The dishwasher feels like a miracle. Load it up, push a button, and walk away from the dirty dishes.
But some of your favorite kitchen tools do not come out the same after a trip through the hot water and strong detergent. According to a 2023 report from 6abc in Philadelphia featuring Consumer Reports, five groups of items should stay out of the machine.
“There are some items that can really get ruined inside a dishwasher over time,” Consumer Reports’ Molly Bradley said in that report. Here is the list, with what to do instead.
Cast Iron Pans Can Come Out Rusty
Consumer Reports says the dishwasher can strip the seasoning off a cast iron pan. That seasoning is what keeps food from sticking and keeps the pan from rusting, so a skillet that goes in the machine can come out rusty.
The better way is to use water and a paper towel. If food is stuck on, add a little dish soap.
Many cooks wipe the pan dry and rub in a thin film of cooking oil afterward. That small habit is how generations of families kept their skillets in service.
If a pan did go through the dishwasher and came out dull or rusty, a gentle scrub and a fresh coat of oil is the usual rescue.
Copper, Moscow Mule Mugs And Aluminum Lose Their Shine
This one surprises people who love a pretty copper pot. “The hot water and harsh detergents can discolor and tarnish copper and aluminum and dull their shine,” Bradley said in the report.
Consumer Reports adds that copper can also get scratched in the dishwasher. Moscow mule cups fall into this group, and hand-washing is best for all of it.
A pot that once sat proudly on the stove can look cloudy after only a few cycles. Hand-washing keeps the gleam you paid for.
Think of the copper mug your son brought you from a trip, or the aluminum pan you have used for decades. These are the pieces worth the extra two minutes at the sink.
Nonstick Pans Can Lose Their Coating Even When The Label Says Dishwasher Safe
Here is the twist. Consumer Reports says that even when a nonstick pan is labeled dishwasher safe, the combination of dishwasher detergent and hot water can ruin the nonstick coating over time.
That is a surprise for anyone who trusted the label. A label tells you what a pan can survive once, not how long it will keep working.
Wash nonstick pans with warm soapy water and a soft sponge or brush. A gentle hand-wash can keep the pan useful much longer.
Good Knives Can Get Dull And Loose
Consumer Reports says the handles of knives can separate over time. The blades can also get knocked around in the machine, which can dull them.
“The handles can start to separate over time and they can get knocked around which can dull the blade,” Bradley said. Washing and drying them by hand keeps them in better shape.
Keep sharp knives out of the dish rack with the glasses, and dry them right away. Your fingers, and your cutting board, will be safer for it.
Wooden Spoons, Bowls And Cutting Boards Can Warp Or Crack
Consumer Reports puts it simply: wood, water and heat do not mix. Wooden spoons, bowls and cutting boards can warp or crack in the dishwasher.
Wood is a natural material, and it reacts to what you do to it. A long soak or a hot cycle is the fastest way to a split board.
Wash them by hand with hot, soapy water. For wood that has touched raw meat, poultry or seafood, Consumer Reports says to disinfect it every few months with one tablespoon of chlorine bleach per gallon of water.
Do Not Let Food Ride Through The Wash
The same report also had a reminder that sounds like common sense. Food should never go in the dishwasher, regardless of what TikTok suggests.
Scrape plates into the trash or compost first, then load them. A clean machine and clean dishes both start there.
It is tempting to treat the dishwasher like a magic bin. Giving each load a little attention pays off in sparkling glasses and a machine that keeps running smoothly.
Rinse and dry wooden tools right after washing, and stand them up to air out. A little care keeps a favorite spoon around for years.
Smart Ways To Protect Your Best Cookware
Keep a small drying rack or a towel by the sink for the hand-wash pile. When a pot has a long handle and a story behind it, it is easy to spot and set aside before you load the machine.
If you are unsure about a particular piece, check the instructions that came with it. Pieces you rely on every day, such as a favorite skillet or chef’s knife, are the ones most worth washing by hand.
The payoff is real. Skipping the dishwasher for a handful of items can keep them looking and working like they should, so they stay in your kitchen instead of in the trash.
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