8 Things You Should Never, Ever Put in the Dishwasher
The sink is a much safer place to wash these common cooking utensils!
You’ve just spent the last few hours cooking, serving, and eating dinner, and now, all you want to do is change into your pajamas and crawl into bed. But before you can call it a night, there’s one more chore you need to tackle: the dishes. Clearing half-eaten scraps off of dirty plates and scrubbing pesky particles off of clunky pans is probably a dreaded part of your nightly routine (understandably so). If you’ve had a long, tiring day, you might be tempted to give the soiled dishes a quick rinse-off before tossing them in the dishwasher with some detergent. And while this kitchen appliance is a huge game-changer and a massive time-saver, it can actually do more harm than good for some cooking utensils.
There are a handful of everyday items that should never go in the dishwasher—even if you place them on the top rack. That’s because the heat and detergent can cause certain materials to turn rusty, become warped, or form cracks. So, over time, the wear and tear can weaken the capabilities and shorten the lifespan of your once trusty tools. If you want to keep your collection of cookware intact, here are eight things you should never, ever put in the dishwasher.
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Nonstick Pans
Chances are, you use your nonstick pans on a daily or weekly basis, which means tossing them in the dishwasher sounds a lot more enticing than scrubbing them by hand. But the detergent and heat can dull the coating, causing food particles to get stuck on the surface more easily. Hand-washing them with soap and a sponge is a much better alternative.
Baking Sheets
Since sheet pans are big and bulky, banging them around your sink to clean all the nooks and crannies just seems like a pain. But the machine can ruin the pan’s color, weaken its finish, and leave behind a chalky residue. So, a quick scrub with some dish soap or baking soda is actually a more productive way to go about washing yours.
Kitchen Knives
Many people slot their knives in the dishwasher, but besides it being a safety hazard, the dishwasher can quickly ruin a good kitchen knife. During a cycle, the sharp blade can knock against other items, which dulls the edges. What’s more, the detergent and water can destroy the metal material and handle. Washing them by hand is a much safer method—for your knives and for your family.
Wooden Cutting Boards
A dishwasher is a wooden cutting board’s worst enemy! In the dishwasher, the wood can warp, crack, or split from the heat and water cycle. What’s more, the detergent tends to wear away the board’s natural oils. Keep it clean with warm, soapy water, and treat it with a food-safe mineral oil every now and then.
Cheese Graters
While some cheese graters can tolerate the dishwasher, even the dishwasher-safe ones tend to get food bits stuck in the holes after a load. Plus, they can get knocked around in the machine, leading to warped edges and wearing away its ability to grate. The easiest way to revive yours is with a squirt of dish soap and a dish brush.
Cast-Iron Skillets
A cast-iron skillet can last for years—but only if you hand-wash it. The combination of water, heat, and detergent from the dishwasher can strip away the naturally nonstick material that makes your skillet so effective. Stick to washing it with warm water and a dish brush instead, and dry it immediately after.
Crystal Glassware
Crystal glasses are far too delicate to survive the harsh cycle of a dishwasher! Over time, the heat and detergent from the machine can cause fine crystal to become dull and cloudy. To preserve your collection, washing them by hand with warm water and gentle soap will keep your glasses nice and shiny.
Insulated Mug
If you use an insulated mug to keep your coffee warm while you’re on the go, it doesn’t belong in the dishwasher. These portable mugs have vacuum-sealed insulation that’s designed to keep drinks hot or cold for hours, but the high heat and water pressure of a dishwasher can damage the seal and reduce its ability to maintain the perfect temperature. A good old hand-wash will do the trick.
Lilly Blomquist is the associate editor at The Pioneer Woman, where she writes lifestyle stories across a wide range of topics—including news, entertainment, holidays, food, and more.
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