Baking sheets: A trip through the dishwasher will tarnish the bare aluminum of our baking sheet picks, but it won’t ruin your bakeware. Although Nordic Ware, the maker of our favorite baking sheet, advises against using the dishwasher, it says on its website that the tarnish “is merely cosmetic and will not affect baking properties or safety of the pan.”
Enameled cast-iron Dutch ovens: Most enameled cast-iron Dutch ovens are dishwasher-safe, but manufacturers warn that the dishwasher can wear down the enamel finish. Our kitchen experts prefer hand-washing Dutch ovens, anyway—not only to prolong their lifespan but to better clean out the nooks and crannies, too.
Pots and pans: Though many manufacturers say their stainless steel cookware is dishwasher-safe, our kitchen writers recommend you wash them by hand. The harsh chemicals in some detergents can cause damage to the pans (particularly the aluminum in tri-ply cookware). The same goes for nonstick cookware: Heat and harsh detergents could potentially break down the nonstick coating.
Some immersion blender attachments: Whether you’re using your immersion blender to make your morning smoothie or to whip together a creamy soup, chances are you’ll be able to toss the detachable blending wands in the dishwasher. Most of their additional (non-electronic) attachments are dishwasher-friendly, too, just make sure to check your item’s user guide. All parts on the Braun MultiQuick 5 and 7 hand blenders, except for the chopper lid, are dishwasher-safe, too.
Graters: Both graters we recommend are top-rack dishwasher-safe, but the experts we spoke to told us that hand-washing these tools helps keep the edges sharper for longer.
Air fryer baskets: Although some air fryers have baskets that are marketed as dishwasher-safe, you’re better off hand-washing the basket after every use. It helps prolong the lifespan of your machine and prevent damage to the nonstick coating.
Food processor bowls: Though the bowls of all our food processor picks are technically dishwasher-safe, we recommend hand-washing to avoid warping the plastic.
Breast pumps: Each of our recommended breast pumps comes apart for deep cleaning, and many of those parts are dishwasher-safe on the top rack. But a lactation expert we consulted for our guide warned that using a dishwasher shortens the life of the parts, so we’ve found hand-washing breast pump parts with warm soapy water works best.
Some baby bottles: All the picks in our guide to the best baby bottles are dishwasher-safe. If you do need to wash your bottles by hand, we recommend using the OXO Tot Bottle Brush with Stand.
This article was edited by Hannah Rimm and Megan Beauchamp.
