Is Stainless Steel Good For Dishwasher Wash?

Last Updated on April 1, 2022 by

Is stainless steel good for dishwasher? If you already have or recently bought stainless steel dishwasher-safe flatware, pots, pans, etc., you want to ensure you can dishwasher-wash without ruining them.

Stainless steel is good for dishwashers. However, coated stainless steel flatware, pots, pans, bottles, and other kitchen utensils are not good for dishwasher wash. Before tossing your stainless steels in the dishwasher, confirm if they are marked “dishwasher safe”.

Some experts claim dishwashing your hand-assembled stainless steel pans is not safe. Even some dishwasher manufacturers hold this belief but our strict review of consumer reports shows otherwise.

Is stainless steel good for dishwasher wash?

A dishwasher will not damage stainless steel. However, ensure that the stainless steel utensil is marked “dishwasher safe” before loading it.

According to Choice, a consumer advocacy group in Australia, you should not load aluminum or non-stick bakeware in your dishwasher. Instead, you should wash it on the top shelf.

Let’s consider some stainless steel kitchen companions that may go in the dishwasher:

1. Stainless steel pots and pans

Your dishwasher manufacturer will describe dishwasher detergent as harsh. They claim it would corrode, tarnish the polish or cause spotting and discoloration on the stainless steel.

On this note, many dishwasher makers are even against using dishwasher pods, claiming they can damage the dishwasher.

On the other hand, dishwasher detergent makers clap back, saying it is untrue. They even make publications on their websites to guide users in using dishwashers like Bosch, Samsung, etc., for dishwashing stainless steel.

Some manufacturers of stainless steel pots and pans also come out to say that their products are not dishwasher safe.

Experts believe this is a move to defend against criticism when the plastic handles of your stainless steels crack or degrade faster due to exposure to dishwasher heat.

Whether there is the dishwasher safe mark or not, some consumers fearlessly wash their non-dishwasher safe stainless steel pots and pans in the dishwasher.

Others prefer to follow the manufacturers’ handwashing recommendation for non-dishwasher-safe pots and pans, which consume more gallons of water and time.

2. Stainless steel flatware

Flatware includes eating utensils like cutlery, which includes forks, knives, and spoons. You also want to verify if they are safe for dishwashers before loading them.

Simply rinse or scrape food particles off the flatware before tossing them in your grease removing dishwasher.

If you find knife blades with rust spots, for example, the problem is with the steel and not the dishwasher. Knife blades are typically made of harder steel that can retain a lasting edge but rust easily.

Your knife blade could have had rust spots through handwashing. Whenever you dishwash the knife and other flatware, dry them immediately. You could use your dishwasher’s dry function or manually clean it with soft fabric.

Have in mind that the heated dry function consumes more electrical energy. You want a dishwasher with natural air dry option.

3. Stainless steel kitchen utensils

The kitchen utensil market is filled with stainless steels like wood, plastic, ceramic, and others. Kitchen utensils would include spatulas, whisks, fish slicers, and serving spoons.

Kitchen utensils are also sometimes categorized as silverware, and some are not marked dishwasher safe. Thus, you want to be sure that adding them to the dishwasher would be a good practice.

Loading your kitchen utensils in the dishwasher may not seem dangerous. However, the handles may be the problem. They could degrade faster or crack over long exposure to the dishwasher heat.

Most kitchen utensils use plastic handles for comfortable handling, which is the downside of adding them to the dishwasher. And plastics are generally not good for long exposure to heat.

Apart from the dishwasher damaging the handles, dishwasher detergents and pods especially will dry into the handles, gradually corroding the material. You would get a rusty utensil deteriorating at a faster pace to rust.

4. Stainless steel water bottles

Although stainless steel water bottles may be dishwasher safe, handwashing is usually recommended since food particles easily get trapped inside.

Unless your dishwasher features a reliable water bottle program for washing stainless steel bottles, do not load them even if the product tag reads “dishwasher safe”.

Otherwise, the water bottle coat finish will discolor. If handwashing a stainless steel bottle, use non-abrasive dish soap.

Reliable dishwasher for stainless steel utensils

We have saved you the stress of searching for a dishwasher that can handle your stainless steel with this recommended/affordable dishwasher compilation:

Karlxtom Portable Countertop Dishwasher, Compact Mini Dishwasher Machine with 5L Built-in Water Tank & Inlet Hose

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Not many portable dishwashers will handle your steel but Karlxtom is designed for such. The catchy features we noted in Karlxtom include:

Capacity

This countertop dishwasher measures 18.05” in Height x 16.86” in Width x 16.75” Dimension. It holds 4 place settings for 12″ dishes loaded at an angle.

We were able to fit up to 4 stainless steel dishes, mugs, knives, and forks in it due to its double-layered design.

Dual water supply mode

This is one of the few portable dishwashers that support both water tank and faucet modes. Since we preferred to wash dishes away from the sink, we leveraged its 5L built-in water tank to serve the purpose.

If you intend to install it next to your faucet and sink, connect it to your faucet.

5 washing programs

This is a countertop dishwasher with 5 washing programs, including speed, glass, baby care, normal, and fruit and vegetable.

If you are a fruitarian, the fruit mode is for you. Ensure to also wash your stainless steel for serving the fruits.

Air dry

Since flatware stainless steels need to be dried immediately, we found the unique air-dry cycle helpful. However, the air-dry cycle does not work if you use the fruit & vegetable washing mode. Besides, there is no need to air dry your fruit.

Water heater

The water in this dishwasher gets automatically heated up to 167 degrees Fahrenheit. The hot water is then used to dissolve grease stains, giving the stainless utensils a sparkling and squeaky-clean finish.

LED display

Not only do you get the LED display, but it is also a touch screen, and clearly displays the status of your dishwasher.

It uses a transparent dual-layer glass door with a built-in LED lamp to watch as food stains are eliminated from your dishes.

What we like about Karlxtom:

Item Weight

This machine weighs just 32.6 pounds. It is indeed lightweight and portable.

Water level indicator

We also like the automatic water level indicator. With this feature, you can tell when the correct level of water is reached.

Setup

For the setup, you have an inlet hose, drain hose, pitcher, and hose collar. Unfortunately, there is no adapter in the package. You also get a user guide to understand this machine better.

Water efficiency

This compact countertop dishwasher only uses 1.3 gallons of water, making it one of the most water-efficient dishwashers of all time. We were able to save water consumption by 80%. This is more than most countertops we tested for review.

What we don’t:

Noise

50 dB is not so bad but could be lower for a dishwasher like this.

Material type

Karlxtom decided plastic was a better option, which we do not quite like. But we understand that the plastic material helps to reduce the machine weight.

No hot water tap support

Does not support connecting the water hose to the hot water tap. Karlxtom is against using hot water as it can shorten the service life of the machine.

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Kalamera Built in Dishwasher, 24 inch Dishwasher with 12/14 Place Settings, 6 Wash Cycles and 4 Temperature + Sanitized Option, Energy Save with Low Water Consumption and Quiet Operation – White

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The next in line is the Kalamera. Perhaps, not a name you hear so often but gives you what the names you hear do not at its cost. Of course, this is a perfect dishwasher for washing and at the same time protecting your stainless steel.

Capacity

This is a 24-inch dishwasher capable of cleaning multiple stainless steel dishes at once. Both the top and lower racks offer generous space for your stainless steel bowls, cutlery, and other cookware.

4 wash cycles

This machine features 4 wash cycles, including normal, auto, heavy, and, our favorite, express wash cycle.

Each of the cycles uses a different intensity, and your dishes also get heated and sanitized rinse to quickly dry dishes.

Quietness

At only 45 dB, this built-in capable dishwasher is almost silent, so you do not have to quiet it like other dishwashers. The exterior features pre-installed sound insulating pads for quietness.

Warranty

A one-year limited warranty like most other dishwasher manufacturers.

What we like:

Material

Stainless steel is the material used for this stainless-steel-capable dishwasher.

Noise

Just 45 dB. Far quieter than a human conversation.

Drying cycle

The heated drying cycle kicks in automatically to dry the dishes immediately.

What we don’t:

Plastic tub

The outer body is external but the tub is plastic. We prefer stainless steel tub though. We, however, messaged Kalamera on Amazon who replied, “This model is plastic. We will introduce the stainless steel version in the future.”

Installation

Unfortunately, the power cord and water inlet were missing. So, you have to buy them separately for this dishwasher.

No use of dishwashing pods

The manufacturer says we cannot use dishwasher pods. In fact, in their words, “Pods are the only thing we recommend not using in our dishwashers”.

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IAGREEA Compact Mini Dishwasher With 7 Washing Programs, Auto Water Injection, Anti-Leakage, Top-Load Save Space, Fruit & Vegetable Soaking

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IAGREEA is a compact mini dishwasher you will need to clean your stainless steel well enough. It surprisingly washed a small stainless steel pan like it is nothing.

Other intriguing features about it are:

Installations

This dishwasher supports up to 3 installation methods that will suit your faucet. Using the water supply method, you need a water pipe connection to a clean water source for washing tableware.

Anti-leakage

IAGREEA’s unique anti-leakage technology operates on a seamless internal structure to protect against water leakage during washing cycles.

Picture-view wash

Its large transparent glass window allows you to watch food stains get eliminated from your stainless steel dishes in real-time.

7 wash cycle options

Select from the 7 wash cycle options, including heavy, normal, speedy, eco, infant, fruit, and glass.

What we like:

LED control

Welcome to a modernized LED touch screen display that enhances convenient dishwasher operation.

Store mode

The extra store mode allows up to 72 hours of ventilated storage that eliminate bad odor from washed dishes.

We enabled this option ourselves since it is turned off by default to increase energy efficiency. Use this sparingly.

Weight

This machine weighs just 25.35 lbs. Take it anywhere with you.

Eco-mode

We used 80% less water than handwashing by selecting eco washing mode.

What we don’t:

Noise level

55dB is a bit for this dishwasher. Do not get it wrong, 55dB is not even as loud as the conversations you hold with friends.

Material type

Plastic is the material used here, perhaps, to reduce the weight.

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How to clean stainless steel in the dishwasher?

Also regarding the question “is stainless steel good for dishwasher wash”, you need to be precautious dishwashing your stainless steel, so follow the steps below:

1. Check if the stainless steel is marked dishwasher safe

The stamp could be located at the bottom or handle of your stainless steel cookware or flatware.

If you cannot confirm whether the utensil is dishwasher safe, refer to the original packaging or the product manufacturer’s website.

2. Scrape off food remains

Pre-rinsing is not recommended by dishwasher, stainless steel utensil, and cleaning agent manufacturers. Finally, this is something they both agree on in because it does not point fingers at them.

Moreover, pre-rinsing increases water consumption. Instead of pre-rinsing, simply scrub the food. Pre-rinsing could sometimes make your dishwasher think your stainless steels are already too clean for a wash.

3. Load your stainless steels in the dishwasher

Check the product manual to know how to load dishes properly. For pots and pans, for example, you may have to load them on their sides on the bottom rack.

You may have to load cookware with the mess side facing down on the bottom rack. For stainless steel water bottles, Finish, a widely recommended dishwasher detergent manufacturer, recommends placing them upside down with lids off in the dishwasher.

4. Use a powerful detergent

Use an action-pac detergent in your dishwasher when washing stainless steels. The detergent should have special enzymes that eliminate food even without pre-rinsing.

Do not buy a detergent with harsh components. Otherwise, you would be damaging the non-stick linings in your utensils.

Read also: The washing machine we discovered for making white clothes white again

Finally, select a wash program suitable for your current needs. Remember to use the dry function, such as heated dry, sparingly to conserve energy.