As convenient as dishwashers are, there are some kitchen items that you should not load onto them. Delicate glassware, for instance. Fragile items can break by the sheer force of the water bursts, while other items can corrode because of the chemicals used in the detergent.
Some kitchenware is made of stainless steel and I’m sure you’d love to put them in the dishwasher, but is the material dishwasher-friendly?
You can put stainless steel items in the dishwasher but avoid using strong chemicals, placing stainless steel items next to silver-plated cutlery in the dishwasher, and make sure to rinse acidic food off its surface to prevent corrosion or damage. You can put grade 200, 304, 316, and 430 steel in the dishwasher.
However, there are some precautions that you should consider while loading stainless steel items.
You will need to understand more about stainless steel and its behavior in the dishwasher to make sure you do it right. Thankfully, this article will guide you through everything you need to know about putting stainless steel in the dishwasher.
Can All Types of Stainless Steel Go in the Dishwasher?
Stainless steel is an alloy of chromium and iron. It comes in varying types that make different kitchenware.
Most homeowners are very conscious of putting stainless steel in the dishwasher because they don’t know whether it is dishwasher-friendly or not.
Stainless steel is highly versatile, and the different types rely on significant elements in the alloy and other grading systems.
The information below shows types of stainless steel and their suitability in the dishwasher.
1. Austenitic Stainless Steel
Austenitic steel is the type of steel that is non-magnetic and contains high levels of chromium and nickel but low carbon levels.
The steel consists of 18% chromium and 8% nickel (18/8 stainless steel).
Austenitic steels have good formability, weldability, as well as high-grade toughness. The following are types of stainless steel that are under the austenitic category.
- Stainless Steel 200 Grade: They are also known as chrome-manganese stainless steels because they have low nickel content (8%). These types of steel are corrosion-resistant, tough, and cheap.
The ability of Stainless steel 200 grade to be non-corrosive makes it safe for dishwasher cleaning. The chromium layer prevents kitchen items’ corrosion from the detergents in the dishwasher.
This type of steel makes the best kitchenware, including lunchboxes and dinner plates.
- Stainless Steel 304 Grade: The stainless steel 304 Grade has 16 to 24% chromium and 8% nickel. It also consists of small amounts of carbon, silicon, and manganese.
It also has excellent corrosion resistance and has a high value.
Due to the high percentage of chromium present, 304 grade is safe in the dishwasher. The chromium compound acts as a protection layer against corrosion from oxidizing compounds.
304 Grade is highly durable and makes a wide range of kitchen items, including pots and pans, straws, travel mugs, and water bottles.
- Stainless Steel 316 Grade: This grade is commonly known as the 18/10 since it contains 18% chromium and 10% nickel.
It also has between 2-3% molybdenum, which increases corrosion resistance and strength at high temperatures.
The 316 grade performs well in a dishwasher because it has superior corrosion resistance. The stainless steel 316-grade kitchen items include cookware, containers, pots and pans, lunchboxes, and utensils.
2. Ferritic Stainless Steel
Ferritic stainless steels have high chromium (11-17%), low carbon content, and very little nickel. They are magnetic and are not as strong due to the low carbon content.
Under the Ferritic category, there is stainless steel grade 430.
- Stainless Steel Grade 430: Grade 430 consists of 17% chromium and 0% nickel content. It has fair corrosion resistance.
Therefore, you can put it in a dishwasher, it can withstand cleaners and mild detergents. The use of stainless steel grade 430 can be seen in kitchen utensils, cutlery, induction pots, and pans.
3. Martensitic Stainless Steel
Although Martensitic stainless steel is not considered a food-grade type, it is used to make some kitchen items. It’s strong because it contains a higher carbon concentration.
The corrosion resistance of martensitic stainless still is lower than that of other types. Therefore, they are not dishwasher safe.
They can easily corrode from detergents and other forms of cleaners. This type of stainless steel makes knives and cutlery.
Apart from using the dishwasher to clean stainless steel kitchenware, you can opt to clean manually in the sink with hot water and soap.
How to Wash Stainless Steel in the Dishwasher
While stainless steel is considered safe in the dishwasher, there are some precautions that you should put in place to avoid potential damage.
First, ensure that your kitchenware is dishwasher safe by checking the manufacturer’s label on the bottom.
Next, be sure to use a dishwasher detergent specifically for stainless steel. The detergent should contain little or no harmful chemicals at all.
If your cookware has food remains, rinse them off before putting them in the dishwasher. Acidic foodstuff erodes stainless steel over time.
Lastly, never put stainless steel and silver-plated cutlery together in a dishwasher. The reaction between the detergent and the two materials can ruin either the kitchenware or the dishwasher.
After putting all the precautions in place, follow these steps to guide you on how to clean stainless steel in the dishwasher.
- Stack your stainless steel kitchenware far enough from other materials. This can be done in the uppermost rack to ensure effective cleaning.
- Add the detergent.
- Set your unit on a regular cycle. If your dishwasher does not have the standard cycle settings, you can use the longer cycle to clean your stainless steel kitchenware.
For stainless steel bottles, follow these steps.
- Ensure that your bottle is dishwasher-safe.
- Place the bottle upside down inside the dishwasher. Make sure the lid is off.
- Any detachable parts like the lid and straws should be separate.
- Add a detergent.
- Set the regular cycle to clean your bottle.
When done with the cleaning, dry off all your steel items immediately. You can opt to use stainless steel polish for a brighter look.
What Can Go Wrong with Stainless Steel in the Dishwasher?
While most people say it is okay to put stainless steel in the dishwasher, some things might go wrong.
The fear is that your kitchenware can get possible corrosion due to excessive humidity, harsh detergents, and acidic foods.
Corrosion and dullness of stainless steel are not sudden but happen over time.
Does Stainless Steel Rust in the Dishwasher?
Stainless steel can rust in the dishwasher. Rusting can be due to:
- Harsh chemicals present in detergents
- Salts
- Grease
- Moisture
- Heat for long periods
Detergents with a mixture of salts and alkaline highly accelerate oxidation and pitting, causing rust in the steel items.
The items are from different types of stainless steel, and therefore, corrosion resistance is not the same.
To prevent rusting in the dishwasher;
- Do not use abrasive cleaning products
- Soak cutlery for shorter periods
- Do not pour detergents directly on stainless steel items.
Does Stainless Steel Discolor in the Dishwasher?
If you rely on your dishwasher to clean your stainless steel daily, the kitchenware will be prone to discoloration.
Discoloring occurs due to some unfavorable conditions in your unit.
- Food remains: Stainless steel discolors after regular contact with alkalis foods.
- High drying temperature: Excess heat strips the surface of stainless steel.
- Harsh detergents: Detergents with harsh chemicals cause discoloration of stainless steel.
- Hard water: Hard water has a high concentration of calcium and magnesium, which create a discoloring film in steel.
What’s Stainless Steel?
Stainless steel is a chromium and iron alloy. It also contains other alloying elements in small contents.
The minimum chromium content of steel is 10.5%, making it corrosion resistant.
Chromium provides the steel with a passive layer on its surface through the reaction of chromium and oxygen to form chromium oxide.
If the surface gets scratched, it naturally regenerates itself.
Stainless steel is also environmentally neutral because its elements do not leach compounds that alter their composition. It has a recovery rate of close to 100%, making it recyclable.
With different categories of stainless steel, there is a guarantee that the right type of steel is used for the right type of item to get the most out of it.
Below are features that make stainless steel suitable for kitchenware.
- Completely recyclable
- Strong
- Attractive appearance
- Corrosion-resistant
- Environmentally inert
- Easy to clean
What Metals Shouldn’t You Put in a Dishwasher?
- Cast iron
- Aluminum
- Copper
- Carbon
- Enameled cast iron
Apart from stainless steel, all the other metals are not safe for washing in the dishwasher. They easily incur damages or rapidly rust.
The dishwasher is the kitchen workhorse. The efficiency of these units is excellent, but you ought to be careful what you load onto them. You might damage your dishwasher.