What Real Reviews Of Costco's Best-Selling Garbage Disposal Are Saying

One of the most powerful kitchen appliances is virtually invisible. A garbage disposal lives under your sink, just waiting to grind food scraps into organic material before removing it like magic via your home's drain pipe. Along with the practical convenience of instantly getting rid of vegetable stems, citrus peels, and leftover bits from dirty dishes, a garbage disposal can also reduce the amount of garbage in your trash can that heads to the local landfill. A time-saving tool, the humble garbage disposal can also help reduce clogs and odors in your kitchen sink at the flip of a switch. 

There are countless versions available for sale, but to pick the best one, you'll need to think about how much power you need from the motor, how much noise you're willing to put up with, how compatible different models are with your sink and available space, and how easy it will be to install. With over 1,000 five-star ratings, Costco's best-selling garbage disposal caught our attention.

Available in black or cherry red, the American Standard Slim Line 1.25HP Food Waste Disposer is a fan favorite for several reasons. You don't have to read many reviews before you notice three key benefits. The appliance offers powerful but quiet performance; it's easy to install and takes up very little space; and it's sold at Costco for an extremely competitive price.

Whether your trashcan overflows with food waste every time you cook, or your existing garbage disposal is starting to make the telltale humming sound that happens right before it gives up the ghost, there are many reasons you may need to buy a new garbage disposal. Although you can troubleshoot a busted garbage disposal, for $99 (the cost of the American Standard Slim Line Food Waste Disposer) many Costco customers wrote that it just made sense to purchase a new one. 

Several reviewers of the garbage disposal said they decided to switch from larger, costlier, and difficult-to-clean InSinkErator Badger models that had started to leak and rust. Hundreds of users were thrilled with the quick installation process, describing it as "simple", "a breeze", and "very easy if you have basic mechanical skills and tools". A few did mention that you may have to install a new mounting ring due to the smaller size of the Slim Line model compared to larger garbage disposals, but a professional plumber can help if you're not confident about your DIY skills.

The powerful motor packed into a small profile design is another feature that got extremely high marks. The slim size means this garbage disposal takes up less room under your sink, leaving more space for a garbage can or cleaning supplies. Hundreds of reviewers said the motor was extremely quiet while providing enough horsepower to handle large food scrap quantities without changing the drain pipes. Users also liked the removable rubber strainer that's easy to access and clean.

The American Standard Slim Line Food Waste Disposer also has other features that make it stand out from other garbage disposals for sale at Costco and elsewhere. A magnetic attachment catches bottle caps, small utensils, and other items that have accidentally fallen down the drain so they don't damage your disposer. Further, while you can freshen your garbage disposal with delicious-smelling pantry ingredients, with this model you probably won't need to do it often. The Slim Line model has an antimicrobial agent permanently molded into its interior components to inhibit the growth of bacteria and eliminate nasty smells. The grinding system itself is made of all stainless steel parts backed by a 12-year warranty. Despite this, don't forget that there are some items you should never dispose of in your garbage disposal.

Costco isn't the only place you can purchase the American Standard Slim Line Disposer, but it's certainly the cheapest. Amazon sells the same product for $140 or it retails for $175 at Walmart. Although the American Standard Slim Line 1.25HP Food Waste Disposer is the best-selling garbage disposal at the warehouse retailer, the membership club also sells other highly-rated American Standard and InSinkErator garbage disposals that may work better for you if you need a larger or more powerful model.