You probably thought you were done with handwashing when you bought a dishwasher. Can everything go into the dishwasher, though? Are knives dishwasher-safe?
Knives aren’t dishwasher-safe. A dishwasher’s intense heat, moisture, and detergent create an abrasive environment that can harm the knives. Even the dishwasher’s rattling can damage the edges of the knives. However, with some caution, a few brand knives can endure the harsh dishwashing conditions.
In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look into the effects of dishwashers on knives, so be sure to stick around.
3 Main Reasons Why Knives Aren’t Dishwasher-Safe
Four things happen during a dishwashing cycle: intense heat, humidity, abrasive detergent, and movement.
This combination creates a hostile environment for the knives inside the dishwasher.
Given below are the three main reasons why knives aren’t dishwasher-safe.
1. Intense Heat And Humidity
The extremely high temperature and moisture in a dishwashing cycle can seriously damage knives.
Both the blade and the handle can sustain damage.
This is especially true for carbon steel blades, which are more likely to rust, and wooden handles, which can splinter and break.
Over time, even the most durable knives can become blunt in these unfavorable conditions.
2. Abrasive Chemicals
Using corrosive cleaning products can discolor and dull the knife.
The detergent’s chemicals can react with the cutting edge steel, causing it to lose its sharpness.
In addition, if you use too much detergent, it can stain the knife’s blade.
If you use a sufficient amount of mild detergent and your knives are still stained, we recommend changing the detergent.
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3. Physical Impact
No one likes to be jostled around, and neither do our knives.
The water jets can knock the knives into other cutlery inside the dishwasher.
It’s even worse for your knives if the machine is the kind that rattles.
For however long the dishwashing cycle lasts, a knife’s edge will continue bumping into other objects, causing it to chip or blunt.
Some blades may even snap in half.
That’s why you should keep the knives away from other metal objects.
You should also place them in an area where they won’t move much, if at all.
How To Handwash a Knife?
After you’re done with your knife, the first thing you should always do is rinse off any food scraps with warm water, a tiny bit of mild dish soap, and a soft sponge.
You don’t want to have to scrape them off later, scratching the blade.
You should also forgo soaking because it can cause rust.
Once you’ve rinsed off the soap, wipe the knife dry with a cotton towel.
Then, put it back into its box or storage container.
Keep in mind that leaving your knife to air dry can increase the chances of rusting.
It can also tarnish or stain the blade, regardless of its material.
What Brand Knives Are Dishwasher-Safe?
There are numerous knife brands on the market.
Some brands make dishwasher-safe knives, while others don’t.
So let’s see which of these well-known knife brands are dishwasher-safe.
Cutco Knives
Cutco knives are dishwasher-safe, so you can get away with dishwashing a Cutco knife every now and then.
However, Cutco recommends carefully handwashing its knives in hot water and mild dishwashing liquid.
You should also dry them after washing to prevent any staining.
So, you should handwash your Cutco knife if you use it regularly.
Wusthof Knives
Not all Wusthof knives are dishwasher-safe, especially the ones with wooden handles.
Wusthof knives are preferably washed by hand using mild liquid dishwashing detergent and warm water.
Then, they should be dried with a soft cloth to remove any mineral content accumulation.
Cuisinart Knives
While not all Cuisinart knives are dishwasher-safe, Cuisinart does offer an extensive variety of dishwasher-safe knife sets.
There are also Cuisinart ceramic coated knives that are dishwasher-safe.
Still, as with any other knife, washing Cuisinart knives in a dishwasher should be done infrequently.
Putting knives in the dishwasher on a regular basis can make them more prone to corrosion and rusting.
Alternatively, you can wash Cuisinart knives in warm water with mild dish soap and thoroughly dried.
Henckel Knives
Henckel is a respected knife brand due to its top-quality knives, so it comes as no surprise that one of its knives is dishwasher-safe.
The Henckels Classic 8-inch Professional Chef Knife is made from German stainless steel.
This type of stainless steel has lower carbon content, making the knife more durable and allowing it to hold a sharp edge longer.
That said, Henckel recommends that the knife be placed separately in the dishwasher to avoid contact with other utensils and that the temperature doesn’t exceed 130°F.
Farberware Knives
Farberware knives are dishwasher-safe due to their laminate coating and plastic handles.
However, if you wash these knives in the dishwasher on a regular basis, the blade may dull sooner than it should.
That’s why, for everyday use, you should wash a Farberware knife in mildly warm water and liquid dishwashing detergent.
To avoid staining, make sure to rinse and wipe the knife thoroughly off any water or soap.
Calphalon Knives
Calphalon knives aren’t dishwasher-safe, and the manufacturer strongly advises against dishwashing them.
Dishwashing these knives can also void their warranty.
You also shouldn’t clean them with any abrasive products or scrubbing pads since they may scratch the stainless steel’s surface.
Instead, you can wash them in warm water with a soft bristle brush and a mild liquid dishwashing detergent.
After that, you should rinse off any soap suds and thoroughly dry the knives with a soft cloth.
Do Knives Get Dull In The Dishwasher?
Knives can get dull in the dishwasher. In fact, it’s very likely that a knife gets dull from dishwashing.
Dishwashers can also degrade the knife quality.
They’re too abrasive and can cause rust as well as corrosion.
With every cycle the knife goes through, the duller it may become.
Eventually, the knife will lose its sharp edge.
Do Knives Rust In The Dishwasher?
Knives have a high chance of rusting in the dishwasher.
To begin with, the damaging chemicals, humidity, and heat can corrode the knives.
In addition, the salt, grease, and acid from the food can speed up corrosion.
Even stainless steel knives, which are highly resistant to rust, can eventually corrode due to repeated dishwashing.
Can Ceramic Knives Go In The Dishwasher?
Ceramic knives can go in the dishwasher; however, it’s recommended to hand wash ceramic knives instead of dishwashing them.
While ceramic knives don’t rust, they can dull, get chipped, crack, or break over time due to dishwashing.
On the other hand, your hands are much more gentle than a dishwasher.
Just properly wash the delicate ceramic knives as you would any other knife.
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Always Remember…
While you can get away with washing your knives in the dishwasher, it’s always best to wash them by hand—even the ones that are dishwasher-safe.
If you decide to put your knives in the dishwasher, make sure you position them to stay in place.
You should also remove and dry them immediately after dishwashing.
