Knives in the dishwasher

[stevea]

My wife and I agree about most things. But this is one area in which we vehemently disagree. I think that knives (those that are dishwasher safe) should go into the dishwasher pointy-side down. I think this for two reasons:

1. When I go to put more silverware in the dishwasher, and it's dark, and the knives are pointy side down, I don't accidentally stab myself with all those sharp edges.

2. I think it's more sanitary to have knives (and all silverware) oriented so their handles are up. That way, when you remove them to put them away, you're touching the handles, not the part of the silverware that touches the food.

My wife has one reason for saying that knives (and all silverware) should be oriented pointy side up. She says that in the dishwasher, water (and dirt) flow generally downward. Therefore, with knives pointy side up, the dirt is flowing away from the eating surfaces.

Who's right? Or are we both nuts?

[PaoPao]

When we moved into our place it had a Miele Dishwasher. It has a great idea for silverware that you place it on a 3rd special rack at the very top, all of it laying horizontally. Solves the issues you both raise.

p.s. - ya, your both nuts

[zilla369]

Therefore, with knives pointy side up, the dirt is flowing away from the eating surfaces.

Who's right?  Or are we both nuts?

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Hopefully, even with the pointy side down, the dirt is STILL flowing away from the eating surfaces...unless your cutlery basket has a solid bottom?

Pointy side down, man. Hopefully, though, this is only steak knives and butter knives. NO PREP CUTLERY IN THE DISHWASHER - even if it's advertized as "dishwasher safe".

[chefpeon]

There are more reasons to have the knives pointed down than pointed up, that's for sure.

And safety is the main reason.

When you think about the cycles in a dishwasher and the high water heat involved, whether

the knives are pointed up or down doesn't make a bit o'difference....they're equally clean.

Besides the silverware basket isn't the lowest point in the machine, it's not like the basket

is anywhere near sitting in dirty water.

I'm with you.....pointy side down!

[Keba]

When I got my new dishwasher (GE) I acually looked in the manual (not about this issue) and seem to remember that forks and spoons should face up and knives should have the pointy side down for obvious reasons.

Keba

[ellencho]

I remember reading an issue of MArtha Stewart a while back, and they recommended loading your silverware both pointy tips up and down. The reasoning behind this was so that there was less "nesting" of utensils so everything would be washed evenly.

And if you're worried about contaminating the tines or head of your utensils washing your hands beforehand would solve that problem wouldn't it?

[Jaymes]

2. I think it's more sanitary to have knives (and all silverware) oriented so their handles are up. That way, when you remove them to put them away, you're touching the handles, not the part of the silverware that touches the food.

Ellen's right. Wash your hands before you unload the dishwasher.

Most utensils should be pointed up, just as others have said, to decrease the propensity for nestings.

Sharp knives should be pointed down, just as others have said, to decrease the propensity for stabbings.

And also as others have said, when the water is whirling around at high temperatures, it makes no difference up or down in so far as the cleaning goes.

[Genny]

You put knives in the dishwasher???? My Henkels (I know, too lazy to go check spelling) never go in the dishwasher: prep or steak knives.

[snacky_cat]

I have been a blades-down disciple since the day I was told the most likely apocryphal tale of a man who -whil attending a wake at someone's home - tripped over an open dishwasher door, fell onto the blades-up knives, and expired right there on top of the Jet-Dry slot.

[cstuart]

I have been a blades-down disciple since the day I was told the most likely apocryphal tale of a man who -whil attending a wake at someone's home - tripped over an open dishwasher door, fell onto the blades-up knives, and expired right there on top of the Jet-Dry slot.

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personally, i don't ever load any knives into the dishwasher but would probably put them point down after reading this.

[afn33282]

You put knives in the dishwasher???? My Henkels (I know, too lazy to go check spelling) never go in the dishwasher: prep or steak knives.

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I have heard this for years; my parents have been putting their Henkels in the dw for about 15 years though, and they have broken in beautifully..... funny, eh? What damage is the dw supposed to do?

[jsolomon]

There is a good amount of chlorine in the detergent used in most dishwashers. That is generally bad for any kind of steel.

[elfin]

I have been told to forego putting my Henkels in the dishwasher not because of the steel corrosion issue but rather the dry detergent whirling away until dissolved (microabrasion) somehow dulls the knife edge. Someone used the example of dishwashers 'etching' aka scratching fine crystal. My knives are 16 years old and I see no corrosion. But they have ben put in the dishwasher for only the last couple of years.

[Mnehrling]

I am another one who would never think of putting my good knives in the DW, especially my collection of Japanese knives. Some of these have bamboo handles (Suisin & Honyaki) and I would hate to see what a DW would do to it's beauty.

[Jaymes]

...and expired right there on top of the Jet-Dry slot.

An ignominious end for sure.

[phaelon56]

Butter knives and all other dull ended knives go in with point up, steak knives with point down and of course the prep knives all washed by hand. At least in my house.

[sandra]

I have been told to forego putting my Henkels in the dishwasher not because of the steel corrosion issue but rather the dry detergent whirling away until dissolved (microabrasion) somehow dulls the knife edge.  Someone used the example of dishwashers 'etching'  aka scratching fine crystal.  My knives are 16 years old and I see no corrosion.  But they have ben put in the dishwasher for only the last couple of years.

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What if you're using gel/liquid detergent?

[jsolomon]

It's not "microabrasion". Dish detergent is just that, detergent. It doesn't matter whether it's gel, liquid, or powder. If it's got some sort of chlorination agent in it, your knives will suffer.

It's the chlorine and other oxidizers that do the disinfection that also damage knives (at least the metal).

[julski]

I have been putting my Henckels Five Star knives in the dishwasher for fifteen years, and they are fine. BUT--the five stars don't have rivets, I put them on the top rack, and I never use the high-heat or "pots" settings.

Julie

[Smithy]

I think some of the wear and etching may be related to the water source. My parents' glassware was always etched from their dishwasher, and they kept their sharp knives out on the assumption that the knives would be etched as well. They were on well water, and despite household water filters there was a lot of sediment. City water treatment systems probably get more of the sediments out - but then there's chlorine in the water in addition to whatever the detergent adds.

My good knives stay out of the dishwasher, and I wash them by hand. My husband would rather wreck a perfectly good Chicago Cutlery butcher's knife in the dishwasher, and replace it later, than handwash it, so he uses the older stuff that he brought to the marriage. Keeps everyone happy. I turn the points down when he isn't looking.

[SobaAddict70]

After you have accidentally stabbed yourself in the palm due to misplacement of a knife in the dishwasher (as I have ), it won't take too much convincing to place knives point down.

Soba

[Smithy]

After you have accidentally stabbed yourself in the palm due to misplacement of a knife in the dishwasher (as I have  ), it won't take too much convincing to place knives point down.

Soba

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What's odd about our arrangement is that my husband is forever going on about being a klutz - to the point that we'd have Melmac dishes if I'd consent - yet he always puts the knives point up. I'm surprised that he hadn't stabbed himself out of that habit before I came along to start putting the points down.

[KatieLoeb]

I learned my lesson about this after I took a nice sized divit out of a fingernail with the up-side of a knife in the dishwasher. It was exquisitely painful and took months to grow out to normalcy. Never again.

[AzRaeL]

Knives in the dishwasher Never.

[jgarner53]

Our prep knives never go in the dishwasher (except when my brother-in-law, trying to be helpful, by doing the dishes, put one in by mistake; fortunately, I rescued it in time). But butter knives, sure. My husband and I have a system whereby I usually put in all my silverware business end down, and he puts his in business end up. I think we read the same info when we got our dishwasher about mixing things up and down to reduce nesting.

I'd probably be inclined to wash steak knives (if we had any) by hand for that reason - wouldn't want to impale myself on the pointy end of a steak knife!