One question many people ask about frying pans is whether or not they can go in the dishwasher. The short answer is that it varies from frying pan to frying pan. Below, you can read more about when a frying pan can go in the dishwasher and when it cannot.
What happens if I wash my frying pan in the dishwasher?
One of the features you should consider when buying a frying pan is whether you need to be able to put it in the dishwasher. There are many different frying pans on the market today, and in fact, only a few of them can withstand being put in the dishwasher. If you put the wrong frying pan in a dishwasher, you risk damaging it, reducing its performance or shortening its lifespan.
This is due in part to the dishwasher's high water pressure, temperature, amount of salt and harsh detergent, all of which contribute to the deterioration of your frying pan. We therefore recommend always checking the manual you received, or looking online, to see whether your frying pan can go in the dishwasher before doing so.
These frying pans cannot go in the dishwasher
If you own a frying pan made from one of the materials listed below, you should avoid putting it in the dishwasher. Some can withstand going in the dishwasher once or twice, others a little more, but this depends on the brand of the frying pan. You should therefore always check the manual you receive or look online to see whether your frying pan is one of those that cannot go in the dishwasher.
Aluminium frying pans
If you own a frying pan made from aluminium, maintaining its natural appearance can be difficult, so it is best not to put an aluminium frying pan in a dishwasher. Aluminium is a delicate material that can easily be scratched and thus lose its ability to distribute heat. However, aluminium frying pans can withstand a dishwasher cycle if the material of the frying pan is intact both inside and out. Just be aware that aluminium frying pans can be damaged when cleaned in the dishwasher.
Copper frying pans
Copper frying pans are well known for distributing heat and for their attractive appearance, but their shiny surface can be difficult to maintain. If you put one in the dishwasher, you risk discolouring its shiny surface and spoiling its attractive appearance, which defeats the purpose of owning a copper frying pan.
Teflon frying pan
Teflon is probably the most recognisable non-stick material used on frying pans, but it is also one of the most delicate types of frying pan. All non-stick frying pans have a coating that wears out over time, and this process accelerates the harsher the conditions a teflon frying pan is subjected to. When washing a non-stick frying pan, it is best to use the soft side of a kitchen sponge, but we recommend soaking the teflon frying pan instead. With teflon, it is best not to put it in a dishwasher, as this will wear down its non-stick coating and shorten its lifespan.
Ceramic frying pan
Unlike teflon, ceramic coating is a more durable material on a frying pan, but is also more expensive for that reason. You can use either a brush head or the abrasive side of a kitchen sponge when cleaning without damaging the coating. In some cases, it is also possible to put ceramic frying pans in the dishwasher without any immediate effects. This applies, for example, to ONYX frying pans, which you can read more about here. Even so, all non-stick frying pans are prone to wear the more they are subjected to. It is therefore a good idea to always wash your ceramic frying pans by hand to preserve their lifespan.
Cast iron
Unlike the other materials mentioned above, cast iron is not suitable for putting in a dishwasher. This is because cast iron is structured with tightly packed metal and small cavities. Each time you season your frying pan, polymerisation occurs, meaning a layer forms on the surface that gives cast iron its character. If you choose to put cast iron in a dishwasher, you wash off this layer, which actually protects the frying pan from becoming rough, causing food to stick, and it may end up developing rust.
Steel frying pan
Finally, we come to a type of frying pan that can indeed go in the dishwasher. If you own a frying pan made from steel, you can clean it in a dishwasher. It is still a good idea to check whether your specific frying pan can go in the dishwasher, but generally, steel frying pans can withstand being put in the dishwasher.
