A dishwasher helps to clean a lot of dishes in one go. But can you put saucepans in the dishwasher?
You can’t put most saucepans in the dishwasher. Dishwashing such saucepans can damage them. However, there’re a few exceptions to this. You can wash dishwasher-safe saucepans in the dishwasher. Check under the saucepan to know if the manufacturer of the saucepan has labeled it as dishwasher-safe.
Below we’ve provided some information that will help you to know if a saucepan can be washed using a dishwasher or not.
How Do Dishwashers Wash Kitchen Utensils?
There’s a reason why some saucepans might not be compatible with dishwashers, and it’s all because of how dishwashers work.
To put it simply, dishwashers use three things to clean your dishes: water, detergent, and heat.
For some saucepans, the cleaning detergent tends to be too strong for them to handle.
This causes them to either lose their color or suffer from stains.
For other saucepans, the heat that comes with the dishwasher’s thorough cleaning may cause the saucepans’ non-stick linings to peel off, thus greatly damaging the saucepans.
There’s also the chance of all objects inside your dishwasher rattling against each other.
This can result in scratches or even dents, depending on the saucepan’s material.
These are all the reasons why your dishwasher might not be the best choice when it comes to cleaning saucepans.
That said, before going ahead and using it to wash your saucepans, be sure to check first if it’s okay for that specific saucepan to go inside the dishwasher or not to avoid it getting damaged.
Can You Put Saucepans In The Dishwasher?
There are various types of saucepans, each made of different materials from the other.
As such, each saucepan will have a different rule when it comes to dishwashers, though most of them will agree that it’s better to avoid using dishwashers entirely.
To know whether your saucepan is dishwasher-safe or not, the first thing you need to check is the instructions provided by the manufacturer, usually written on the back of the package.
The manufacturer will provide thorough instructions on the best way to wash your saucepan to make it last as long as possible.
The instructions will usually also state whether your saucepan is dishwasher-safe or not.
If you see it mentioned as dishwasher-safe, you can go ahead and use a dishwasher without worrying.
However, if it’s not, it’s best to avoid dishwashers so that the saucepans don’t get damaged.
Even with all this information, you might still be unsure whether you should use the dishwasher or not.
For that reason, we’ve provided below some reasons why you should and shouldn’t use a dishwasher based on the saucepan’s material.
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Can You Put Copper Saucepans In The Dishwasher?
When it comes to copper saucepans, it’s better to avoid using a dishwasher to clean them.
It’s not dishwasher-safe, and ignoring this might cause your saucepan to lose its color and become dull.
You should always handwash capper saucepans using warm water and soap.
Can You Put Stellar Saucepans in the Dishwasher?
Based on the manufacturer’s instructions, Stellar saucepans are among the few saucepans that are dishwasher-safe.
However, continued use may cause some damage to the saucepan. So it’s advised to alternate between washes.
For example, instead of washing it in the dishwasher all the time, you can clean it by hand instead.
Saucepans To Avoid Cleaning With a Dishwasher
Other than copper saucepans, there are a few other saucepans that you should avoid cleaning in a dishwasher unless stated otherwise by the manufacturer.
1. Cast Iron Saucepans
You should never wash your cast iron saucepan inside a dishwasher.
All the heat, water, and detergent will cause the cast iron to lose its seasoning layer.
And before you know it, you’ll be left with a rusted saucepan that has completely lost its seasoning and non-stick quality.
2. Aluminum Saucepans
You should not clean an aluminum saucepan inside a dishwasher because it develops scratches very easily.
Not only that, it’ll lose its color, and stains will begin to appear around its surface.
As far as anodized aluminum saucepans are concerned, they’re also not dishwasher-safe despite being more durable than regular aluminum pans.
Other than them losing their non-stick qualities, if any scratch or peel appears on their surface, they’ll be affected by the chlorine contained in the washing detergent.
Once this happens, more peeling will occur, and you’ll be left with raw, exposed aluminum.
This not only makes the saucepan unusable, but it can also lead to some health issues.
3. Non-Stick Saucepans
Unless it’s explicitly stated that it’s indeed dishwasher-safe, you should keep non-stick pans far away from a dishwasher.
This is because the lining on the pan can start to peel off inside the dishwasher. Once it’s peeled, the non-stick quality of the pan will be lost.
Not only that, some of the linings might end up in your food, which can lead to various health risks due to its toxicity.
This is why you should consider washing it only by hand, even if it’s dishwasher-safe unless you’re in a hurry and don’t have another choice.
You know what they say, better be safe than sorry!
Which Saucepans Are Considered Dishwasher-Safe?
Now, which saucepans are dishwasher-safe?
You might be disappointed seeing all of the no’s mentioned above, but don’t worry.
Just like stellar saucepans, there are other pans that you can clean in the dishwasher without any worries!
However, please note that even though there are dishwasher-safe saucepans, it’s always better to wash saucepans by hand to ensure longevity.
1. Ceramic Saucepans
Ceramic saucepans are considered one of the most common dishwasher-safe options.
You’ll find most manufacturers stating this in the instructions, so you can wash them using a dishwasher without having to worry.
Interesting Further Reading: Will Enamel Pans Stick? | What Are Wok Rings? | Are Strainers Dishwasher-Safe?
2. Stainless Steel Saucepans
Depending on the brand, some stainless steel saucepans are considered dishwasher-safe while others are not.
Many people claim stainless steel saucepans to be dishwasher-safe even without the package stating so.
So then, which one is it? Can you use a dishwasher to clean stainless pans or not?
You can indeed wash stainless steel saucepans inside a dishwasher, but you will need to make sure that there aren’t any other dishes around it to avoid any scratches.
You should also not rely on the dishwasher a lot.
It’s best to handwash stainless steel pans as using a dishwasher might cause some damage in the long run.
3. Glass Saucepans
Just like glass plates, glass saucepans are almost always dishwasher-safe.
In fact, they might be the only saucepans that don’t have any downsides to cleaning them in a dishwasher.
With them also being non-porous, simply dishwashing them will bring them out squeaky clean without the need for any handwashing!
