Read on for ratings and reviews of five impressive garbage disposals from our tests, listed in order of CR rank. In general, we find that the quieter models are heavier, due to more insulation. The bigger the bits left over means a greater chance the kitchen sink drain will clog-and a lower score in this test.ДЇor noise, we measure the decibels emitted while the disposals grind a mix of bones and vegetables. A garbage disposal that garners an Excellent rating turns out food particles fine enough to slip through most of the sieves. To see how well the disposals grind food, we toss a mix of bones and raw vegetable scraps into each model and run the resulting fragments through four different-sized sieves to gauge fineness. The more food thatвЂ™s left, the longer it takes to grind, and the lower the score. For our speed test, we grind pieces of beef rib bones for 1 minute with cold running water and measure how much food is still left in the disposal. Your current one might be ready to be replaced if you notice it taking longer to grind or making louder-than-usual noises, or youвЂ™re pressing the disposal's reset button often.Д¬onsumer Reports tests garbage disposals on a number of factors. Residential garbage disposals typically last about 11 years, according to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. вЂњMore money buys you a longer warranty, more power, less noise, sturdier stainless steel components, and auto-reversing grinders that help prevent jams.вЂќ вЂњOn the lower end of the price range, youвЂ™ll see disposal motors with в…“ hp and a shorter one-year warranty,вЂќ says Larry Ciufo, the project leader for garbage disposals for Consumer Reports. The garbage disposals in CR's latest tests cost $50 to $500. Less food winds up in your trash can, helping to cut down on funky odors and pests. These devices sit beneath the sink and pulverize food waste into tiny bits for the drain to wash away. Garbage disposals are one of the most convenient appliances in the kitchen.