Are Wooden Bowls Dishwasher-Safe? (9 Ways to Extend Lifespan)

Wooden bowls can be a beautiful addition to your kitchen because of their rustic charm.

However, caring for these utensils is quite different from other types of cookware.

So, before you throw them in the dishwasher with the rest of your kitchen utensils, you may want to check if they are dishwasher-safe.

Can You Wash Wooden Bowls in The Dishwasher?

Unless the manufacturer explicitly permits it, hand-wash a wooden bowl rather than putting it in the dishwasher. Heat, prolonged wetting and detergents can affect the wood, joints and finish. The exact care requirements depend on how the bowl is made.

For example, Vermont Bowl recommends hand washing its woodenware with mild soap, drying thoroughly and avoiding soaking or the dishwasher. Check your own bowl’s instructions.

9 Practical Ways to Extend the Lifespan of Wooden Bowls

Here is how you can take better care of your wooden bowls and extend their life for much longer.

1. Check the Dishwasher Instructions

A dishwasher can expose a wooden bowl to more heat and water than its finish or joints tolerate. Wood may swell, warp or crack, but this is not a matter of its fibers universally bursting.

Do not assume a bowl is dishwasher-safe because it survived one cycle. Follow the maker’s rating, including for composite or glued products. Dishwasher detergents do not all have the same chlorine content.

2. Maintain the Finish as Directed

Some wooden bowls benefit from occasional oiling; others have finishes that need different care. Use only the food-contact-safe oil or maintenance product recommended for that bowl.

Apply it to a clean, dry surface as directed, including any absorption time and removal of excess oil. Do not use an arbitrary edible oil or a fixed schedule for every finish.

Oiling is not the same process as heat-seasoning bare cast iron. It does not make wood waterproof or replace cleaning.

3. Avoid Heating Your Wooden Bowl

Ordinary wooden serving bowls are for uses such as serving snacks, tossing salads or displaying food. Do not use them on a stove, in an oven or in a microwave unless the maker specifically permits that use.

Heat can damage wood, adhesives or finishes, and wood can burn. Choose a container approved for the cooking method instead.

There are other heat-proof bowls that you can use for this purpose.

4. Use Wooden Bowls Regularly

You can use a wooden bowl for everyday meals when it is designed for that purpose. Inspect it while washing and drying rather than saving all maintenance for special occasions.

Keep it away from standing water and dry it after use. Regular use does not itself guarantee a particular lifespan.

5. Check Damage Before Attempting Repairs

Wooden bowls can be scratched by sharp utensils, dented or damaged by falls. Check the condition of the wood, joints and finish before using a damaged bowl for food.

Do not automatically scrub it with steel wool or sand it. Abrading a finished bowl can remove its protective finish or create a repair that needs a compatible food-contact finish.

Ask the maker whether a particular scratch can be repaired and how. Oil alone does not make every damaged bowl as good as new.

6. Clean the Bowl Immediately After Contact with Smelly Ingredients

Wash promptly after serving food so residues and odors do not linger. Use the mild soap and water recommended for the bowl, rinse and dry it.

Cleaning and sanitizing are different steps. Do not rely on vinegar, lemon or salt as a verified sanitizer after contact with raw meat.

A food-contact sanitizing method must be compatible with the bowl’s wood and finish, as well as used according to its label. If you cannot establish a suitable method, use a different washable container for raw meat.

7. Use a Gentle Cleaning Agent

Use the mild detergent and cleaning tools permitted by the manufacturer. Avoid improvised harsh cleaners or abrasive scrubbing that could damage the finish.

Rinse off the detergent, towel dry with a clean cloth and allow the bowl to dry fully before putting it away. Apply a maintenance oil only when its instructions call for it.

8. Never Soak a Wooden Bowl

Avoid leaving a wooden bowl in a sink or soaking it for a deep clean unless its maker specifically allows it. Long exposure to water can affect the wood and finish.

For stubborn residue or an odor, ask the maker for a compatible cleaning method. A deodorizing treatment is not proof of sanitization, and vinegar is not a universal disinfectant for a food-contact surface.

After washing, dry the bowl promptly and store it in a dry place.

Interesting Further Reading: 7 Bowls that Keep the Food Hot | Can Stainless Steel Bowls Rust?

9. Routinely Maintain the Wooden Bowls

Check for roughness, cracks, loose joints or a deteriorating finish as part of regular care. Follow the manufacturer’s advice about whether the bowl can continue to be used for food.

Use only a recommended food-contact-safe oil or finish. The fact that an oil is edible does not make it suitable for every wooden bowl, and an exterior color touch-up must also be appropriate for the intended use.

Keep maintenance separate from washing: adding more oil does not remove food residue or sanitize the surface.