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We get it: The moment your dishwasher is open, you want to put everything in it and get going. However, it would be wise to pause before stacking your favorite chef’s knife or cutting board inside.
Extreme heat and powerful wash cycles can seriously damage your equipment. We’re talking warping, rusting, fading, and cracking—problems that even “dishwasher-safe” items aren’t always immune to.
Whether you break into a New dishwasher Or you’re an experienced autocleaner, the urge to cram everything inside can lead to heartbreak later.
So, before you run the next cycle, double-check what you’re going to ask Knives, My pans and Stemware I will thank you.
11 things you should never put in the dishwasher
1. Insulated cups
Insulated cups can be damaged by pressure from the dishwasher.
The high heat and pressure of a dishwasher can damage or break the vacuum seal that makes these insulated containers effective. Alternatively, wash by hand using warm water and soap.
2. Wooden cutting boards
Always dry a wooden board on its side for at least an hour before storing it.
Wooden cutting boards can become damaged after a single cycle in the dishwasher. Hot water can cause even the strongest wood to warp, bend, crack or split. While plastic and stone cutting boards can usually handle the dishwasher, any wooden board should be hand washed and dried thoroughly on its side.
Read our Wood cutting board care guide For more.
3. Wine glasses
Wine glasses and other delicate pieces of barware should be hand washed to avoid breakage.
90% of wine glasses are not dishwasher safe. If you have thick, sturdy glasses, they may be fine, but thin, thin wine glasses are likely to break. Instead, wash them by hand and make sure to rinse them well so soap residue doesn’t mess with your next balanced wine bouquet.
4. Kitchen knives
Always hand wash good cutlery.
If you have a sharp chef’s knife and want to keep it that way, keep it out of the dishwasher. Not only will prolonged soaking in hot water damage your blade’s edge, but your dishwasher can send your knife into other utensils which can dull and weaken the blade.
Here’s another list Bad habits ruin your knives.
5. Antiques, porcelain and fine china
Delicate china and porcelain are susceptible to breakage.
Antique cookware, bakeware, and glassware are not good candidates for the dishwasher. Even if it’s labeled “dishwasher safe,” its age may have compromised its once-tough integrity, making it susceptible to chipping or cracking. If you have antique cookware, kitchen utensils, or china that you love, protect them by hand washing them in the sink.
While porcelain itself is dishwasher safe, porcelain dinnerware is often delicate and fragile, and running it through the dishwasher puts it at risk.
6. Non-stick cookware
Nonstick cookware can lose its chemical coating in the dishwasher.
Most nonstick cookware is technically safe to put in the dishwasher, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. Non-stick surfaces can be easily scratched and eroded when hit with hot, soapy water or scrubbed and hit on pots, pans, or other dishes.
7. Copper cookware
Stainless steel is mostly dishwasher safe, and copper cookware should be hand washed.
While I don’t advocate putting any good cookware in the dishwasher, copper cookware is particularly susceptible to damage. Brass will dull and tarnish from prolonged exposure to hot water and the metal is soft, making it susceptible to dings and scratches if it is bumped into other items on the shelf.
8. Cast iron cookware
Use salt and hot water to remove stubborn bits from cast iron cookware.
I worked hard to build up the layers spices And the soft dents on a cast iron skillet, one cycle in the dishwasher has the power to strip it completely. Harsh dish detergents are more likely to wreak havoc on the surface while soaking in hot water for too long may cause rust. Instead, use This is the basic store For cleaning stubborn cast iron pans.
9. Dishes and pans full of grease
You can clog a dishwasher with just one greasy pan.
Your instinct when faced with a greasy and oily pan may be to put it in the dishwasher and hope for the best. Oils and grease are known to cause clogs in dishwashers – And the banks For that matter.
Instead, try to get as much oil out of the trash as possible using a scraper or paper towel and wash oily cookware well with soap and hot water. Only then, when most of the grease has been removed, should you consider running it in the dishwasher.
10. Wooden utensils
Wooden utensils and hot water are not a good combination.
Anything made of wood can be damaged if washed in the dishwasher. This includes cooking utensils, spoons, chopsticks, bowls, and anything else. Wooden items should always be hand washed and dried quickly and thoroughly to avoid splitting, warping and bacterial growth.
11. Plastic cups and containers
Food storage containers look like this but come out to look like something out of a Salvador Dali painting.
Acrylic bowls and other sturdy plastics are fine to put in the dishwasher, but fragile plastic bowls are not. Most takeout boxes and food storage containers will melt when exposed to boiling hot water. Plastic cups are also prone to melting and should be hand washed instead.