Garbage disposals make life in the kitchen easier. You know that, especially if you had one and it broke. With so many on the market, though, how do you know you’re getting the best garbage disposal?
It’s such an essential part of your kitchen because it keeps your trash a bit less messy, and helps keep unwanted pests and critters away both indoors and outdoors.
When you have a disposal break, or you move from a place with a disposal to one without, you’ve probably found yourself quite annoyed that you can’t clear the scraps off your plate directly into the sink.
If you’ve done that, you probably ended up with a clog, which led to a call to a plumber, which reinforced your frustration that you don’t have a disposal.
You need a new garbage disposal, and you know it. If you’re going to buy one, you might as well buy the best garbage disposal you can find. To do that, you need to know a lot about garbage disposals and what you can do with them.
All About Garbage Disposals
Before you can decide on the best garbage disposal, you need to know something about them. If you grew up with them and have used them all your life, you might find it easy to simply pick one and be done with it.
So long as it’s reasonably priced, of decent quality, and has good reviews online, little else matters, right?
Not so fast. To learn which of the many disposals on the market would be the best garbage disposal for you, you should think about your lifestyle, your cooking, how much food waste you usually have, and how much you want to run through your new disposal.
You also need to consider your house’s waste system. Are you on a city sewer system, or do you have a septic system? Some disposals don’t work well with septic systems, so you should take that into account when looking for the best garbage disposal as well. Otherwise, you may end up with a disposal that doesn’t work well for you.
How a garbage disposal works — the details
How does a garbage disposal even work? If you’re like us, you probably thought they used blades to shred food. That’s not true. Garbage disposals actually pulverize food. They use impellers to grind it against a shredding plate, and water from your faucet flushes the pulverized remains through the rest of the disposal and down your pipes.
Motor
A garbage disposal’s motor is housed inside the unit, near the bottom. It spins a flywheel, which turns the impellers. Some motors only run at 1,400 to 2,000 rotations per minute (RPM), but many on the market today run at RPMs as high as 2,800.
The higher RPMs mean that food is pulverized harder and more quickly, which lowers your risk of jamming it up.
There are two kinds of motors: a permanent magnet motor and an induction motor. Permanent magnet motors are newer technology, and they also help reduce the possibility of clogs and jams.
They not only run at higher RPMs, but they also have more torque. More torque on the flywheel means the impellers have more power — grinding food more easily. That’s how they reduce jams.
They’re also smaller, lighter, and more energy-efficient than induction motors.
Induction motors are older and run more slowly. Older disposals are more prone to clogs, jams, and even odors that you won’t find with permanent magnet motors. You’ll find cheap disposals that still use induction motors, but you may find yourself frustrated if you’re looking for the best garbage disposal for your needs.
Grinding mechanism
We touched on garbage disposals’ grinding mechanisms above. They have two dull impeller blades that throw food against a shredding plate, pulverizing it into pieces.
You won’t find actual blades in a garbage disposal, which is why you’ve been able to reach into your disposal while it was off to pull out silverware or clear out jams without getting cut. It’s also why you never have to sharpen anything, though the impellers can and do wear out.
Plumbing
Disposals have drain outlets that should be the same size as your kitchen plumbing (if it’s not when you buy your new disposal, you’ll need to purchase new piping as well). The drain outlet does exactly what it sounds like; drains into the rest of your kitchen plumbing.
You probably also need a p-trap on your disposal. In fact, most municipalities require p-traps under sinks whether you have a disposal or not.
Why? P-traps are curved pieces of pipe that prevent sewer gases from escaping up into your house, or outside.
Batch feed vs. continuous feed
Most of us only have experience with continuous feed garbage disposals. Indeed, it seems as though most residential garbage disposals today are continuous feed units.
However, you should know the difference between a continuous feed and a batch-feed disposal, so you know which kind is the best garbage disposal for you and your needs.
There are a few more steps to starting up a batch-feed disposal than there are for a continuous feed disposal. If you have a batch-feeder, you need to put a stopper into the disposal’s opening before you can turn it on. That triggers a switch inside that allows you to flip your wall switch to run it.
That’s why it’s called a batch-feed garbage disposal. You must put your food waste in first, insert the stopper, and then turn it on. You put food through it in batches because it won’t run without the stopper.
For safety reasons, like small children who put their hands in everything, a batch-feed disposal might be the best garbage disposal for you.
However, if you’re looking for convenience, then a continuous-feed disposal may be the best garbage disposal for you. You simply turn on your water, flip the switch, and then scrape your food into it while it’s running. When you’re finished, you turn it off; then you turn your water off.
What if you have a septic system?
You’ll find plenty of garbage disposals that are suitable for septic systems, and a few that are specifically designed for septic systems. So don’t worry. You’re not stuck with sub-par disposals, or no disposal at all if your house is on a septic system instead of a city sewer system.
Just double-check before you make your purchase to be sure you’re getting the best garbage disposal for your septic system.
The kinds of foods you shouldn’t put down a garbage disposal
Even if you’ve experienced frequent food jams and other problems with garbage disposals due to misuse, you might be under the impression that you can put almost anything down a garbage disposal.
That isn’t true. Some disposals can handle tougher foods than others, but you can’t just put anything down any disposal.
Foods you shouldn’t put down a garbage disposal include:
- Fruit and vegetable peels
- Pasta and rice
- Eggshells
- Fruit seeds and pits, nuts
- Corn husks, celery, pumpkin
- Onion skin
- Potato peels
- Coffee grounds
- Bones
- Shells from shellfish
A word about bones
You can put a few small bones, like chicken wing bones, down a powerful disposal. InSinkErator has a video of the things you can put down some of their disposals. However, keep in mind that you shouldn’t apply InSinkErator’s advice to other brands since every brand and model of disposal is different.
In general, avoid large bones like poultry thighs and legs, t-bones and round bones from steaks, and other large bones.
How to choose the best garbage disposal for your needs
You’re armed with a lot of information now, so you’re better equipped to find the best garbage disposal for yourself. Now you should research the brands and models in which you’re interested to see how well they match your needs.
Like every appliance purchase, if you don’t want to find yourself plagued with problems from the start, you do need to do a little of your own legwork. That way, you can be sure you’re getting the best garbage disposal when you actually go and buy it.
Where to buy the best garbage disposal
Where do you buy garbage disposals? In many places where you can buy appliances and home improvement products. You can get them from big box stores such as Home Depot and Lowe’s. You can also find them online on many manufacturer websites and on Amazon.
If you’re not sure where to buy your personal choice for best garbage disposal, you can run a search through Google Shopping to find out.
How We Reviewed
We went to the manufacturers’ websites for the full specifications of each garbage disposal. For pros and cons, we used reviews on both Amazon and the manufacturers’ websites because those reviews tell us the good and the bad of each garbage disposal.
We also used Amazon to give you the star ratings on each product.
For general information on garbage disposals, we used Consumer Reports, The Spruce, Hunker, and the website for the Joneca Corporation. The Joneca Corporation manufactures disposals with bio-shield technology.
To gather our information on what you shouldn’t put in a disposal, we went to plumbing and home improvement websites, including The Family Handyman and C&W Plumbing.
Finally, we used websites with professional reviews like the Chicago Tribune, Garbage Disposal Mag, and Mr. Garbage Disposal to find the best garbage disposal and to compile our list of the 10 best out there.
The 10 Best Garbage Disposals on the Market Today
Now that you’re armed with as much information as you can get on garbage disposals, it’s time to see which disposal might be the best garbage disposal for you.
We’ve put together a list of the top 10 garbage disposals on the market, in no particular order.
1. InSinkErator Evolution Excel Garbage Disposal
- QUIET BUT POWERFUL: This innovative food waste disposal is the…
- DURABLE COMPONENTS FOR THE TOUGHEST FOOD SCRAPS: This garbage disposal…
- AMERICA’S #1 DISPOSER BRAND: There are more American-built…
This is quite possibly one of the most popular garbage disposals on the market. InSinkErator has many models available, but this one is powerful and quiet, unlike many other powerful garbage disposals.
How do they do it? With SoundSeal technology. It mutes the sounds of the disposal to the point where you can talk to someone in the same room in a normal voice.
InSinkErator also put three-stage grinding technology into this disposal. That’s why this unit is the best garbage disposal for someone who has a lot of tough food waste that can break other disposals.
You get a seven-year, in-home limited warranty as well. InSinkErator will send their own repair people out to you to fix your disposal. Overall, InSinkErator’s Evolution Excel gets 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
Pros
- Powerful disposal makes clogs less likely
- Equipped with a jam sensor that increases power and torque to clear jams
- Easy-to-remove baffle makes cleaning and maintenance easier
- Easy to install
- Fits other InSinkErator parts like drain flanges, so you don’t have to replace absolutely every last part
- You can use this unit to grind up fibrous foods, like celery, due to the three-stage technology
Cons
- Large, so it might not fit well under your sink
- Heavy, so you need another set of hands or a way to support it while you’re installing it
- Expensive
- Part of the sound suppression equipment can make your sink drain slowly
- Doesn’t come with power cord
- Dishwasher plug is metal, not plastic, and requires more effort to punch out
2. KitchenAid 3/4-Horsepower Continuous Feed Food Waste Disposer
- Continuous feed allows for quick cleanup after meals
- Motor rotates at 1725 rpm for effective grinding
- Sound seal technology helps you maintain a quiet kitchen
KitchenAid’s 3/4-horsepower garbage disposal is slightly smaller than the InSinkErator disposal above. That means it’s more likely to fit under your sink, but it’s also less powerful.
Nevertheless, if you’re looking for the best garbage disposal for your kitchen, you shouldn’t ignore this one. It may be less powerful, but it also has multi-stage grinding technology, making it easier for you to send more down your disposal with fewer problems.
InSinkErator doesn’t have exclusive use of the SoundSeal technology. KitchenAid’s disposal likewise has this technology. It, too, is quieter than many other disposals on the market because of that.
It also has a manual reset in case you overload it, and you need to reset it. Most disposals have this kind of a feature. Overload protection helps to ensure that you don’t burn your disposal out by clogging it or running it for too long, or if something else happens that overheats it and shuts it down.
You get a five-year limited warranty, which covers parts and repairs due to normal wear and tear. It does not cover things like poor installation or any damage you cause with misuse. Amazon customers give it 4.7 out of 5 stars.
Pros
- Two-stage grinding makes clogs less likely
- Easy installation with zero, or only minor, pipe adjustments
- Stainless steel means it’s resistant to corrosion
- Very quiet due to sound suppression technology
Cons
- It’s larger than other disposals
- At just over 19 pounds, it’s also heavy, making installation without a support or a second set of hands harder
- Despite its easy installation instructions, you may need a professional to install it if you have to adjust your pipes
- Sometimes vibrates, creating a buzzing sound
- Does not come with power cord
3. Waste King L-3200 EZ Mount 3/4 Horsepower
- COMPACT SIZE: Smaller and lighter ¾ HP design is 7-3/4 inches in…
- HIGH-SPEED MOTOR: The 3/4 HP, 2700 RPM (115 volts) permanent magnet…
- EASY INSTALLATION AND CLEANING: EZ Mount for a quick and easy kitchen…
Waste King’s L-3200 is another 3/4-horsepower garbage disposal, like KitchenAid’s. Also, like the two above, it’s a continuous-feed disposal, which means you don’t have to clear batches and run it intermittently until all your food waste is gone.
As we discussed earlier, some disposals work with septic systems, while others don’t. If you need the best garbage disposal for a septic system, take a good look at this one. Just be sure that your septic tank is the right size for your house and the right size for this particular disposal.
Many disposals with reset buttons have them on the bottom. On the L-3200, the reset button is located on the front. If you need to use it, you can get to it easily if your disposal shuts down due to overload.
Waste King’s L-3200’s motor runs at high RPMs, so it chews up your food waste more quickly and reduces your risk of jams and clogs. If you have an old disposal that runs slowly and frequently clogs, this may be the best garbage disposal for you.
It has 4.3 out of 5 stars on Amazon, and it comes with an 8-year limited warranty.
Pros
- Compact and lightweight design makes for easier installation
- 2700 RPM motor grinds up food quickly and easily
- Power cord is included, and you very likely won’t have to buy any other extra parts
- Quieter than other disposals
- Quick-mount system makes installation easy
Cons
- The main body at the top is still big enough to cause potential problems
- Power cable is difficult to remove if you want to hardwire the unit
- You may need a light lubricant to wrangle the rubber gasket onto the drain flange
- If silverware falls into the disposal, you have to remove the splash guard to get to it
- Its compact design means you might have to actively push more food down than you’re used to doing
4. InSinkErator Badger 5 Garbage Disposal, 1/2 HP
- RELIABLE & EASY INSTALL: Badger Series disposers are a reliable &…
- DURABLE COMPONENTS: This garbage disposal features our exclusive 1/2…
- AMERICA’S #1 DISPOSER BRAND: There are more American-built…
InSinkErator’s Badger line enjoys a spot among the most commonly used garbage disposals. Many people have to replace these disposals only after they’ve delivered years of faithful service.
The Badger 5 unit is a small garbage disposal unit, and at 1/2-horsepower, isn’t as powerful as the above models. However, that doesn’t mean it can’t be the best garbage disposal for you.
For instance, if you have limited space under your sink, you need a quality disposal that’s quite small.
This one is a single-stage disposal. If you don’t do a lot of heavy cooking and don’t need to put heavy-duty things like pieces of bone down your disposal, this one might be the best garbage disposal for you as well.
Its small size and horsepower make it cheaper than other disposals. However, “cheaper” doesn’t necessarily mean “lower quality.” InSinkErator disposals are among the highest quality disposals on the market.
You get a two-year limited warranty with the Badger 5, which covers problems with manufacturing and covers replacements and repairs.
Like most limited warranties, it doesn’t cover issues arising from misuse or other negligence. It has 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
Pros
- High-quality and affordable
- Grinding mechanisms are made of galvanized steel, helping to resist rust
- Great for small, everyday food scraps
- Compact size gives you more room under your sink
- Comes with its own service tool
- Installation is quick and easy for most people
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a power cable
- Only comes with one rubber gasket, meaning you either have to buy a second one or reuse your old one
- May be prone to leaks
- Short warranty period means you likely have to pay for repairs or replacements yourself
- You need to run cold water through it to flush it out more frequently than other disposals
5. Moen GX Series 3/4 Horsepower Garbage Disposal
- RELIABLE & EASY INSTALL: Badger Series disposers are a reliable &…
- DURABLE COMPONENTS: This garbage disposal features our exclusive 1/2…
- AMERICA’S #1 DISPOSER BRAND: There are more American-built…
You might recognize Moen from your visits to home improvement stores. Their kitchen fixtures, including things like faucets and sprayers, are among the most prevalent and popular you’ll find.
And, it seems, they manufacture garbage disposals, too. Moen’s GX series 3/4-horsepower garbage disposal comes with a high-speed motor and galvanized steel grinding components for superior performance in grinding up many different foods.
Unlike many other garbage disposals, this unit’s grind chamber is made of a polymer material, meaning you’ll have fewer problems with rust in there. The grinding mechanism is made of galvanized steel, which likewise reduces rusting.
This particular Moen disposal also has SoundSHIELD technology, muting the noise the disposal makes. It’s also compact, so it takes up less space under your sink than other disposals with similar power.
People who have bought this on Amazon give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Pros
- Very quiet, even when compared to models with other sound dampening technology
- Permanent magnet motor runs at high RPMs with less risk of overload and reduces clogging and jamming
- Fits both Moen and InSinkErator mounting assemblies
- Lightweight, compact design makes installation easier, even without a support
- Power cord is included
- Septic-tank compatible
Cons
- Despite the sound dampening, it’s louder than you may expect
- Not especially good for harder food waste, like rinds, despite its horsepower and RPMs
- You might need more than one person to help with installation despite small size and low weight
- Direct wiring is more complicated than using a power cord, due to lack of space in the wiring compartment
- Makes a “clinking” sound when starting up
6. Waste King L-2600 EZ Mount 1/2 Horsepower
- HIGH-SPEED MOTOR: The 1/2 HP, 2600 rpm (115v) permanent magnet motor…
- EASY INSTALLATION AND CLEANING: EZ Mount for a quick and easy kitchen…
- 5 YEAR PROTECTION: 5-year Limited Warranty. Current-Amps- 4.5
Waste King’s L-2600 is smaller and less powerful than the L-3200 model, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a good disposal. If you don’t have much in the way of hard food waste, like fibrous foods, rinds, and even small bone scraps, this could easily be the best garbage disposal for you.
It’s compact and lightweight, and it’s compatible with properly-sized septic tanks. So if you live in an older house on a septic system, this disposal should work well for you.
Waste King, like Moen, makes its grind chambers out of corrosion-proof polymer rather than metal. That reduces the risk of problems with rust, which you probably know causes problems all up and down the line if it’s left too long.
It also comes with Waste King’s EZ Mount features, making installation easy even for novice do-it-yourselfers. You get a five-year limited warranty, which covers manufacturer defects and other problems, but not those you cause with misuse or poor installation.
Amazon buyers give it 4.3 out of 5 stars.
Pros
- Very lightweight and compact design makes installation easy for one person
- 2600 RPM permanent magnetic motor helps reduce jams and overload risk
- Power cord included
- Rubber gaskets make seating the drain flange, so it doesn’t leak easier
- Does not require plumber’s putty
Cons
- Power cord makes hardwiring difficult – you need an outlet, or you need to cut away the power cord
- Does not come with any way to clear jams without shutting off the unit and clearing it manually
- Small neck means you often have to push food down into the disposal
- Plastic flange is prone to cracking
7. GE 1/2 HP Continuous-Feed Garbage Disposer
- Splash guard helps keep you safe from debris
- Manual reset overload protector helps keep the disposer safe from…
- Sound insulation package reduces operational noise for a quieter…
It’s almost impossible to ignore GE when it comes to appliances, and garbage disposals are no exception. Their 1/2-horsepower garbage disposal has a two-level, pre-cutting mechanism in addition to a very high grinding speed.
Even though this is only 1/2-horsepower, you’re less likely to experience jams with such a high-speed motor. It’s a continuous-feed disposal, like most residential garbage disposals are, so you can drop your food in piece by piece if you need to.
In addition to that, this particular disposal comes in several different capacities. This specific disposal is what GE calls a large-capacity disposal, but they also have a 1/3-horsepower, large capacity model.
They also have a 1/2-horsepower extra-large capacity disposal and a 3/4-horsepower super capacity model.
The GE disposal comes with an EZ mount, similar to Waste King’s disposals, which helps you install the unit quickly and easily.
There’s a possibility you also only need the sink adapter that comes with the disposal instead of having to buy one separately, which would cause the unit to take up more space under your sink.
Overall, it gets 4.2 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
Pros
- Comes with all the seals and gaskets you need to install it
- 2800 RPM motor is faster than most disposals on the market, reducing your risk of jams
- If a jam does occur, it’s easy to clear
- Fits attachments from older GE models
- Compact size gives you more room under your sink
- General Electric is an extremely trusted brand for kitchen appliances
Cons
- The disposal’s vibrations can damage its plastic parts
- It’s noisier than other disposals out there
- May be prone to rusting throughout
- Does not come with a power cable
- Hardwiring is more difficult than it needs to be
8. InSinkErator Evolution Septic Assist Garbage Disposal
- GARBAGE DISPOSAL: While all of our disposals are septic friendly, the…
- QUIET BUT POWERFUL: This innovative food waste disposal features…
- AMERICA’S #1 DISPOSER BRAND: There are more American-built…
This InSinkErator Evolution garbage disposal is probably the best garbage disposal you’ll find that’s good for a septic system. So, if you live in a house with a septic system, give this one a good look.
Why? Because its bio-charge technology injects over 300 million enzyme-producing micro-organisms that help to break down waste in your septic system. That includes all the food waste from your disposal.
Perhaps even better than that, it helps to break down the other waste in your septic system, like toilet paper. And it automatically deodorizes the unit to boot.
It also comes with things you’ve come to expect from InSinkErator, including multi-stage grinding that’s suitable for grinding hard materials like small bones. The grind chamber is stainless steel, which is durable, and it’s got SoundSeal technology.
People who have bought this on Amazon give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Pros
- Induction motor is built to the specifications used for major appliance motors, extending its life
- Bio-charge unit comes with an indicator telling you when you need to order a new one
- Doesn’t go through the bio-charge material very quickly
- Disposes of food more rapidly than smaller, less powerful disposals (especially older ones)
- Quiet enough to talk in normal conversational tones
Cons
- Bio-charge unit can break open during shipping
- Large and heavy, making installation difficult without a support or a second pair of hands
- Induction motor means it runs more slowly
- Stainless steel grind chamber makes the unit more prone to rust
- Bio-charge dispenser seems to be prone to quitting after a few months of use
9. Moen GX PRO Series 1/2 Horsepower Garbage Disposal
- PERMANENT MAGNET: Vortex motor technology quickly and powerfully…
- EASY-TO-INSTALL: Universal Xpress Mount fits Moen and most existing…
- MOTOR: High speed 2600 RPM VORTEX permanent magnet motor designed to…
Another Moen GX model, this garbage disposal promises quality and performance in your kitchen.
Its permanent magnet motor helps it grind food waste down to very fine particles, reducing jamming and pushing things through your pipes more easily even though it’s only a 1/2-horsepower motor.
If you’re looking for the best garbage disposal that’s small but won’t jam easily, don’t overlook this one. In addition to its ability to grind food down so small, it also fits most other Moen and other three-bolt mounting assemblies, including those for InSinkErator.
This disposal also features galvanized steel grinding components, which are durable and rust-resistant. It’s built in such a way that it naturally reduces noise as well, but also features SoundSHIELD technology to dampen sound further.
Finally, it’s compatible with properly-sized septic tanks. Its three-year limited warranty includes in-home service. Plus, it gets 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
Pros
- 2600 RPM Vortex permanent magnet motor helps grind tough foods down to fine particles
- Septic-tank compatible
- Lightweight and compact design makes for easier installation than larger, heavier models
- Its unusually slim design gives you more room under your sink than many other models
- Comes with an easily removable power cord
Cons
- The dishwasher inlet might not fit your dishwasher’s drain tube
- May not be as quiet as advertised
- Difficult to clear jams
- Makes a loud click when you turn it on
- Splashguard doesn’t perform as promised
10. Waste King Knight A1SPC Garbage Disposal 1 Horsepower
- HIGH-SPEED MOTOR: The 1 HP, 2800 RPM (115v) permanent magnet motor is…
- STANDARD 3-BOLT MOUNT: The all-metal mounting system is compatible…
- LIFETIME PROTECTION: Lifetime Limited In-Home Warranty
Waste King’s A1SPC garbage disposal has one full horsepower, so it’s larger than most other disposals on this list. However, it’s not just powerful due to its horsepower. It has a high-RPM permanent magnet motor that reduces jamming possibilities even with tough food waste.
Waste King uses all stainless steel parts, which makes for high durability. It’s also compatible with most three-bolt mounts, so you don’t necessarily need to replace your existing mount when you install this unit.
Every other disposal on this list has a limited warranty that’s only good for a set period of time. While this disposal has a limited warranty as well, it’s a limited lifetime warranty.
So, as long as the warranty covers your particular needs, you don’t have to worry about how long you’ve had it.
If you consider sound dampening as one of the things that makes a disposal the best garbage disposal, then you’ll like this one. It has industrial-level sound insulation.
In fact, its silencing technology is something you won’t find on many other residential disposals. Overall, Amazon customers give this disposal 4.0 out of 5 stars.
Pros
- Compact despite being a powerful, one-horsepower unit
- Power cord is included
- Affordable price despite its uniqueness and abilities
- Easy for two people to install
- Doesn’t cause much vibration even under a lightweight sink
Cons
- Size and weight mean you need two people to install it, or a support for it
- It’s not as compact as less-powerful disposals, so it takes up more room under your sink
- Power cord is difficult to remove so hardwiring is difficult
- Neck is so small that you have to push food down into the disposal constantly
Once You Have the Best Garbage Disposal for You, You’ll Have an Easier Time in the Kitchen
Any of these particular garbage disposals could be the best garbage disposal for your house. It may even be the best garbage disposal you’ve ever had. Remember to do your research and be sure of what you’re buying before you buy it.
Garbage disposals are meant to make your life easier, not harder, and if they don’t work for your particular needs, they’ll do nothing but frustrate the heck out of you. You don’t have to choose your best garbage disposal from this list. You just have to know how to choose the right one.
And then you can go forth and dispose of what you need to via your kitchen drain with minimal fuss.
Have questions, or notice something we overlooked? We’d love to hear from you!
