Editor''s Choice: The Best Garbage Disposal of 2019

Being an experienced kitchen designer, you’d think I’d only know about the newest trends in countertop finishes and kitchen cabinet colors - but you’d be wrong. I believe every element in a kitchen should be carefully selected and reviewed - including garbage disposals - before they are deemed worthy of your kitchen.

Even though I don’t work with individual clients anymore, you can still take advantage of my vast knowledge of kitchen appliances without having to pay for my design services by the hour. (whew!)

Whether you are looking for your first garbage disposal or an upgrade to your existing unit, I hope this guide proves to be useful.

I used 3 main criteria when selecting the best garbage disposal on the market today. These included horsepower, feed style and overall noise (or lack thereof). All of which work hand in hand to offer a seamless experience for you while doing the dishes and cleaning up after dinner.

Here are the top models with 1 horsepower I compared for this article:

Note: I typically recommend only disposers with 1 horsepower for households with 3 or more people. One of the reasons is because of extreme wear and tear.

That’s because the top complaints about disposals are usually around premature motor failure. If you read a few reviews on Amazon, you’ll notice the same pattern. Many reviewers claim that lower horsepower models tend to burn out after 5 years. This is likely due to overloading.

Garbage disposals are only meant to breakdown semi-soft foods - not bones, carrots and potatoes. However, everyone, including my girlfriend, believes a disposal is as strong as a BlendTech blender - (see Will it Blend? on YouTube)

But they’re not.

So, save yourself the hassle of having to replace your unit in a few years, and go with a higher powered model. You’ll thank me later.

That being said, not everyone is a horsepower junkie like myself. In that case you may want to look at smaller units. For instance, if you rarely use your disposal you could get away with a ½ or ¾ horsepower unit. Here are a few of the top rated smaller units.

Top Rated: Waste King L-8000 Legend Series Continuous-Feed Garbage Disposal

If your kitchen needs a reliable and powerful garbage disposal system and you are exploring your options, the Waste King L-8000 Legend Series system can be a great solution. Robust and efficient, it takes care of normal to heavy-duty garbage disposal requirements, and is sure to be a great addition to your kitchen.

The Anaheim Manufacturing company and the Waste King brand line of products have been empowering kitchens around the world for many decades, and this product can be a great fit for your disposal requirements.

Specifications

The Waste King L-8000 Legend series 1.0 HP continuous-feed garbage disposal unit has overall dimensions of 9 X 9 X 14.2 inches, weighing in at just under 15 pounds. The packaging ships with the unit itself, power cord and specialized mounting hardware.

The fast and easy mount system makes it a breeze to install for most kitchen sink plumbing systems, and the 36-inch power cord provides you with enough headroom. The tank is also ready for use with septic tanks of particular sizes, details of which are clearly outlined in the user manual.

Quality and Functionality

The unit is created using high-quality, rugged stainless steel, which makes for durable use even under tough conditions. The 1.0 HP, 2,800 RPM motor can easily deal with common or even stubborn materials in your household waste. With more power per pound on offer than most of the competition, accompanied with continuous feed and steel swivel impellers that help the unit stay clear of jams, the product is really efficient and easy to use.

Noise

The glass-filled nylon grinding chamber not only protects you against corrosion and wear, but also provides you with one of the most noise-free garbage disposal experiences that you will ever have.

Other Features and Warranty

The convenience of use is further enhanced by the removable splash guard, which is easy to clean. The manufacturers have reposed complete faith on the Waste King L-8000 Legend series 1.0 HP continuous-feed garbage disposal unit, accompanying it with a staggering warranty for lifetime in-home service, which covers important issues mechanical and material defects and corrosion.

The attention to detail and feature set makes the product a compelling buy for families who are looking for an affordable solution to their waste disposal management needs. The noise-free operation comes as an added incentive, as most similar devices tend to be on the noisier side.

Honorable Mention: KitchenAid Continuous Feed Garbage Disposal ³⁄₄ HP

You may be familiar with KitchenAid appliances that sit on top of your countertop, but did you know there’s one that goes under the counter? Many of my previous clients found that a KitchenAid garbage disposal was perfect for their new kitchen.

Not only does it look great - like we’ve come to expect from all KitchenAid appliances - but it works perfectly. No more clogged sinks from an overworked disposal.

Plus, you can relax knowing that your purchase is backed by their excellent customer service and hassle-free warranty.

Luckily for the busy homeowner, there are only a few models to choose from. But to save you some time, we reviewed the top KitchenAid garbage disposals to help you find the right one. Below are the models we compared.

Compare the Top KitchenAid Garbage Disposers:

When looking for the perfect household garbage disposal unit for your needs, it is important that you invest in a brand which values quality and performance. KitchenAid has been in the household garbage disposal business for long, and their products bear the hallmark of their long expertise and experience.

The KitchenAid Continuous Feed Garbage Disposal unit is an able representative of the product line, providing unmatched disposal performance and great power in an affordable package.

The effortless disposal of all kinds of kitchen waste combined with the value for money aspect makes this product one of the must-buys for any modern kitchen. The focus is firmly on reducing the hassles involved in using a garbage disposal system.

Specifications

The KitchenAid Imperial disposal measures up at 14 X 13 X 10 inches in dimension, and on a 120 volt line with 15 or 20 amperes of current.

The well-built unit ships with a simple mounting system that makes installation a breeze. The quick mount system also contributes to reducing operating noise, as does the in-built SoundSeal technology.

The unit features an overload protection system, and also a manual reset switch.

Build Quality and Functionality

The high point of the KitchenAid Imperial is the included 1,725 RPM speed motor, which makes short work of even tough and stubborn kitchen waste. In addition to the powerful motor, the unit also comes with effective multi chamber grinding, which grinds down the waste in two separate stages, ensuring maximum efficiency and minimal clogging.

Durability is impressive with the corrosion resistant grind chamber and drain chamber more than capable of standing up to the rigors of heavy daily use. The continuous feed mechanism adds to the convenience factor, making it easy for you to clean up after meals.

Noise and Warranty

Most people are wary of the fact that many household garbage disposal units are noise to operate. The KitchenAid Disposal unit, however, provides you with almost noise-free operation.

The patented SoundSeal technology makes use of four different components to subdue the operating sound, reducing the noise to up to 40 percent quieter than standard quality disposal units.

The automatic reversal system also keeps clogs and jams to a minimum. The product comes with a five year limited warranty which covers mechanical faults and worn-out parts.