Is it possible to wash a cast iron skillet in the dishwasher?

Before hopelessly ruining expensive cookware, think carefully and figure out how to wash it properly. First, you can read the instructions that may have come with the pan; second, similar information may be contained in the dishwasher's user manual. And finally, you can find information online, which you've already done. We'll answer your question: is cast iron pan dishwasher safe?

Should you wash cast iron in the dishwasher?

Many housewives own heavy cast-iron skillets; they can last for decades with proper care. But with the advent of dishwashers, some have wondered whether they can be washed in the dishwasher. In fact, cast iron is a fairly brittle steel with special properties, which we won't go into. The main thing to know is that you cannot wash cast iron pans in the dishwasher.

The surface of a cast iron skillet is uneven, leading some to call this material porous. In fact, the structure of this metal is quite dense and non-porous; if it were, it would absorb water like a sponge. Cast iron, of course, doesn't absorb water, but it does absorb oil. More precisely, it appears to absorb it. The oil simply fills the invisible crevices and unevenness, and when exposed to oxygen, it polymerizes, forming a surface film, making the skillet smoother and more even.

New cast iron pans have a varnish coating that makes them shiny, but over time this varnish wears off and wears off.

If this film is removed with chemicals, the pan will become rough, and food cooked in it will stick to it and become impossible to scrape off. Furthermore, the metal will begin to rust rapidly due to exposure to air, which contains nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon. In short, the film on the surface of a cast iron pan protects it from environmental influences.

How to wash cast iron cookware properly?

If the pan isn't dishwasher-safe, it should be washed by hand, but only properly. Even hand washing can damage cast iron. Many people mistakenly believe that this metal is "easy to clean," but cast iron requires just as much care as Teflon.

Always wash a cast iron skillet with hot water. However, do not:

• use cleaning powders;
• detergents with a high alkali content;
• metal brushes.

Important! When cooking in a cast iron skillet, always use oil.

If food is still burnt on, you can clean it off using the following method. Fill the pan with water, add a handful of salt and baking soda, and then boil for 30 minutes. This will remove all the burnt residue. If the burnt residue is minor, simply fill the pan with water and leave it overnight. Afterward, you can wash it with a mild detergent.

After washing, always wipe cast iron items with a dry cloth and lightly wipe with oil to restore the protective film. Moreover, it is necessary to rub not only the inner but also the outer surface.

You can save a cast iron skillet after it's been in the dishwasher and you've noticed the first signs of rust by calcining it with salt. To do this:

1. Wash the item in warm water to remove rust.
2. Wipe the pan dry.
3. Rub butter on the inside surface.
4. Sprinkle with table salt.
5. Heat until a slight aroma appears.
6. Let the salt cool.
7. Pour in the salt.
8. Wipe with a cloth soaked in oil.

Which pans are machine washable?

So, cast iron and Teflon pans can't be washed in the dishwasher. The question arises: which ones can? Generally speaking, those that can withstand high temperatures and chemicals. These pans include:

• those covered with stone are very durable and easy to maintain;
• made of stainless steel;
• with durable enamel and ceramic coating;
• with titanium coating;
• aluminumfrying pans with an expensive coating to prevent darkening.

If the manufacturer of your dishes allows you to machine wash your items, remember the following machine wash rules:

1. Add detergent according to the dosage, otherwise excess may end up in your food;
2. Place the pan in the basket with the work surface facing down;
3. You shouldn't wash expensive pans in the dishwasher too often; food generally doesn't stick to them, and washing them by hand isn't difficult.

That's it, we hope you now understand which pans are dishwasher safe. Cast iron is best washed by hand, but you can purchase a separate set for the dishwasher. Good luck!

   

4 reader comments

1. May 20, 2021 at 4:36 PM

   Irina:

   Cast iron is not steel. The advisers are illiterate.
   You can't wash a frying pan in the dishwasher because of the high temperature? Ridiculous. The maximum temperature in a dishwasher is 70 degrees, but in a frying pan, it's over 200 degrees.

   Answer
2. August 10, 2021 at 6:18 AM

   Natalia:

   Yeah, I did something stupid, washing it. After washing, the whole pan turned rusty. Now I just have to throw it away. What a shame.

   Answer
3. May 23, 2022 at 7:06 PM

   Alexander:

   Cast iron is a high-carbon steel.

   Answer
4. November 1, 2023 at 1:40 PM

   Oleg:

   You can wash it, but only to remove the age-old carbon deposits and associated deposits. Yes, it will become covered in rust. But this is a light coating. Then we look at a bunch of instructions on how to clean it. If there's rust on the pan, especially if it's uniform, then you're in luck. This means the pan is free of any nastiness—clean cast iron. Then you can use Pepsi, Coke, etc. There are tons of methods online for coating the pan with a fresh layer of polymerized oil.

   Answer