Should You Really Be Cleaning Potatoes In The Dishwasher?

Whether you heard about it from a friend or stumbled on it via the internet, the trend of throwing potatoes on the top shelf of a dishwasher for a quick rinse has become some home cooks' method for cleaning large numbers of potatoes. This innovative, efficient potato-cleaning hack brings speed and efficiency to the task of washing a large amount of potatoes.

That efficiency may come at a cost, however. Residue from detergent, soap, and food from previous washes could still be present in the dishwasher water even during a simple rinse cycle. The pores of the potatoes may then absorb such residue, making for a rather soapy batch of loaded twice-baked potatoes.

Additionally, bacteria from lingering foodstuffs could be absorbed by the spuds, leaving the potatoes potentially even dirtier after they've been cleaned. At the end of the day, handwashing potatoes in a sink is still the safest bet for cleaning potatoes. Just as you wouldn't clean a wooden cutting board incorrectly, potatoes should be cleaned with care.

Despite experts advising otherwise, placing potatoes in the dishwasher has become a common trend on social media. It's not only everyday foodies sharing this hack, either, even Kroger has joined the trend by posting it on its TikTok. Just like how you should think twice before you eat sprouted potatoes, always double-check if the food hacks you encounter are safe.

It's not recommended to eat off a soapy plate, and it's not a good idea to eat a soapy spud. While the non-porous nature of common kitchenware makes it safe to use soap on these products, potatoes are far too porous for stray soap to rinse off. If soap is absorbed into the potatoes, there's a good chance it will later be absorbed into your body when you eat it.

Besides being a bane for your body, this hack for cleaning your potatoes can also leave your dishwasher struggling. There's a chance that bits of potato will break off during the chaotic cleaning processes. While some dishwashers may be able to handle this, others may clog due to rogue potato chunks.