Can Knives go in the dishwasher?

Can knives go in the dishwasher?

Short answer: absolutely not!

Knives should never go in the dishwasher. First and most obvious—it's not safe. You might not be the one unloading it, and someone reaching in blindly could easily grab the blade and do themselves a proper injury.

Then there’s the damage. Dishwashers are harsh environments: high heat, aggressive detergents, and plenty of movement. All of that is bad news for a knife. Carbon steel blades can rust incredibly quickly, but even stainless steel knives will suffer over time. Edges dull faster, finishes degrade, and the whole thing just takes a beating.

Handles don’t fare much better either. The heat and moisture can weaken glues and resins that hold everything together, and wooden handles can swell, crack, or warp. Not ideal.

Finally, repeated exposure to high temperatures can start to affect the heat treatment of the blade itself. That’s what gives a knife its hardness and edge retention—so once that’s compromised, performance drops off.

In short: don’t do it.

A quick wash in the sink with warm water and a bit of washing-up liquid, then dry it straight away—that’s all it needs.

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