The best way to load a dishwasher

Things Cooks Know

STRATEGIES, TECHNIQUES, AND TIPS FOR LOADING A DISHWASHE R — FROM THE REAL SIMPL E TEST KITCHEN TO YOUR S

By G race E lk u s

HowtoLoad aDishwasher

TO PRA CK Best for drinking glasses, mugs, and bowls, plus anything glass or plastic, which could break or warp on the bottom rack (where heat is higher).

DON’T REST ITEMS OVER THE TINES . Use them as dividers to save space and prevent breakage. Place small bowls between tines, tilted downward toward the water spray.

LARGE UTENSIL S, such as whisks and ladles, can be laid in the top rack.

BOTTOMRACK Best for larger items, such as dinner plates, casserole dishes, cookie sheets, serving platters, and pots and pans.

COOKIE SHEETS AND PLATTERS should be placed toward the back or along the sides of the dishwasher so they don’t block the water spray.

DINNER PLATES should face inward toward the spray. Load plates together by size.

S ILVERWAREBA S KET Group like silverware together to save sorting time when you unload. Keep some forks and spoons pointing up and some pointing down to prevent nesting. Always load knives with handles up for safety.

OU REXPERT S

JILL A. NOTINI, VI C E PRE S IDENT OF CO MM U NI C ATI O N S AN D MARKETIN G AT TH E A SSOC IATI O N O F H O M E APPLIAN C E MANUFACTURER S

DONNA SMALLIN KUPER, C ERTIFIED H OUS EC LEANIN G TEC HNI C IAN AND AUTH O R OF CLEANING PLAIN & SIMPLE

5 Thingsto Never Put in the Dishwasher

WOODEN CUTTING BOARDS: Can warp and crack. Wash with hot, soapy water and wipe dry.

CAST-IRON COOKWARE: Can rust. Scrub with soapy water, wipe dry, then lightly coat with cooking oil and heat on stove until totally dry.

HARD-ANODIZED ALUMINUM COOKWARE: Can discolor. Scrub with hot, soapy water (avoid harsh detergents) using a nonabrasive sponge.

COPPER OR BRONZE COOKWARE: Can dent. Smear a thin layer of ketchup over tarnished surface, let sit for five minutes, then rinse.

SHARP KNIVES: Can dull. Hand-wash with blade facing down; wipe dry.

Do I Need to Prerinse?

Clean dishes signal a dishwasher to shorten its cycle, reducing performance. In lieu of rinsing, simply scrape away large pieces of food (particularly spinach, egg, yogurt, and pasta), then place in the dishwasher and let the machine do the work.

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