Is it bad to wash to put pots and pans/knives in the dishwasher on a regular basis?

Question

I want to make sure they are sterile/very clean but I also don't want them to lose their longevity...thanks!

Answer 1

It is very good to make sure that you have sterile utensils but the dishwasher can definitely do harm. The heat and duration of a wash cycle can cause the the rivets to expand and later when they cool, contract. Over a long time or excessive machine washing, the the rivets will loosen and you will be left with dodgy pan handles and unsafe knives. Also, with knives, they may lose their sharp edge if they are banging against other items in the washer. As an alternative you could soak them in bleach overnight once a week or fortnightly, depending how much you use them. This will kill harmful bacteria and leave you with a very clean feeling about your utensils too. Make sure you thouroughly clean and rinse them afterwards (not in the washer!). Good quality knives and pans won't warp from the heat so it is always a good investment to buy the best. Cast iron pans are great and you can prove them in the oven or stovetop by filling them with salt and letting them sit for a few hours. This will also kill any lingering bacteria and burn off any stuck on food particles. Wipe them out afterwards with a towel when they are cool and then wipe a fine layer of oil with a paper towel. After that, you will have yourself a non-stick, sterile wonder pan.

Answer 2

I wash mine in the dishwasher, but I don't know how it effects the longevity of metal items.
My pans (which are only Revereware) are fine, but my knives and sometimes silverware seemed to rust in my last machine.
I also know that dishwashers can make your glassware brittle because of the heat it's subjected to.

And I agree, if you wash them properly in the sink, they will get just as sterile and have a better shine, especially the glassware. I use gloves when I do dishes by hand, not for my hands' sake, but because it allows me to use a higher temperature water.

Answer 3

I was all my plastic pots in the dishwasher after rincing the soil out at the sink. I use some plastic pots which are too delicate for the dishwasher and would probably melt there. These are washed at the sink. I always pour a lot of liquid soap after washing pots that have soil in them so the drain doesn't get clogged.

Answer 4

If you really want to get your pots & pans sterile/very clean. Hand wash them & rince them in hot bleach water. This kills the germs & bacteria & Keeps their longevity.

Answer 5

An absolute no no Bex. save £2.50 spend £250.00 - you will desire a sparkling dishwasher - been there achieved that ! while i became in Tenerife and ran out of dishwasher pills I asked at Reception advert she gave me a number of what they use - little sq. pills that sparkling the limescale out of the bathing gadget/dishwasher - they have been fantastic -like water softner issues i might in simple terms positioned some salt in for now -no cleansing soap or the rest do exactly no longer use washing powder -please !

Answer 6

From my experience. Decent cookware deteriorates much more quickly when subjected to the dishwasher. Your dishes can be adequately sterilized if washed properly.