The Best Trash Can for Your Kitchen

Equipment expert Adam Ried reviews kitchen trash cans in the Equipment Corner.

ABOUT US: Located in Boston’s Seaport District in the historic Innovation and Design Building, America's Test Kitchen features 15,000 square feet of kitchen space including multiple photography and video studios. It is the home of Cook’s Illustrated magazine and Cook’s Country magazine and is the workday destination for more than 60 test cooks, editors, and cookware specialists. Our mission is to test recipes over and over again until we understand how and why they work and until we arrive at the best version.

If you like us, follow us:

[bethsontag]

I've had the Simple Human trash can for many years and it still functions perfectly and because the lid closes so efficiently and keeps odor in, it keeps the dog out of it. Well worth the price if you can swing it

[wes]

I miss the old style of reviews where the lady just explained all their tests and was very sciency and to the point. These guys are cringy

[illican]

me at 7:30 PM: i should really try going to bed early tonight

me at 3:00 AM:

[SimonVelazquez]

One day you will be mine, Simplehuman 13.2 Gallon Stainless Steel Rectangular Kitchen Step Trash Can.

[LynnGryphon]

I almost choked when the $180 was the winner

[ricksaunders]

I have the cheapo Sterilite but with a step for opening. Works great, and it was around $40 at Target.

[mneff]

For $130.00 I think I will stick with the grocery sack hanging on pantry door. Cost price $ .00

[martaaberg]

Funnily enough, this review popped up in my feed 2 hours after my Simplehuman trash can broke. I bought it on sale at TJ Maxx about 15 years ago. I paid, if I remember correctly, about $60. It has worked faithfully all these years, and now has some problems with the hinge. My husband managed to fix it for the time being, but it's time to start looking for a deal on another one. My requirements for buying the first one were that it had to be wide enough to hold family-size meat trays from the supermarket, have a way to secure the bag inside, have a removable liner, and keep our Border Collie from getting into the trash. The bonus feature you didn't mention was the very handy little button that keeps the lid open when you slide it forward.

[daphnemiller]

Our Simplehuman 55-Liter Rectangular Step Trash Can with Liner Pocket is definitely worth the money we paid for it. The pedal that opens the lid goes all the way across the bottom instead of being a small piece. It's a great design, and we've used it over two years with no problems at all.

[ChicagoChicago]

I came to greece and everyone thought i was crazy to put a trash can in a barrel and ship it over!! I’m sending this video to all the people who said I was nuts! I have the simple human rectangular size Q... worth every penny !!!

[williamjones]

I have a similar trash can with the footstep 👣 lid. The ease of use and ease of changing the bag makes it an all time favorite.

[BernieYohan]

I have the simple human it was a wedding gift in 1991 still going strong. I am a kitchen manager for Chili’s and this can is great. I have the simple human auto open doesn’t work but it’s good in my backyard kitchen.

[PinkeeLee]

i still have my 39 year old rubbermaid plastic step on peddle lid comes up trash can. i use a box cutter to cut up cardboard for recycling on top. is still works like a champ

[JamesVestal-dzqm]

My mother is now talking to my father about collecting trash, showing how a married couple maintains a home they own. She is dismantling my bedroom, perhaps to investigate my night-time self-talk.

[bloodgain]

I can back the recommendation on this one. I got sick of replacing the cheap plastic ones when the foot pedal inevitably broke, so I decided to see if you get what you pay for in trash cans. I got this on sale plus a 20% off coupon at Bed Bath & Beyond. That was 10 years ago, and it still works like it's brand new, and I never have to fuss with it. Like any pedal-operated can, it does get pushed backward over time, but since it's fairly heavy, it doesn't do it as fast; I usually just move it back into place when I take out the trash. It is ridiculously overpriced at retail, but find it on sale and it's worth it.

[myzeri]

I have a $30 sensor opening trash can and I have owned it for 6 years. It has 4 AA batteries and still has the original ones in it. I love it because I can crack eggs and not touch the lid. I would not even know why I would replace it. If it ever did stop working it still has a spot to manually open and close it. As a standard 13gal container I empty it once a week without any smell and I think it's been an excellent purchase.

[kaystarlo]

I think they are hanging out in my Amazon wish list with these shows ideas! Thanks for always reviewing everyday items that make a difference in my home

[MsAmandolin]

I clicked this with an embarrassing speed. I hate my current trash can, but I can’t decide what I want.

[GeoffreyAlan]

I LOVE my Simple Human butterfly lid all-stainless can. It was quite a splurge, but feels so sturdy and it’s beautiful to look at.

[akr]

I just toss my trash out the window into the back of my neighbors Mustang. He lost his license after a road rage incident after realizing he'd blown $180 on a hunk of recycled tuna cans to store his bong. So, until someone tells him about IKEA having everything to solve that problem for twenty bucks no one's gonna care.