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Put a disposal in the prep sink?

10 years ago

We are planning of putting a disposal in the main sink. The other end of the kitchen will have a prep sink. Does a prep sink usually have a disposal as well? Thanks!

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Comments (9)

function_first
10 years ago
If you really plan to prep at the prep sink, I would absolutely put one in. We did, and it is used constantly. I do not think I'd be as inclined to use the prep space to prep in if I didn't have a disposal right there. Well worth it.
romy718
10 years ago
We have a septic system & limit what goes down the disposal so I hadn't planned on one in the prep sink. During our reno, we've been using our kitchenette in the basement & not having a disposal in that sink drives me crazy (the crumbs, the stuff that sticks to dishes that you have to rinse off). I also remember reading in someone's post that their biggest regret was not putting a disposal in the prep sink. I added one to the prep sink.
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I have a disposal, and if you plan to use the prep sink for most of your prep work, it makes sense to put one there -- unless you hace a compost bin fro all the trimmings, peels, etc. I would advise against a bar faucet. I found one that I loved the look of, but it's reach is not enough to hit the middle of the sink. As a result, andy rinsing of veggies, cookware or even hand washing results in splashing out the back of the sink. It's the one thing we plan to replace in our kitchen redo. Smaller size pull downs are limited in choices, but I think they will work better -- plus you have a spray for rinsing veggies, rice, beans, etc. DH is now insisting on a spray for the new faucet and I have to agree that it will be nice to have there.
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Wow! That was pretty unanimous. I have one now which is why I want one (but we only have one sink). And yes, I run it for 10 sec almost each day. I don't throw huge chunks of food out, it's just the loose bits and pieces from rinsing veggies or what remains on the plate when I rinse before putting it in the DW (yes, I know that's a no no) Ugh, it's another thing I am adding which I guess the contractor will consider a change order (blech) I might have filtered water at the prep sink. Do you think it will get too crowded down there? I talked to one water guy who was recommending a $600 system (plus cartridges) to filter the water from chlorine, bacteria and parasites. I think the main system was to go under the floor (not in the cabinet) but I know some filters go under the cabinet. DH thought the $600 system and the cost of the cartridges at $120 per 6-9 months was high compared to some GE models but I don't know if they were filtering out the same things. The man recommended putting the filtered water faucet on the main island in case I have to fill a large pot for soup but I only make soup once or twice a year and I measure out the water in the measuring cup. I think it much more likely that someone would want a refill on the island and might be able to reach across to the prep sink to get it. Also, I was thinking I could put a large pitcher in the prep sink and use that to fill bigger vessels for say, lemonade, for a large party But I digress. OK, will add another one (perhaps just a low end model) to the preps sink. Thanks!
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Kgypso - your contractor is probably thinking of the ol' Badger disposals--he's likely installed a heap of those, and they don't grind very well. I very much hope you are getting disposals (note the plural; I recommend one in each sink) with either 3/4 or 1 hp motor, and all stainless steel innards. If you have that, your disposals will be powerful enough such that grind will be very fine and not clog up your pipes. I just posted another thread about the This Old House Show visiting the InSinkErator factory in Racine, WI. To test the quality of the disposals coming off the line, they had each disposal grind 35 lbs. of steer rib bones and 6 lbs. of pine cubes. Pretty impressive. Furthermore, the InSinkErator rep said that the bones actually help clean the grinding mechanism which makes it more efficient. Make sure your contractor isn't still thinking of the way they used to make disposals 25 years ago, and make sure that he is installing powerful disposals for you (3/4 hp or 1 hp).
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I really miss having a prep sink in my current rental and can't fit one in the kitchen in my new digs. In my previous kitchen the prep sink was near the fridge on a counter that served purely as a prep area....large woods chopping counter, with built in slots for knives. The clean-up sink was six feet away on the other side of the kitchen. I used the area to wash and chop fruits and legs, and to cut meat & poultry, and pretty much do everything else to prepare foods before putting it in the oven or on the cooktop (or straight into serving dish if it wasn't being cooked.) The only thing I didn't do on that counter was my baking prep. The one regret ( a rather big one) I had about it is that I did NOT install a disposal in that sink. I really wish I had. Then, I could have just dumped veg peelings, meat scraps, etc. right into the prep sink. As it was I did tote them across the kitchen to the clean up sink. But I would definitely NOT worry about soap and washing dishes in a prep sink. Just dump the scraps in and grind 'em up, and MAYBE give a dish a rinse if it looked like it would drip nasty stuff on the floor getting it to the clean up sink for a proper washing. Remember that a prep sink is often, if not usually a much smaller sink...just large enough to rinse off produce, for example. But it also did make it handy to be able to get a glass of water or dump out a pot of pasta water, when the main sink was otherwise engaged!
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heidihausfrau
10 years ago
Well--if you prep there then you have scraps there, right?!?
Fori
10 years ago
I'd do it. It's not that expensive and you don't have to use it if you don't want to.
Bunny
10 years ago
It's not that expensive and you don't have to use it if you don't want to.

Take that to the bank. :)
sixkeys
Original Author
10 years ago
Haha, I know the question was a little dumb. :) This is my first kitchen gut and remodel, so I want to get all the details right.

Thanks for the input!
breezygirl
10 years ago
The best advice my fired GC ever gave me was to put a GD at both sinks. I use both even though we compost a huge majority of food and related items.
Gooster
10 years ago
a little late as well, but some of the best advice I received outside of this forum was to make sure my prep sink was larger than a bar sink and had a GD. I use it more than my regular sink.
beekeeperswife
10 years ago
Yes, put one in. We were doing a new build and the house came with one, so we were providing one on our own. Our lovely foreman (RIP) actually said, "well, who is paying to install that?" I just looked at him, and said "you are". I actually bought a "beefier" one for that sink than the lousy one the builder provided for the cleanup sink.

:)

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