garbage disposal, but first, locate the wiring plate and remove it to pull out the black and white wirings. Now you need to screw a clamp connector by matching the wire colors to the electrical cord wires.
You need to locate the discharge outlet on the disposal and place a gasket in the discharge tube. You can use a discharge flange and bolts to connect the discharge tube to the discharge outlet.
The last step is to position the disposal under the sink and align it with the mounting ring. You can use a screwdriver to tighten the disposal and align the discharge tube with the drain pipe.
How to Replace a Garbage Disposal
- First, you need to disconnect the drain trap from the discharge tube.
- You also need to disconnect the dishwasher attachment, if any.
- Now, you need to remove the disposal from the mounting ring using a screwdriver.
- You can insert the screwdriver on the right of the mounting lugs and then turn anti-clockwise.
- You need to hold the disposal in your hand; else, it can drop and fall.
- The next step is to remove the disposal’s electrical plate and disconnect all the wirings.
- You also need to remove the snap ring to detach the mounting assembly.
- After you remove the snap ring, the entire assembly comes off the sink flange.
- You can use a screwdriver to loosen the nut holding the sink flange.
- Lastly, remove the sink flange.
Conclusion
Whether you want to install a new garbage disposal or replace an old one, you can select any of the high-performing and easy-to-install garbage disposals.
Garbage disposal is no longer a luxury but a necessity that reduces the size of our daily food waste. All you need to do is to carefully select the motor size based on your everyday kitchen use, and you are good to go.
