Casserole dishes are made with various materials like iron, glass, wood, ceramics, silicone, and stoneware. With this in mind, it could also have different approaches in cleaning. Cleaning your soiled casserole dishes is a lot easier with a dishwasher. Operate the machine and let it do the cleaning job. What materials are considered dishwasher safe? What should not be placed inside a dishwasher? Figuring out what type of casserole dish is suitable for your dishwasher could make your cleaning efficient and stress-free.
Can You Put Casserole Dish in Dishwasher?
One way to quickly identify if your baking dish could be placed inside a dishwasher is through cross-inspection. Check if your casserole dish has a stamped disclaimer at the bottom of the pan. If there is no indicated disclaimer, play safe and consider the casserole dish unsafe in a dishwasher.
Glass casserole dish
Casseroles made with tempered glass are considered dishwasher safe, especially if there’s no metallic lining inside them. Check if there’s a hairline crack or scratches on your glass dish before placing it inside the dishwasher. In case there was, refrain from using the dishwasher. Temperature changes could make the cracks from the glass casserole dish expand until it suddenly shatters and burst.Â
Metal casserole dish
Casserole made with cast iron is not suited for dishwashers, for it will strip the coating of the metal dish. Cleaning products used in the dishwasher are concentrated enough to blemish the metal dish. This protective cover, if stripped off, will make the pan prone to rusting. Rusted pans must be disposed or recycled since it is not safe for cooking and serving food.
Other casserole dishes
Other materials used in making casserole dishes are glass and wood. Untempered glass, due to its lack of protective coating, is fragile and could break easily. Wooden dishes are commonly bound with wood glue that will soften or melt inside the dishwasher. The high temperature and moisture inside the machine will damage glass and wood, so it is highly suggested to hand-wash them instead.Â
How Do You Know If a Dish Is Dishwasher Safe?
Dishwashing items could be a little bit risky for your precious kitchen items. To prevent crying over your damaged casserole dishes, inspect them carefully before considering placing them inside your dishwasher. Casserole dishes have engraving at the bottom of the pan or on one side of the handles. Sometimes, it is placed on the packaging box too. Or even the manufacture’s website and retailer shops. In case you did not see any disclaimer, your dish is not good inside the dishwasher and considers handwashing.
Disposable casserole dish
Single-use dishes, typically made with aluminum, are not dishwasher safe. These disposable dishes are prone to scratching and crumpling inside the dishwasher, but they will also leave black marks prone to rust.
Ceramic casserole dish
Like glass casserole dish, the most ceramic casserole dish is dishwasher safe. To ensure safety, still, consider checking the embossed disclaimer on the casserole dish’s bottom. Regulate the temperature of the dishwasher to prevent the ceramic from forming hairline cracks. Highly-concentrated cleaners from some cleaners could make the casseroles prone to cracking, too. If you are not sure of your casserole dish’s capacity, refrain from using the dishwasher and consider hand washing your ceramic dish.
Non-stick casserole dish
Nowadays, many non-stick casserole dishes are dishwasher safe. Check the package instructions or the manufacturer’s website to determine if your casserole is dishwasher safe. Frequent washing of non-stick pans in the dishwasher could wear out the non-stick coating feature of your casserole. High temperatures and corrosives could wear down the protective coating of your dish.
What Should You Not Put in Dishwasher?
Having a dishwasher at home is a “wish-granted” invention in keeping your kitchen tools clean. Sad to say, several items could not withstand the dishwasher’s cleaning ability.
Cast iron skillets
Seasoned cast iron skillets, once placed inside the dishwasher, remove its protective coating, causing it to rust.
Metal press and graters
The tight holes of some metal presses and graters are not possible for the dishwasher’s full cleaning capacity. Like cast iron, these materials are also prone to shedding their coating, making them vulnerable to rust.
Kitchen knifes
Although some knives are dishwasher-safe, their sharp edges could accidentally cut someone’s hand. Hollow-handled knives with handles made with wood or plastic can be easily melted with the dishwasher’s hot temperature. Washing it by hand could save your fingers from the uninvited cut.
Antique and other figurines
Made with delicate materials, fine antique ceramics and figurines could not withstand the extreme conditions. The fine decorations and paintings could be melted and drained. Stay out of these materials in the dishwasher.
Pressure cooker lids
Despite the pressure cooker lids are made with tempered glass, they could not withstand heat. The dishwasher could damage the lids’ safety valves. Food particles, dishwasher detergent, and other dirt could build up inside the pressure cooker and damage the lid. It is highly suggested to clean pressure cooker lids with warm, soapy water. Pressure cooker lids must be dried well before using.
Milk glass
Milk glass dishware, known for its semi-opaque white color, is not suitable in the dishwasher. The frequent placing of milk glass inside the dishwasher could easily fade out its bright color into a dull, old yellow. Prevent this from happening by hand washing this dishware.
Why Are Some Dishes Not Dishwasher Safe?
Kitchen tools have varying cleaning instructions. In comparison, many manufacturers have created dishwasher-safe materials like ceramic and stainless steel. Many dishes can be damaged due to extreme water pressure, hot temperature, and cleaning ingredients. Some food-safe paints, commonly used to decorate fine chinaware, can be worn off by the dishwasher’s detergent. Even if they are microwave-safe, plastic items can still be warped or melted when exposed to hot water and heat from the dishwasher’s drying function. Wood products like bowls, spoons, and cutting boards are not dishwasher safe. The adhesive used in the wood can easily be melted inside the dishwasher’s heat. The water pressure could also create cracks and splinters in the wooden utensils, making them prone to disease-causing bacteria and germs. Checking if your utensils are dishwasher safe could prevent the accidental breaking of your special kitchen tools.
