Decoding Dishwasher Safe and Other Tableware Symbols
Your tableware has a variety of symbols on them. Some are there to indicate how the item should be washed, while others are there to provide general care instructions. Use this guide to learn how to decode common tableware symbols to better care for your dishes and find out which dishes are best for hand washing and which ones can be cleaned in the dishwasher.
What items are dishwasher safe?
Tableware made of hard plastic, stainless steel, glass or ceramic is generally dishwasher safe. Many drinking glasses, baking dishes, metal utensils and items made of silicone can also be dishwasher safe. Always consult the care symbols on your tableware before running them through a wash cycle.
What does “top rack only” mean?
When a dishwasher safe symbol includes the words “top rack only,” it means that the item should only be placed on the top rack of the dishwasher during the wash cycle. Placing the item on the top rack helps to keep distance between heat-sensitive items and the dishwasher’s heated dry element.
What is the symbol for dishwasher safe?
Most dishes have a symbol that indicates whether it’s safe to put in the dishwasher. There is no universal dishwasher safe symbol, instead there are several symbols that can indicate that an item is safe to wash in the dishwasher. Some even provide recommended rack placement and drying instructions.
Dishwasher safe symbols
Explore the table below to learn more about dishwasher safe symbols commonly found on tableware items. Always check the owner’s manual of your dishwasher before washing a load.
Dishes with a symbol that illustrates water droplets next to a wine glass positioned upright or upside down can be placed in the dishwasher.
This symbol includes a large dish next to a small dish below diagonal lines representing the ability to wash in a dishwasher wash cycle.
If you see a symbol on your tableware that includes one plate next to a large water droplet, you can clean it using a dishwasher.
If you see 1–2 plates being washed in a dishwasher above the written instruction to wash on the top rack then it is dishwasher safe. Some dishware materials shouldn’t be exposed to high temperatures, so placing them on the top rack distances the dishes from the dishwasher heated dry element.
What items should not go in the dishwasher?
Certain items should generally not be washed in a dishwasher, like hand-painted china, thin plastic, cast iron pots and pans, delicate glassware and knives. These items may become damaged or warped by a wash cycle.
Additionally, non-stick cookware made from copper or other metals may lose their coating when exposed to hot water. Wood items can become discolored and silver may tarnish when washed in the dishwasher.
Other Tableware Symbols
There are other symbols on your dishes that can be used to determine how best to care for them. Read on below to discover additional common tableware symbols to help keep your dishes looking their best.
1. Microwaveable
Certain dishware materials should never be placed in a microwave as they are not compatible with the electromagnetic energy used to heat food using the appliance. Like with the dishwasher safe symbol, there are a handful of icons that can indicate whether you can place tableware in the microwave.
If your dishes have a symbol that features 3–4 wavy lines, a microwave icon, a dish with wavy lines above it or three wave lines above the word “micro,” you can use it to microwave food.
2. Food storage
To determine whether a dish is intended for decorative or functional use, look for a symbol displaying a wine glass next to a fork. Dishes with this symbol can be used to serve food and beverages. Some items are made with material that isn’t suitable to come into contact with food, so always check for the food storage symbol before you use any tableware to eat or drink.
3. Induction compatible
Induction cooktops can only be used with compatible cookware as the heating method uses a copper coil to generate electromagnetic energy that is transferred directly to the cookware. You can use cookware on an induction cooktop if it is stamped with a coiled spring icon at the bottom of the item.
4. Minimum and maximum temp
Before you use an item to store food in the freezer or bake a meal in the oven, check the bottom of the dish for a symbol that includes two temperatures. This indicates the highest and lowest temperatures a dish can withstand.
5. Recycling
If you’re replacing any dishes, you may wonder whether they can be recycled and how to sort them. Check the bottom of your dish for an icon that depicts an arrow in the shape of a triangle with a number ranging from 01–07.
6. Freezer storage
Tableware that can withstand the temperatures of a freezer typically has a symbol including a single snowflake on the bottom of the item.
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