Don’t make this common mistake (stock) (Image: Getty)
It’s a common mistake to make when cleaning up in the kitchen, but it’s easy to prevent.
Which? claims you could be slowly destroying your kitchen knives by putting them in the dishwasher.
Rather than allowing them to slam against other cutlery in the dishwasher, you should instead wash them by hand with warm, soapy water.
However, this alone isn’t enough to stop them from spoiling, as you also need to dry them with a soft cloth as soon as they’ve been washed to prevent rusting.
In a TikTok video, Which? said: « Step away from the dishwasher. It might be convenient, but it is a disaster zone for sharp blades.
« The high heat can warp handles, while water pressure knocks the blade against other cutlery. This causes tiny chips that dull the edge instantly. »
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@whichuk Sick and tired of cooking with blunt kitchen knives? Here are our three golden rules to ensure they stay sharp longer: 1️⃣ Stop using glass chopping boards, which blunt blades quickly. 2️⃣ Handwash your knives in soapy water and dry them IMMEDIATELY! 3️⃣ Never clean in a dishwasher, as the heat can dull the blade and crack wooden handles. #how #knives #cooking #kitchen #knife ♬ original sound – Which?
Seconding this, a statement on Villeroy & Boch reads: « As practical as a dishwasher is, it can be harmful to kitchen knives. Over time, repeated dishwasher use can cause knives to become blunt.
« In the worst-case scenario, they may even rust and become unusable. This is because both the handles and blades are affected.
« It’s extremely frustrating when the beautiful wooden handle of your Villeroy & Boch steak knife suddenly cracks and splinters. »
Ir adds: « But what causes this? Harsh detergents and salts, combined with high temperatures in the dishwasher, end up making the edge porous and blunt, and therefore more susceptible to rust.
« The moisture also causes wooden handles to swell and become brittle. Water and a mild washing-up liquid are therefore a better choice for washing certain knives. »
While some social media users agree with this advice, others claim to have been cleaning their knives in the dishwasher for years without issue.
One Reddit user said: « My knives have been in the dishwasher for 30 years. No issues, but they are cheaper. »
Another added: « When it takes one minute to clean, rinse, and dry a knife by hand, why would you take the risk of damaging it in a dishwasher?
« Maybe if it’s completely waterproof (a stainless steel blade with a synthetic handle), and put in the dishwasher without anything near it that might bang against it, but still, it takes one minute to do the same by hand. »
A third user said: « I put my bread knife and paring knives (cheap ones) in the dishwasher all the time. Proper knives (and my peeler) never go in.
« It just seems like all risk for limited gains to put the nice stuff in there. I also don’t want to lock up my main knives for a few hours. »
