The Kitchen Tool You Should Avoid Putting In Your Dishwasher At All Costs - Tasting Table

"Addressing that potential damage factor first, it can, in fact, be mutual. Graters are gonna' grate - the sharp scallops that so deftly shower cheese or garlic onto your dishes can also eat away at the coating of your dishwasher's racks. In turn, the hot temperatures and soapy detergents in the dishwasher can dull those scallops over time and cause rust."

"Then there's the issue of whether your dishwasher is up to the task of getting into the teeny, tiny crevices of a grater; some are, some aren't. It all has to do with the pressure and precision of the appliance's jet streams. If they're not strong enough, your grater could accumulate build-up from whatever you use it on, build-up you may not even notice for a while because it's so small."

Dishwashers save time but have limits; respecting those limits prolongs appliance life and performance. Graters should never go in the dishwasher because their sharp scallops can eat away at the coating of dishwasher racks. Hot temperatures and soapy detergents can dull scallops over time and cause rust. Some dishwashers cannot reach tiny grater crevices due to insufficient pressure and precision of their jet streams, allowing residue buildup. Residue buildup can become a bacterial breeding ground and contaminate future grated items. Graters can also shift during cycles and cause cuts; hand washing is safer for graters, knives, and wooden utensils.

Read at Tasting Table