Best Kitchen Sinks for Garbage Disposals
Your garbage disposal is an important part of your kitchen, but your sink is just as vital. As the "gateway" to the garbage disposal, it is likely the most important part of the device that doesn't actually do the disposing. As a central part of your kitchen, you want your sink to be perfect, but don't forget to consider what's going to go underneath in your decision-making process.
To that end, we've gathered some of the best kitchen sinks for garbage disposals out there so you can make an informed decision. The right sink can make for a cleaner, quieter and more effective garbage disposal. If you're looking for a new kitchen or just looking to replace your old sink, there are a lot of factors that make it compatible with your garbage disposal.
How We Came Up with the List
We looked at the best kitchen sinks from several angles. There aren’t many “deal breakers” or “must haves,” there are mostly several smaller considerations that could make the differences between worth it and not worth it or good and great. Let’s examine some of the more heavily weighted grading criteria.
Material
As with any sink purchase, even without a garbage disposal, the material is a top concern. The material will determine the durability and longevity of your sink, as well as the likelihood that your dishes will suffer damage while you are using it. More importantly, perhaps, it is one of the main factors that determine look and price.
A good sink for a garbage disposal is made of durable material. All that extra vibration will eventually take its toll. Also, since you have opted for a garbage disposal, it is more than likely that your sink will get more rigorous use as you probably do a lot in the kitchen. Furthermore, sound dampening is taken into consideration; you don’t want your sink to rattle and wake up the whole house when the disposal is running.
Design
The right kind of sink can make using it with your garbage disposal that much more pleasant. Some sink designs work better with the type of work done with your disposal than others. Just make sure your countertop is compatible with it before you make a decision.
We found that the best kitchen sinks for garbage disposals were of the “double bowl” design. The double bowl is a kind of sink that has, as the name suggests, two sink bowls with two separate drains.
Usually, only one of the drains is attached to the garbage disposal. That way, one bowl is for food preparation and disposal, while the other is for soaking, rinsing and storage. If you have the need for a garbage disposal, it is likely you need two sink bowls as well.
Extras and Accessories
This may seem like an odd choice, but there are a few sink extras and convenience add-ons that can make a world of difference when using a garbage disposal. The best kitchen sinks for garbage disposals have devices or functions that prevent injury and damage as well as make owning and operating the disposal easier.
Some of our favorite extras were:
A bottom grid to cushion the impact of dishes on the basin, with the added bonus of catching silverware before it slips into the drain and subsequently the garbage disposal. No more banged up cutlery and dull blades!
Soundproofing treatments to reduce noise.
A removable grate for the drain to catch even smaller objects to be used while you are washing dishes or otherwise not using the garbage disposal.
The Overall Winner
With all these in mind, we found the Kraus KHU103 to be our top pick. It's got everything we wanted in a sink to go with a garbage disposal and isn't too expensive either. Kraus makes many great sinks, but this one caught our eye with its exceptional design and useful extras.
It's made of 16-gauge stainless steel so it's durable and stays clean. The Kraus KHU10 also comes with heavy rubber dampening pads and stone guard undercoating which greatly reduces vibration and noise. When all of this is wrapped up in a deep double bowl design, you've got a fantastic sink to go with a garbage disposal.
What really pushes it to the top is its accessories. This sink comes with bottom grids and removable drain grates to catch that errant silverware. It also has a fine finish that is resistant to scratches and dents so your sink will be beautiful and functional for many years to come.
Kraus KHU103-33 33 Inch Undermount 60/40 Double Bowl 16 Gauge Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink: 5/5
- INDESTRUCTIBLE CONSTRUCTION: Dent-resistant T304 stainless steel in TRU16 real 16-gauge (always 1.5mm thick) for...
- COMMERCIAL GRADE SATIN FINISH: Resilient and easy to clean, corrosion and rust-resistant; matches most kitchen...
- QUIETEST SINK: NoiseDefend soundproofing technology with non-toxic SoundGuard undercoating and extra-thick pads covering...
Best Value
If you are looking to save and want something similar to our top pick, the Kraus KBU14 31 ½ inch Undermount Sink is a great alternative. It has many of the same features as our winner but at a significantly reduced price. Bottoms grid and noise dampening come standard, as well as a sturdy 16 gauge steel construction.
It isn’t as sizable, but this may be a boon to those with smaller countertops. It also comes in a single bowl design, but again, this might do better for some people’s preferences.
- Quality and value: premium Grade extra-thick 16G stainless Steel sink with best-in-industry noise defend soundproofing...
- Lasting looks: outlast microshield scratch-resist Steel designed to withstand daily wear & tear, and prevent damage that...
- Kraus Tru16: real 16-gauge industrial Grade stainless Steel, always 1.5mm. Durable and dent-resistant, thicker than...
Runner Ups
Here are a couple more of the best kitchen sinks that some consumers might prefer due to their size or material. They are all still great picks for pairing with garbage disposals.
This sink might not come with everything we wanted, but it does come in stylish granite. It is durable and surprisingly quiet. It lacks wanted accessories and extras, but it does have a nice double bowl design.
Swanstone QZLS-3322.077: 3.5/5
- Made with 80% actual quartz stone; only a diamond is harder
- Pre-drilled with 1 faucet hole
- Offers design flexibility, installs as a drop-in or undermount
Moen 2200 Series 22 Gauge Single Bowl Drop In Sink
We also found this new Moen 2200 Series 22 Gauge Single Bowl Drop In Sink to be a good choice for smaller apartment kitchens. Its 22-gauge solid stainless steel construction provides reliable durability and won't rust. It also will fit almost all garbage disposal makes and models. Made with durable stainless steel and is rated highly on Amazon.
Best Garbage Disposals for Kitchen Sinks
Now that you have picked out a kitchen sink, you'll need to find a matching disposal. If your sink has is a standard 3 1/2 inch diameter sink, then check out our deep-dive reviews on top names such as Waste King or Insinkerator - these two brands are the most popular names in garbage disposals for kitchen sinks.
- RELIABLE & EASY INSTALL: Badger Series disposers are a reliable & functional choice when affordability is the prime...
- DURABLE COMPONENTS: This garbage disposal features our exclusive 1/2 hp Dura-Drive Induction Motor and long lasting...
- AMERICA'S #1 DISPOSER BRAND: There are more American-built InSinkErator garbage disposals in US homes than all other...
- HIGH-SPEED MOTOR: The 1 HP, 2800 RPM (115v) permanent magnet motor is sound-insulated and jams less. Drain Connection...
- EASY INSTALLATION AND CLEANING: EZ Mount for a quick and easy kitchen sink installation, removable splashguard for easy...
- 20 YEAR PROTECTION: 20-year Limited
Not sure which kitchen sink to buy? Check out our comparison table below:
Model
Hose Length
Our Rating
Price
Or, check out this video for inspiration on the best kitchen sink styles for 2023:
Last update on 2024-04-26 at 09:29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Leave a Reply