Evolution 34hp Continuous Feed Noise Insulated Garbage Disposal

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The Spruce Eats / Chloe Jeong

It may not be the most exciting of kitchen appliances, but a good garbage disposal is somewhat of an unsung (and unseen) hero in the home. Having one helps cut down on the amount of stinky waste that ends up in the trash can, helping keep your kitchen cleaner and odor-free.

The Spruce Eats Top Picks

For a workhorse garbage disposal that's powerful, easy to install, and quieter than the competition, the InSinkErator Evolution is our favorite. For a great budget pick, the Waste King L-111 is also easy to install, fairly quiet, and compact.

Garbage disposals powerfully pulverize food scraps and waste into tiny particles that are washed away with water from the sink. If you're picking out a garbage disposal for the first time, you might not know what to look for when buying, as these motorized machines hiding under sinks are not all the same. There are continuous-feed and batch-feed models, as well as power levels to consider. Some come with special features such as additional insulation to reduce noise, anti-jamming systems, and stainless steel grinding chambers.

We researched and narrowed down the best garbage disposals on the market, so all you have to do is click and then handle the installation later.

Here are the best garbage disposals.

 Courtesy of Home Depot

What We Like

• Can cut through tough veggie scraps

• Quieter than others

• Easy installation

What We Don't Like

• Rubber baffle may lead to slow draining

Who else recommends it? This Old House also picked the InSinkErator Garbage Disposal with Power Cord.

What do buyers say? 87% of 7,700+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 5 stars.

Thousands of happy owners have made the InSinkErator Evolution Compact garbage disposal a best-seller. This 3/4-horsepower unit has a 34.6-ounce grind chamber with stainless steel grind components, and reviewers say it's the perfect size to handle food waste from a large, hungry family. This model is a continuous-feed disposal and can handle a constant stream of food, too.

Experts give this InSinkErator very good marks for speed, fineness of grind, and ability to cut through tough vegetable scraps. It gets slightly lower marks for noise, but most owners say it's not too loud thanks to SoundSeal technology with sound insulation, an anti-vibration sink mount, and an anti-vibration tailpipe.

Several owners say it was easy enough to install without a professional and has plenty of power for all kinds of food waste. A few note that the rubber baffle means their sink drains too slowly, and some say they've had issues with leaks. Fortunately, this model is backed by an 8-year in-home limited warranty, so if something goes wrong, service agents will come to you.

Horsepower: 3/4 | Feed Type: Continuous | RPM: 1,725 | Height: 12.25 inches | Warranty: 8 years

 Home Depot

What We Like

• Space-saving design

• Easy to install

• Galvanized steel construction

What We Don't Like

• Not the quietest

Customers love InSinkErator's best-selling line of Badger garbage disposals. They're available at several speeds, but we like the Badger 5XP model that's part of the brand's Power Series of disposals. It's got a compact, space-saving design and 3/4 horsepower which can handle most food scraps and should be plenty of power for most kitchens. It's also easy to install, especially if you're replacing an existing InSinkErator, thanks to a quick lock mount system that's compatible with all of the brand's disposals.

It's made from galvanized steel parts that should hold up and resist rust over time. In case you run into any issues, this model is backed by a 4-year limited warranty. As for noise, the Badger 5XP is standard, so it's not going to be as quiet as our top pick, but if you want to save a few dollars, this model should meet most households' needs.

Horsepower: 3/4 | Feed Type: Continuous | RPM: 1,725 | Height: 12.625 inches | Warranty: 4 years

Courtesy of Amazon.com.

What We Like

• EZ Mount system

• 8-year limited warranty

• Runs relatively quietly

What We Don't Like

• Mixed reviews on noise level

The Waste King Legend is another popular garbage disposal series beloved for its sturdy build and easy installation. Like the InSinkErator, it's a 3/4-horsepower unit with stainless steel grinders that can stand the test of time. Because it's a continuous-feed model, users can keep it running while adding food waste, making it convenient for most families.

Features on the Waste King EZ Mount L-3200 include a reset button located in the front, a removable splash guard, and sound insulation meant to reduce noise during operation. Most reviewers say the noise is typical for a garbage disposal, though some people complain of a loud click when it's first turned on. However, almost all are happy with the motor's power, saying it can handle lots of food waste without jamming.

Users also note it's fairly easy to install, thanks to its mountable system that includes all of the necessary hardware. It's backed by an impressive 8-year limited warranty that covers both material and mechanical defects free of charge.

Horsepower: 3/4 | Feed Type: Continuous | RPM: 2,700 | Height: 13.75 inches | Warranty: 8 years

Courtesy of Amazon.com.

What We Like

• Easy to install

• Compact

• Quieter motor

What We Don't Like

• Slightly stiff splash guard

Smaller households or buyers with small budgets will appreciate the Waste King EZ Mount L-111, recommended by hundreds of owners who say it's ideal for anyone who doesn't need quite as much power in a garbage disposal. This continuous-feed model is a 1/3-horsepower unit with stainless steel grinders and a 1,900 RPM motor, and many owners say it's a great fit for smaller kitchens or apartments where big dinners aren't a nightly affair.

Like larger Waste King models, this one features a front-mounted reset button, removable splash guard, and corrosion-proof grinding chamber. This model is backed by a 2-year limited warranty for material and mechanical defects.

Reviewers say it's easy to install, even without a pro, and some say the upside to getting a less powerful disposal is a quieter motor, too. Most are pleased with the power, but some say the splash guard is a little stiff, meaning they have to more actively push food waste down into the disposal.

Horsepower: 1/3 | Feed Type: Continuous | RPM: 1,900 | Height: 12.75 inches | Warranty: 2 years

Courtesy of Amazon

What We Like

• Easy to install

• Motor finely grinds, preventing jams

• Pre-installed power cord

Moen might be known for its faucets, but the trusted brand also makes garbage disposals, including this 3/4 horsepower model that consumers swear by and is backed by a generous 10-year limited warranty. The continuous-feed model is part of Moen's Host Series, intended for those who require a boost when cleaning up after entertaining friends and family.

The VORTEX permanent magnet motor's major claim is that it finely grinds food, and therefore gets jammed less frequently than other options, and reviewers confirm that's true. They also rave that the removable splash guard does a great job catching unwanted items before they fall in. But if a spoon does slip through, the whole guard lifts out, allowing you to see where you are reaching your hand.

Despite its SoundSHIELD feature, some customers complained about the noise. But it's important to remember a perfectly quiet disposal doesn't exist.

Horsepower: 3/4 | Feed Type: Continuous | RPM: 2,700 | Height: 13.375 inches | Warranty: 10 years

Courtesy of Amazon.com.

What We Like

• Very fine, quick grind

• Quiet

• Sizable grind chamber

What We Don't Like

• Large footprint

Whether you're finishing a high-end kitchen remodel or simply want a top-of-the-line garbage disposal that will offer the best performance, reviewers say the ultra-quiet KitchenAid Superba is worth a look. It has a 3/4-horsepower, 1,725 rpm motor, and 40-ounce grind chamber that can handle a lot of food waste, even from large family dinners. It's continuous-feed, which allows for constant use without worries about burnt-out motors.

Experts give the KitchenAid Superba top marks for the fineness of grind, as well as for speed, noise, and its ability to handle vegetable scraps. Features include two-stage grinding, overload protection, and manual reset.

It also has SoundSeal technology that KitchenAid says makes it 40 percent quieter than standard garbage disposals, and reviewers confirm that it is a step up from most other models when it comes to noise. One owner even says this disposal can run in an open kitchen without disturbing nearby conversations—an important consideration for users who have wide-open floor plans. Another reviewer says it's so quiet that it almost sounds like it isn't working. It's backed by a 5-year warranty.

Horsepower: 3/4 | Feed Type: Continuous | RPM: 1,725 | Height: 12.75 inches | Warranty: 5 years

Waste King

What We Like

• Powerful 1 HP motor

• Quiet

• Safety of activation system

• 10-year warranty

What We Don't Like

• Cover can be tricky to place

• Can't add food as it's running

• Much taller than other models

While continuous-feed models dominate this list, batch-feed garbage disposals have their merits, too. Instead of flipping a switch on the wall, these disposals are more self-contained. The switch is instead in the activator cover placed on top of the drain once the food has been inserted. This way, no additional wiring is required to install a wall switch, and some prefer the safety measure of the cover, where nothing can be placed into the disposal when it's running.

The Waste King L-8000TC is a 1-horsepower batch-feed model with stainless steel grinders that boasts a 2,800 RPM permanent magnet motor. Reviewers praise the power of this disposal, noting that it easily took care of hard-to-process items, like potato peels and chicken bones. They found this to be a quieter disposal than some others and appreciated that the method of activating this disposal was safer for families with small children.

Users did note that this model is taller than many other disposals, which can cause clearance issues under the sink, so measure carefully. The activator cover can take some practice to align correctly, but is not difficult.

Horsepower: 1 | Feed Type: Batch | RPM: 2,800 | Height: 18.25 inches | Warranty: 10 years

Final Verdict

Our top pick is the InSinkErator Evolution because of its speed and fineness of grind combined with its relative quietness. If you have a large household that generates a lot of food waste, you might want to upgrade to the InSinkErator PRO1100XL Pro Series. It's more powerful with 1.1 HP, finely grinds waste, and is quiet when in use.

What to Look for When Buying a Garbage Disposal

Style

Continuous-feed models, which keep running as you drop in new food waste, are convenient but may pose a safety risk to curious children who might stick their fingers down the drain. They also tend to require a hard-wired connection to a wall switch. On the other hand, batch-feed models are loaded with scraps and activated by a magnetic stopper. They can only process one batch of food at a time, determined by the capacity of the disposal's grinding chamber, so it can be more time-consuming to use if you have a lot of scraps. They're safer and may not require a hard-wired connection, but they tend to be more expensive and less convenient to use.

Power

The power of a garbage disposal is rated by horsepower (HP), and the higher the numerical value, the more power. For example, a disposal with 1 HP will offer more power than a model with 1/2 HP.

More powerful units will grind food faster—and possibly smaller, as well—so they're better for folks who'll be sending more food down the drain more often. Less powerful units will be less expensive, and they'll consume less electricity. While they may not be able to handle a refrigerator clean-out, they'll be fine for food scraps rinsed off of dishes.

Size

Garbage disposals are not one size fits all, so you'll need to take a few measurements of your under-sink space to make sure the disposal you're considering will fit. Some have larger grinding chambers, and generally larger motors mean bigger disposals.

Noise

No garbage disposal will be completely quiet, and the noise depends slightly on what type of food you're grinding, but some models are designed with insulation for more quiet operation. Since it's unlikely you'll be using the disposal when everyone's sleeping, the noise factor may not be critical for everyone. However, it's something to keep in mind if you or your family members are sensitive to loud noises.

FAQs

How does a garbage disposal work?

Many people think garbage disposals are equipped with blades that spin and break food down into tiny pieces, but this is actually a myth.

Disposals don't have blades—they have a spinning plate with impellers and a grinding plate. The impellers push food against the grinding plate with centrifugal force. The food is ground into small particles that are flushed with water through your plumbing and onto your septic system or a local water treatment facility

What can and can't you put in a garbage disposal?

Most fruit and vegetable scraps, pieces of meat, and leftovers can safely be put in a garbage disposal. A small amount of fruit and vegetable peels can be handled by most disposals, but if you're peeling several pounds of potatoes, it's better to skip putting the peels down the disposal. The starch in potato peels can gunk up the disposal. The same goes for stringy and fibrous vegetables such as celery, corn husks, banana peels, artichokes, and asparagus, which tend to resist pulverization and can clog your drain.

Coffee grounds and leftover oil or grease should also be disposed of in another manner, since they can clog your drain. Eggshells, bones, shellfish, and fruit pits can also be difficult for a disposal to handle and lead to premature wear. These items should be disposed of in the trash or composted.

How do you unclog a garbage disposal?

Clogs can happen if you place too much food into a disposal or don't let enough water run to clear the system. Luckily, they're pretty easy to clear yourself.

The first step is to turn off the garbage disposal and water and then unplug the disposal. Use a flashlight to look down the drain opening to see what is clogging the disposal and use tongs, tweezers, or pliers to remove the clog. Then, plug the unit back in and test it.

If that doesn't work, some disposals have a reset button that may help.

How do you clean a garbage disposal?

Some food debris can accumulate in the disposal and cause the sink to have an unpleasant odor, especially if you use it frequently. Letting cold water run through the sink before, during, and after using the disposal can help prevent food buildup.

To give your disposal a cleaning, place ice cubes, baking soda, and thin lemon slices down your sink drain without the water running, and then turn on the disposal. The ice cubes help dislodge stuck-on bits of food, and the baking soda and lemon help cleanse and deodorize.

The rubber flaps on top of the drain can also be cleaned by scrubbing them or putting them in the dishwasher.

How We Researched & Tested

To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ease of use, material, or price—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. Our team also incorporated their own personal experiences testing products in their own lives. We then used these insights from our research and testing to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Sharon Lehman is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who knows the value of a garbage disposal—she uses hers daily since there isn't space for a trash can near the prep area in her kitchen. She specializes in small kitchen appliance testing and reviews for The Spruce Eats."

This roundup was updated by Katya Weiss-Andersson, a writer and editor who has nearly a decade of experience as a professional chef, and Katrina Munichiello, a writer and editor who specializes in the tea and food industries.

The Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

1. The 5 Best Garbage Disposals (2022 Review). This Old House. https://www.thisoldhouse.com/kitchens/22714066/best-garbage-disposal

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Source: https://www.thespruceeats.com/best-garbage-disposals-4135540

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