To get a real-world sense of how each machine cleans and functions, we replicate the daily dish load of a five-person household. This includes plates (five dinner, five salad), bowls (five cereal, two soup), five sets of flatware, five drinking glasses, three wine glasses, three coffee mugs, and two ramekins. We throw in chopsticks, a ladle, a mesh strainer spoon, and an ice cream scoop, and we rotate through a selection of large pots, mixing bowls, dishwasher-safe pans, pitchers, and casserole dishes. We also add plastic sippy cups, tumblers, and takeout containers to the top rack (for gauging how well a dishwasher dries plastic items).
