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Wait, My Dishwasher Can Do What?
Dishwashers are now a common major home appliance. Most households use their dishwasher at least once a week to clean dishes as well as pots and pans, but did you know you can use it for so much more?? Check out the intuitive and creative ideas below to save time and energy, and get more out of your appliance!
Dishwasher Dinners
You can use your dishwasher for cooking. I repeat. You can use your dishwasher for cooking. Say what??
Most dishwashers are programmed to heat to an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit, and this is a safe internal temperature when consuming most seafood proteins, as well as grains and vegetables. So what exactly does that mean? Well that means your dishwasher can make you dinner. You can steam or poach main course items such as salmon, shrimp, mussels, scallops, and other fish and “canister cook” a multitude of vegetables such as asparagus, green-beans, and carrots in the addition of quick cook pastas such as couscous.
The key is to make sure any items you are cooking are placed on the very top rack of your dishwasher, and they are also in tightly sealed containers or aluminum wraps. Mason jars work wonders for poaching, and making foil packets is easy and flavorful with no messy clean up!
Tips and tricks:
Liquid is your friend! By poaching food you are essentially cooking it slowly in it’s own liquid or an added broth. On that note, you only want to cook your food in the liquid you’ve supplied. Make sure any containers or jars are tightly closed, and if you are doing a foil packet, make sure it’s soundly wrapped so no water can get in. Also, no soap please, or jet-dry.
Recipe To Try:
Lemon Pepper Salmon and Asparagus and Couscous
Aluminum Foil
Filet of Salmon
1 Lemon – half juiced and half sliced
1/4 t fresh ground pepper
1/4 t kosher salt
Large Mason Jar
1 bunch of asparagus
1 C water
1 tablespoon butter
Salt and pepper to taste
2nd Large Mason Jar
1 C couscous
Squeeze of lemon Juice
1 3/4 C chicken stock or vegetable stock
Make a foil packet and place the salmon filet in it. Squeeze half the lemon over the salmon then season with the salt and pepper. Take the lemon slices and arrange them single layer on the salmon then close the foil pack and wrap tightly. It’s recommended you use unitize two packets for extra security.
Add the cup of water and butter to a mason jar. Trim the root end of the asparagus down to size where the stalks will fit inside the jar. Season the stems then put them inside the water and buttered mason jar and seal tightly.
In the 2nd mason jar add in the couscous, the liquid stock, and the squeeze of lemon. Seal the jar tightly and give a few shakes.
Place the packet on the top rack of your dishwasher. The mason jars could be placed on the upper or lower rack. A heated wash and heated dry cycle is long enough to cook the salmon and vegetables all the way through. No peeking!! Ta-da! A complete dinner cooked in the dishwasher with minimal clean up!
Utilize and Sanitize
You can use your Sanitize cycle to make sure your dishes, cookware, and silverware and clean and bacteria free, but did you ever think about using it to sanitize other things? That’s right! Dishwashers aren’t just for dishes anymore. Check out the list below of unconventional things you can sanitize in your dishwasher instead!
Children’s Toys
Plastic toys, especially those that travel to daycare, school, or even just outside can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Pop those play things on the top shelf and give them a sanitize cycle to cleanse them of any germs! Now you don’t have to worry so often if your little decides to gnaw on their favorite toy.
Dog Toys
They say that Fido’s mouth is cleaner than a human’s mouth, but I’ve also seen Fido eat some pretty gross things and lick some pretty personal places. There is also no telling what that ball has rolled through, or where that chew bone has been buried. Like children’s toys, give your dog’s toys a sanitize rinse once in a while to help keep Fido’s personal items germ free. Might as well toss his water and food bowl in there too!! I wouldn’t want to eat off a dirty surface.
Work Out and Sports Accessories
Physical activity means sweat. Sweat means germs. Germs mean odor. Help cut down on the odors by sanitizing your sport’s accessories in the dishwasher. Things like elbow and knee pads, as well as baseball caps can be rinsed and sanitized on your top dish rack. You could even use it on “washer safe” gym bags.
Brushes, Combs, and Makeup Brushes
You can put your hair brushes and makeup brushes on the top rack or silverware caddy and run your dishwasher. A gentle cycle can get the built up dirt and grime off your brushes without damaging the bristles.
Faux Flowers
Silk and cloth flowers and plants can be a pain in the rear to dust; their textured surface traps dirt incredibly well! So instead of dusting each individual flower petal, place them in the top rack of your dishwasher and call it a day.
Pretty awesome, right? Try some of these tricks to help maximize the use you get from your dishwasher. As always, if you think something is wrong with your appliance, make sure to contact a repair service, like us, right away. Give us a ring at 704-824-1077 or schedule an appointment with our online scheduler if you need any help with your dishwasher or other major appliances!
