If you have finished cooking a delicious Sunday roast or home-cooked midweek meal, the last thing you want to do is hand wash your oven trays, but can they safely be washed in the dishwasher or will they be ruined? Let’s look at what you need to know.
Know your tray
There are a variety of things that can and can’t go in your dishwasher. When it comes to ovenable trays, you need to know which type you are using:
- Stainless steel trays may be dishwasher safe, but they can lose their shine and quality over time.
- Non-stick trays are pretty delicate, and the coating can be broken down by dishwashing. 3 Aluminium trays can become corroded or discoloured in the dishwasher.
- Enamel-coated trays may be OK if the coating is intact and the ovenable tray doesn’t have any chips or cracks.
The risks
There are some risks to popping your ovenable trays in the dishwasher. Due to the high heat washing, strong detergent, and powerful water jets, dishwashing oven trays can strip away non-stick coatings, cause bubbling and discolouration, cause a dull finish, or even warp a thinner style of oven tray.
Should you use your dishwasher?
You can sometimes use your dishwasher, especially for stainless steel or super-strong ovenable trays from companies such as www.southerncrosspackaging.com/ovenable-trays. You should take care, however, as some trays will survive much longer when you spend the time handwashing instead, no matter how inconvenient this might be. Although a dishwasher can be an incredibly helpful tool, the high-pressure washing style is sometimes a little too harsh for more delicate or coated items such as oven trays.
Handwashing oven trays
When handwashing oven trays, don’t forget to let them soak. Use soft brushes and sponges to avoid damaging the coating, or you might ruin the non-stick nature of your trays. Abrasive or hard brushes or sponges can scratch your oven trays; instead, you should use a baking soda paste to tackle any tougher stains or residue without scratching your tray.
