Cook Salmon
Yes, you read that correctly. It is possible to cook salmon in your dishwasher. Here’s how: Place two salmon fillets within two 12-in. squares of tin foil. Fold the edges tightly to form an air (and water) tight seal. Lay the foil packet on the top rack of your dishwasher and run on a normal cycle. Do not use an economy or cool dry setting, as these will not achieve the correct cooking temperatures. When the cycle is complete, remove and serve.
Wash Kitchen Items
“Items like a microwave turntable, silicone trivets, sponges and scrub brushes can be cleaned in a dishwasher to address everything from food splatter to stains, if stated as dishwasher safe on the product’s packaging,” LaLonde says. Also, cloth grocery bags can be quickly cleaned in the dishwasher as well. Place a few on the top rack and run on a normal cycle. Air dry when finished, and they’ll be ready for your next shop.
Sanitize Plastic Toys and Baby Gear
The dishwasher is a convenient place to sanitize things like plastic toys, place mats, sippy cups and pacifiers. “Items made with thick plastic are usually dishwasher safe and can be placed in the top rack of the appliance alongside a load of dishes,” LaLonde says. “Always check product labels to first ensure dishwasher safety.” Do not use a heat dry setting to avoid a melted mess when washing plastic items.
Wash Hood Vent Filters
Hood vent filters are notoriously challenging to clean when cooking grease quickly builds up on the intricate screen surface, but that doesn’t make it any less important to clean regularly. But this is where your dishwasher comes in. Place your hood vent filter on the top rack and run with a load of dirty dishes. The detergent breaks down greasy residue, while the warm water and rinse cycles clean all those hard to reach spaces.
Additional Kitchen Storage
A good friend of mine prefers to wash dishes by hand, so she uses her dishwasher as a makeshift kitchen storage. It’s right by the back door, so this is where she stores her dog’s leash and accessories, her own gardening boots and tools, as well as mittens and hats during the winter. You can also store large pots and pans or small kitchen appliances in unused dishwashers.
Clean Sports Equipment
Sports equipment like golf balls, mouth guards, bike helmets and shin guards can all be cleaned in the dishwasher. “If dishwasher safe, run these items separately from your dishes as they likely have come into contact with sweat, dirt and mud,” LaLonde says. “It is also not recommended to wash fabric items in a dishwasher, so be sure to separate plastic and rubber pieces from any fabric or foam items.”
Sanitize Garden Pots
This dishwasher hack works best with terra-cotta and ceramic garden pots, as plastic ones could melt. First, remove any plants or loose soil from pots and rinse well with water. Arrange pots on the top rack of the dishwasher, then run on a normal cycle with detergent. Once finished, air dry thoroughly before filling with soil for use.
Warm Plates
For a restaurant-quality dining experience at your next dinner party, serve food on warmed plates. This helps keep food warm once plated and keeps buttery sauces at desired temperatures. Plus, warmed plates simply elevates the dining experience for your guests. Place plates inside an otherwise empty dishwasher. Set the dishwasher on the drying cycle to activate the heating element without initiating a wash. When you’re ready to serve your food, remove the warmed plates from the dishwasher.
Rinse Produce
If you’ve just gotten home from the farmer’s market or received a large farm share delivery, consider using the dishwasher to wash produce quickly and efficiently. Place produce on the bottom and top rack of the dishwasher, then run a cool temperature rinse cycle without adding detergent, and skip the dry cycle. Remove produce when finished and pat dry before storing. Avoid this dishwasher hack with root vegetables that may be heavily soiled.
Keep Food Warm
It can be difficult to get the timing just right when serving many dishes during a dinner party. To help you serve all your dishes hot, consider using your dishwasher. Place cooked food in a heat-safe serving dish, then place on the top rack of your empty dishwasher. Turn the setting to the dry cycle (no washing!) and leave the door closed until it’s time to serve your guests.
Wash Artificial Plants
Handwashing artificial houseplants can be tedious, especially with small-leaved, intricate plants. Instead of washing by hand, I place a few plants in the dishwasher on the top rack and run a low-temperature wash cycle without adding detergent. When finished, I air dry them. This is one of my favorite dishwasher hacks to quickly clean artificial houseplants, but don’t try this with silk flowers, as they’re too delicate.
Clean Pet Items
Pet toys and food dishes made of ceramic, plastic, stainless steel or rubber are typically dishwasher safe, but always check the product label to be sure. Place items on the top rack and run on a normal cycle with detergent. “To prevent cross contamination, you should wash your pets’ items separately from your dishes,” LaLonde says. Also, avoid putting items made of wood, fabric or non-stainless steel in the dishwasher.
About the Expert
- Morgan LaLonde is a Brand Manager at Whirlpool Corporation.
Sources
Alaska Department of Fish and Wildlife, Fish and Wildlife News: Dishwasher Salmon (2006).
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