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InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP Garbage Disposal Review

InSinkErator Evolution Series arguably offers the most well-equipped garbage disposals on the market. Although they can be expensive at times, their durability has been tested throughout the years. What’s more, InSinkErator’s noise insulation technology featured in the Evolution Compact is unmatched in the current market.

By , , , and ·Updated
Tested Using Methodology v1.0
InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4-Horsepower Garbage Disposal with 3-Bolt Mount assembly on top, its box, and user manual.

Overall Verdict

All things considered, the InSinkErator Evolution Compact delivers an acceptable experience. While the disposal didn’t particularly stand out in our scrap food tests, its supporting details are highly effective. The disposal features a strong and durable build with a high-torque motor, long-lasting materials, and advanced technology in noise control.

The disposal is not exactly affordable, but it’s not too pricey either. You can often find it for around $200. At that price, the disposal is definitely one of the more attractive options on the market, given its renowned durability.

Things We Like

  • Noise cancelation
  • Vibration damping
  • High-torque motor
  • Strengthened chamber layout
  • High capacity
  • Stainless steel grinding components

Things We Don’t Like

  • Heavy
  • Space-consuming
  • No power cord

The InSinkErator Compact from the Evolution series is a solid-looking garbage disposal. It has a nice, grainy body made of thick plastic with a nice, modern blue-gray tint. The product looks neither big nor small, but it is relatively heavy—most InSinkErator disposals are. The Compact is compatible with the 3-Bolt mounting system. Under the machines lies the unjam socket—that’s where the jam buster wrench goes—and the circuit breaker/reset switch.

Key Specs

Type of feed
Continuous
Horsepower
3/4
Motor type
Induction
Averaged RPM
1482
Family size
3-4 people
Dimensions
L6.1 x W8.6 x 12.4 inches

Where to Buy Price at publication $203.01

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Compared to Other Garbage Disposals

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Analysis and Test Results

6.9 Performance: Far from Perfect

Although the Evolution Compact didn’t have the best runs, the disposal impressed us with how smoothly and quickly it dealt with the tasks. It did seem to struggle here and there against particularly tough meat scraps. But other common food scraps like fruit peels, corn cobs, even cooked chicken bones didn’t pose much of a challenge.

However, the quality of the disposal’s output could be better, to be frank. While it shredded most food scraps we threw in, the machine couldn’t really fine-grind them enough. That said, the disposal did surprisingly well with the slim and resilient fish bones that were problematic to most other models we’ve tested.

6.9 Scrap Mix

 InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP Scrap Mix Test
11.03 ounces of fish pin bones in mess of assorted scraps from garbage disposal on digital scale on granite-looking top
20.52 ounces of ground products from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of assorted scraps, including fibers, bones, etc.
0.06 ounces of ground products from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Shredded fish vertebrae and pieces of dietary fiber.

The disposal made light work of 90 ounces of food scraps. In close to 1 minute and 50 seconds, everything from lemon slices to avocado pit to cooked meat scraps was reduced to bits. It was one of the fastest runs we’ve seen in that test. Judging by the leftovers in the chamber, which was less than 0.1% of the input, the disposal was proficient.

However, the two-layer filter caught a lot of materials from the output. Although most of the materials appeared sufficiently pulverized upon close inspection, the total amount suggested that it wasn’t as finely ground as we’d like. By contrast, the Evolution Compact was impressive in processing pesky fish bones.

7.3 Raw Fish Scraps

InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP Raw Fish Scraps Test
5.56 ounces of ground fish scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Few pin bones among a mess of raw fibrous tissue.
3.53 ounces of ground fish scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of assorted shredded bones and raw fibrous tissue.
2.02 ounces of ground fish scraps from a garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of shredded fish backbone and skin.

Going into this particularly challenging test, we half expected the Compact to fail considering its performance in Scrap Mix. The disposal surprised us, in the end, by how effectively it dealt with the bony parts of the input. After 3 minutes, everything was processed except for a mess of raw fish skin that was too slippery for the product’s grinding mechanism.

The materials in the colanders helped highlight the disposal’s efficiency in pulverizing animal bones, even slim and spongy ones. No long pieces of bones found their way through without getting broken up to some extent, and all the backbone was completely crushed.

6.6 Raw Chicken Scraps

InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP Raw Chicken Scraps Test
1.45 ounces of ground chicken scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of shredded soft tissue and few pieces of shredded bones.
1.63 ounces of ground chicken scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of shredded tendons and pieces of shredded bones.
0.37 ounces of ground chicken scraps from a garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of soft tissue and pieces of shredded cartilage.

The results from this test once again showed how effective the Compact could be at breaking up raw bones. The disposal was fast, taking only 2 minutes to process 99% of the input, save for a piece of cartilage. So we gave it another 30 seconds. That was enough time for it to crush the piece, but not everything.

On the other end, the output showed that the disposal wasn’t able to fine-grind the input. The slippery and spongy tissues were clearly causing the disposal trouble. It managed most of the cartilage but left plenty of sinew and fatty skin, which lumped up with other bony pieces and soft tissues.

8.9 Design: Neat and Capable

The InSinkErator Evolution Compact is among the best-crafted in-sink food grinders on the market, with rigid construction and excellent functionality. Positive responses and comments on plumbing forums and websites affirming the disposal’s consistent performance further support its design and quality. 

The disposer sports a thick protective casing with advanced features in noise and vibration canceling. It also enjoys durable grinding components and a high-torque induction motor. Its biggest drawback is the motor’s low speed, which has a higher chance of jamming than high-speed motors.

In the Box

InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP with 3-Bolt Mount assembly on top, next to its box, user manual, registration slip, sink stopper, hose clamp, elbow tube, straight tube, wrench, and bolts.
  • InSinkErator Evolution Compact Garbage Disposal
  • 3-Bolt Mount assembly 
  • Removable splash guard
  • Stopper
  • Elbow discharge tube 
  • Straight discharge tube
  • Hose clamp
  • Extra mounting bolts (x3)
  • Jam Buster Wrench
  • Documentation

The InSinkErator Evolution series, including the Compact, comes with more accessories than your typical kitchen waste disposer. Most noticeably, you’ll receive an extra piece of tubing and replacement bolts for the mounting assembly. All documentation (a user manual and a registration slip) is available in English, French, and Spanish.

Dimensions

InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4-hp food disposer with mount assembly and elbow tube. Dimensions show 8.6-inch width, 12.4-inch height, 3.4-inch depth to dishwasher outlet, 6.6-inch depth to outlet, 6.1-inch distance to elbow tube.
Length
6.1" (15.5 cm)
Width
8.6" (21.8 cm)
Height
12.4" (31.5 cm)
Weight
16.0 lbs (7.3 kg)

For a 3/4-horsepower garbage disposer, the product is not big and it seemingly takes up just enough space under the sink. Its neat build together with highly effective features is some of the disposer’s biggest strengths. 

Unfortunately, its heavy metal construction adds much burden on the sink as well as challenges to the installation. For reference, the InSinkErator Compact is roughly 5.5 pounds heavier than the GFC720N 3/4 HP by GE Appliances.

Mount Assembly

3-Bolt Mount assembly for garbage disposals placed on white platform. “food waste disposer” and “InSinkErator” engraving on rim of sink flange. Sink stopper in position.
3-Bolt Mount assembly for garbage disposals placed on white platform. “food waste disposer” and “InSinkErator” engraving on rim of sink flange. Sink stopper in position.
Parts of 3-Bolts Mount assembly on platform, including backup flange, mounting ring, snap ring, fiber gasket, stopper, cushion mount, sink flange with “food waste disposer” and “InSinkErator” engravings, removable sink baffle, lower mounting ring.
  • Backup flange
  • Mounting ring
  • Snap ring
  • Fiber gasket
  • Stopper
  • Cushion mount
  • Sink flange
  • Removable sink baffle
  • Lower mounting ring

All InSinkErator garbage disposals go with the 3-Bolt Mount, and so does the Evolution Compact. If you’re replacing another 3-bolt disposer, the Compact will be compatible. The Evolution series has what’s called the Quiet Collar baffle that works with details under the machine’s collar to seal noise. The baffle is made of rubber, but it’s a more flexible variation that absorbs shock better

Power Cord

Bottom view of InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4-hp with two pre-cut electrical wires and no power cord. (Unscrewed) cover plate and screw to the sides.
Length
NaN" (NaN cm)
Type
 n/a

The standard version of the InSinkErator Evolution Compact doesn’t come with a power cord.

Accessories: Discharge Set

Hose clamp and elbow discharge/outlet tube for garbage disposals displayed on granite-looking top.
Width
3.3" (8.3 cm)
Length
5.3" (13.3 cm)
Material
PVC

The Evolution series features anti-vibration cushioning at the outlet of the disposers. Instead of bolts and flanges, tubes are mounted to the Compact using a hose clamp. The discharge sets include a 1.5-inch elbow tube and the clamp.

Accessories: Straight Discharge Tube

Straight discharge/outlet tube for garbage disposals, displayed on granite-looking top.
Width
NaN" (NaN cm)
Length
11.9" (30.2 cm)
Material
PVC

There is an additional straight discharge tube for customized settings under the sink. It’s also 1.5 inches in diameter.

Accessories: Wrenchette

Wrenchette/Jam-buster wrench for garbage disposals by InSinkErator, displayed on granite-looking top.
Width
NaN" (NaN cm)
Length
5.0" (12.7 cm)
Material
Metal

All InSinkErator garbage disposals include a jam buster wrench, sometimes called a wrenchette, for unjamming purposes. The wrench also helps with tightening the mounting assembly.

Accessories: Extra Mounting Bolts

Three 1.1-inch bolts for 3-Bolt Mount assemblies displayed on granite-looking top.
Width
NaN" (NaN cm)
Length
1.1" (2.8 cm)
Material
Metal

You’ll find in the box a package containing three extra bolts that are shorter than the standard mounting bolts. They’re for sinks with a thick basin (thicker than 3/8 inches)  like fireclay or porcelain sinks.

8.5 Grind Chamber

Top view through collar of InSinkErator Compact 3/4-hp garbage disposal into chamber after testing. Looking at layout of grinding components, showing swivel impellers, flywheel, and grater/grinder ring.
Top view through collar of InSinkErator Compact 3/4-hp garbage disposal into chamber after testing. Looking at layout of grinding components, showing swivel impellers, flywheel, and grater/grinder ring.
Inside view of Evolution Compact 3/4-hp garbage disposal, highlighting design of GrindShear grater ring by InSinkErator, partially showing details of flywheel.
Inside view of InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4-hp garbage disposal after testing, highlighting design of impellers, partially showing details of flywheel and grater/grinder ring.
Capacity
32.0 fl oz (946.4 ml)
Verticality
5.4" (13.7 cm)
Flywheel
5.3" (13.3 cm)
Assembly Material
Stainless steel
Layout
Strengthened

The Evolution Compact has a comparatively spacious chamber with more than 30 fluid ounces of holding capacity. That said, the grinding chamber is not particularly deep. Long chicken thigh bones or celery stalks that do not fit under may poke through the sink baffle at times.

The disposal has an augmented grinding assembly with a larger and stronger pair of impellers and more teeth on the grater ring. All grinding components are made of stainless steel.

8.0 Motor

Horsepower
3/4
Speed
1725 RPM
Real Speed
1482 RPM
Voltage
120 V (60 Hz)
Current
8.1 A
Wattage
972 W
Heat
N/A
Reverse
No

The Compact employs an induction motor of 3/4 horsepower. Most of that power is tuned towards torque as the disposer’s motor only runs at low speeds. In fact, InSinkErator garbage disposals, from weak models to stronger ones, all run at the same speed. 

This speed is specified by the manufacturer at 1725 revolutions per minute (RPM). Our test that measured the spin rate of the chamber’s flywheel revealed that it only rotated at 1482 RPM on average.

10 Build Quality

InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP Continuous Feed Garbage Disposal, with 3-Bolt Mount assembly on top and outlet/discharge set installed.
Noise Reduction
Yes
Vibration Reduction
Yes

The Evolution Compact has a solid composite protective case with a grainy texture that improves grip. The disposal also offers features in soundproofing and shock insulation that works really well even on a portable sink.

When we check on it now, the unit feels as sturdy as day one. Its parts stay firmly fitted after all the tests we’ve put it through, which has caused a few models to slacken. There were small scratches on its case from our process that could be a minor aesthetic issue at worst.

8.2 Usability: One of the Smoothest

If you don’t mind some weight, the Evolution Compact has little to complain about in terms of usability. It ran smoothly in and out of our performance testing, taking on about anything we threw at it, and its features worked as they were supposed to.

Admittedly, the disposal couldn’t handle uncooked meat scraps very well. Its grind chamber was too shallow for particularly long bones. During the Chicken Scrap Test videos, you can see they struggled to enter the chamber completely. For common food scraps, however, the Compact can be really smooth.

9.0 Ease of Use

As long as there isn’t anything too tough, the disposal can help you make quick work of cleanup. Our performance tests showed that the Compact can swallow large amounts of scraps (up to 90 ounces of 11 different foods) in under 2 minutes without much hassle and still keep the output quality consistent. That means for daily cooking, it won’t take you more than a minute to be done.

The sink baffle works well to reduce noise and you can remove it to speed things up. Note, though, that it can be a little awkward putting the baffle back in place because the material bends out of shape too easily.

6.0 Installation

The disposal is compact enough that handling it during installation is not too challenging but at 16 pounds, it’s going to need some arm strength. The 3-Bolt mounting system may also feel a little complicated if you’re not familiar with the process. 

Mind that the standard version is meant for hardwiring, so if you prefer the setup of a power cord or an air switch, you’ll have to wire your own. Or you can check out the corded version.

10 Smooth Operation

The Evolution Compact garbage disposal is no doubt in our top 3 for quietest picks. The disposal’s anti-vibration feature works wonders during the performance testing process, setting it apart from all cheaper options with meager shock or sound cushioning. Even when it was dealing with crunchy materials like bones or ice, the average noise level is lower than most models.

5.0 Unjam Mechanics

Bottom view of InSinkErator Evolution Compact disposal, showing jam buster wrench in manual unjam slot.
External
Yes
Auto Unjam
No

If the disposal jams, users may manually unjam the chamber’s grind assembly from the outside. Use the provided jam buster wrench or an Allen wrench to access the unjam slot on the bottom of the machine, from which you can rotate the motor’s shaft and therefore the flywheel.

Behind the review

Headshot of Luna Regina
Luna ReginaEditor in Chief

Luna Regina is an accomplished writer and author who dedicates her career to empowering home cooks and making cooking effortless for everyone. She is the founder of HealthyKitchen101.com and HealthyRecipes101.com, where she works with her team to develop easy, nutritious recipes and help aspiring cooks choose the right kitchen appliances.

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Be NguyenReviewer

Be Nguyen is a writer and product reviewer. Being naturally curious about technology and its real-world applications, Be spent several years in university studying engineering before joining the team at HealthyKitchen101 where he disassembles, tests, and rates household appliances.

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Lap VoTest Lead

Lap is Head of the Research, Testing, and Review Team (RTR Team) at HealthyKitchen101.com, where he directs and supervises the testing of kitchen gadgets and appliances.

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Nguyen NtkVisual Specialist

Nguyen Ntk is a graphic designer, photographer, and videographer whose philosophy centers around respecting and celebrating the beauty of reality. Through his lenses, Nguyen strives to capture the true essence of objects and events, showcasing and highlighting authentic features without distortion or exaggeration.