Dishwasher question

[BethH]

The only thing I don't put in there is my Calphalon Non-stick pots and pans and some pretty hand-painted bowls that say 'Don't put in the dishwasher' on the bottom.

Grace, I think what you are doing sounds fine. You might have to sharpen your knives after time but isn't the convenience of the dishwasher worth it? I would definitely stick my pots and pans in it if Calphalon didn't specifically tell me I couldn't. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[SusanT]

I have a Kenmore Elite (made by Whirlpool who also makes Kitchenaid). I put everything, pots and pans, knives, blender, etc into it. It's much more gentle than my old dishwasher and even has a sanitze function. As long as you're happy with the results, I say use the dishwasher.

[sneezles]

I don't put my good knives in the dishwasher for two reasons- it dulld the knife and the heat dries out the wood handle. No wood in the dishwasher. I have never put real silver in the dishwasher but heard you could just not to mix with stainless because the contact with the stainless would cause the silver to pit! I don't put pots and pans for the same reason as Funnybone-they take up too much room!
Also, I never rinse before I put things in the dishwasher with the exception of rice (it acts like a glue!). I figure if I have to rinse it first why bother!?!

[Grace]

Thanks everyone. I feel better now. My good knives don't have wood handles, so that's not a problem, and I do put wooden spoons in there, only because they cost like, what, 25 cents each to replace? So I don't care much if they get ruined over time (can you tell I REALLY don't want to hand wash anything??!!)

I don't have but 2 sets of real silverware, that have never been out of their original wrapping, but if I ever do decide to use them, I'll remember not to put them in. Otherwise, I guess I'll just keep doing what I'm doing, as I am very happy with the results!

Thanks again for all of your input. I am always so happy that I have a group of people whose experiences and opinions I value and trust and I can always rely on to help me out!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Beth]

Grace, we have the same or nearly same dishwasher, and I never put any pots or pans in the dishwasher before. This one is the first one where I don't feel like I'm wasting a load by putting pots in it. It's really large enough and versatile enough to handle them. I haven't put good knives in though. The issue is what the blades can bang into and be dulled by.

BTW, The dishwasher was our first step too...just wish we could get around to the rest of it. We talked briefly about putting it off another 2 years to put in a pool (since our next door neighbor is going to take out part of our fence and go across part of our yard to put their in....Jealous? Of course!).

[Grace]

On the Healthy Living Board someone brought up the subject of dishwashers. They were directed to that old thread (now archived) about dishwashers.

I just went back and re-read that whole thread. I have since gotten a dishwasher (I didn't know at the time I originally posted that I would be getting a whole new kitchen remodel!) - HURRAY!!! Anyhow, I got a really nice KitchenAid that is as quiet as a mouse. I run it all the time (sometimes 2x a day!) The tag that came with it said it only costs like $48 a YEAR to run, and uses only 5 gals of water (I used to use more than that when I washed them all by hand, cuz I used to wash them under a running faucet instead of filling up the sink with water), so I don't feel badly about running it often.

BUT, now that I have one, I have a few questions.... when I re-read the thread, almost everyone said they didn't put their silverware or pots and pans in there. Why not?? I put EVERYTHING in there. And I mean everything. The Gladware, pots and pans, big bowls, even my good knives (there is a special slot for big knives so that don't bang into anything else. I can't imagine what hot water will do to ruin the blade on my knife. I use them to cut chicken, too, so I figured the really hot water would probably sanitize them better than I could do at the sink. Anyway, tell me where I am going wrong! I have to say that my pots and pans come out beautiful (they are non-stick), and don't seem to have been harmed one bit. As far as silverware, did you all mean you don't put in the real silver stuff, or don't you even put your everyday forks, knives and spoons in there? This perplexes me.

Lastly, I LOVE my dishwaser, and I don't think I could ever do without it anymore.

[Sara Emily]

Congratulations on your new kitchen .... and dishwaher!! I wish my Maytag was as quiet as yours! It does a GREAT job of washing, but the noise is ferocious! Now that it has a couple of years on it, it not only emits all the regular noises, but has picked up a high pitched whine on the rinse cycle that acts as a pest deterrent for our kitchen, as NOTHING wants to stay in the same room as that!!!

The issue with not putting good knives, non-stick pans,etc. in there has to do with the harshness of the dishwasher detergents that you have to use and not the water temperature. I won't put my non-stick pans or best knives in for that reason (or real silver), but rely on it for my regular tablewear and my stainless steel pots. It hasn't seemed to hurt those after many, many, many, many washings.

I hope you THOROUGHLY enjoy your new set-up, and that it inspires you to even GREATER heights of culinary creations!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[jazzyjas]

Grace -
You should not put "silver"ware in the dishwasher becauses it tarnishes regular flatware is fine. Pots and pans depend on the manufacturer -- Calphalon non-stick should not be put in the dishwasher or the non stick finish will be destroyed. High Carbon Steel knives should not be left wet or they will rust and stain (unless they are mixed with stainless steel) I also had a friend who said it was bad to put wooden spoons in the dishwasher so I don't -- those are the only restrictions that I am aware of -- and easily breakable stemware, fine china that has been painted with a design or gold or silver as these will wear off. I hope this clears a little up for you

Jas

[chefbec]

Many pots and pans will get ruined if put in the dishwasher (hard-anodized, for example; it will kill your warranty and hurt the finish). It can also loosen screws. I always put my stainless steel silverware in the dishwasher with no problem. I don't think silver goes in as it may tarnish, but I don't know that for sure.

[funnybone]

I never put pots and pans in the dishwasher. First of all, they take up too much space, and second, they are Calphalon, and they are not recommended for dishwashers. Neither are most good quality knives.

I put my "silverware' in the dishwasher, but I am not referring to "real silver", just regular everyday stainless steal I guess.

I also have Noritake china with gold around the rim that I do not put in the dishwasher because it may come off. However, my MIL gave me some serving dishes, which are decorative glass, and pretty, except for the gold rim. I put them in the dishwasher hoping that the rim would come off. 20 washes later, (and I am counting), still no luck!! Go figure!

[catharine]

What a timely subject for me!! The repairman came yesterday and told us that ours needs a new motor and fill valve. We decided that we would put the money ($200) toward a new one.

So now we are shopping. Any advice? What brand should we look for or avoid? We don't want to spend a lot but want to get something good (okay, that is obvious..).

What do you think? My DH thinks it is so cool how I can post a message here and get such thoughtful and intelligent responses. Thanks so much everyone. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Grace]

Hi Catharine

There was another thread not too long ago where someone asked the same question. Here is the link:
http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/Forum1/HTML/005471.html

I have a brand new KitchenAid that I love. It has a stainless steel interior, nylon coated racks that don't wear off the tips like the plastic coated ones do, and is significantly larger than most models. It is also unbelievably quiet. I love mine so much, I run it sometimes twice a day, and I'm constantly on the search for stuff to put in there! The dogs are afraid they'll be next....

[Curleytop]

Had 3 Kitchenaids, they were the noisiest!
Now have a Maytag, top of the line, have had it for over a year, and it does a much better job, my dishes are spotless, and it is very very quiet! Much better than KA!!!
I put the plastics on the top, and all the knives in the special compartments meant for them. I do NOT put in coated pots and pans, or cast iron. I put in only stainless flatware, nothing plated, or silver.

[Beth]

I also have the Kitchen Aid and am very happy with it, and we bought it under similar circumstances. We also looked at Kenmore and the Maytag/Jennair models (Whirlpool makes Kenmore and KitchenAid and Maytag also makes Jennair). My mom has a Jennair she loves. It is quiet, but is louder than mine. I am so pleased with it that I stopped to check out KitchenAid's traveling demo center to see if they had their version of the Catalyst washer out yet and wound up telling the other customer inside about my dishwasher. She laughed and asked how much they paid me to come in. Not bad for something I dreaded having to buy in the first place (like vaccum cleaners, certain clothing items, etc.)

We looked at Bosh and Asco. Bosh has an excellent reputation, but we were hesitant about the price and service availability and cost on an imported model. We felt we found better loading and use features (deep tub, flipping racks and no center tower, no filter to clean) at a better price in the KitchenAid. If quiet is important, you will find that each step up can result in another level of insulation and noise reduction. A top of the line anything is going to be quieter. I've heard a couple of people say they were very pleased with the GE Triton too.