Do you use aluminum cookware in your kitchen? Look around. Some of your pots, pans, or baking cups may consist of this widespread metal. It’s lightweight and affordable. So, since the 1st World War and till now, aluminum cookware is popular. Is aluminum in dishwasher toxic? Raw aluminum is reactive to acids and alkalis. It might cause serious health issues. But manufacturers don’t produce raw aluminum kitchenware nowadays. How to select safe and durable aluminum items? Let me give you some simple tips on how to clean aluminum utensils.
Is It Bad to Use Aluminum Cookware?
Most frying pans are aluminum nowadays. At least their inner cores commonly include aluminum. Cookware and bakeware of this kind are preferable, as aluminum is:
- lightweight;
- inexpensive;
- rust-resistant;
- colorable;
- durable;
- good at distributing heat.
Aluminum is perfect due to its thermal conductivity. It heats up quickly, consuming less electricity. Your favorite pans and baking dishes distribute heat evenly. Which metals retain heat better? Which metals conduct heat the best?
What is the Best Material for Storing Heat?
| Properties | Aluminum | Cast Iron | Stainless Steel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density, lb/ft3 | 169 | 450 | 491 |
| Thermal Conductivity, W/m K | 237 | 52 | 14.2 |
| Tensile Strength, MPa | 110 | 170 | 860 |
Quite naturally, cast iron retains heat longer than aluminum. It lets you cook tender, evenly baked upside-down cakes. Aluminum bakeware is no worse than other pans. Pure aluminum is a soft metal. It’s prone to scratching. Manufacturers make it harder by adding copper, zinc, and magnesium. Manganese and silicon improve strength and ductility of aluminum alloys.
Are Old Aluminum Pans Safe?
Are your old frying pans uncoated? Your parents might have received one of them as a wedding gift. Does your mother use it every day? It means, the stuff is handy and durable. Your favorite old pots can still pose some problems.
Aluminum is a highly reactive metal. A thin layer of oxide covers your old pans’ surfaces. Therefore, it commonly does not react with air. Why does aluminum turn black in dishwasher? A chemical reaction causes it. Chlorine in the detergent oxidizes the surface. Acidic and alkaline food also dissolves its protective layer.
The list of problematic food includes:
- Juices.
- Fruits.
- Rhubarb.
- Vinegar.
- Sauerkraut.
- Salt brine.
Avoid cooking these foods in old aluminum pots. Your lightweight, handy cookware can discolor it. For example, eggs might darken during boiling process. Do you keep a diet? If so, prefer other types of kitchenware. Uncoated cookware leaches harmful chemicals into your favorite dishes. They might cause neurological, kidney, lung or heart diseases.
But don’t be fast to discard your favorite muffin pans. Modern cookware is much better. Is all clad dishwasher safe? Anodizing makes it harder and stronger. Your pots are glossy and beautiful. They are lightweight, durable and completely safe. Anodized aluminum cookware is easy to maintain. It still requires careful cleaning.
Is It Safe to Put Aluminum in the Dishwasher?
Top-quality, hard-anodized aluminum pans are durable. They come with scratch-resistant coating. It’s non-stick and comparatively safe to contact your favorite dishes. I think baking cakes and pies in aluminum dishes are acceptable. Butter and dough don’t seem to be acids or alkali. They don’t react with the inner aluminum surface.
Not all hard anodized items are dishwasher-safe. Only advanced painting or finish is efficient. It might protect the surface from impact of hot water and detergents. Most aluminum cookware is not. What happens when you put aluminum in the dishwasher? It would:
- turn dark;
- discolor;
- warp;
- get scratches and nicks on the surface.
Dishwasher-safe parts may include the handle, frying pan itself, and cooking lid. Detachable knobs and storage seal lids are prone to rusting or deformation. Anyway, only gentle cleaning is acceptable. Use aluminum safe dishwasher detergent. It’s liquid and non-abrasive. The cleaning substance has mild odor. It contains inhibitors that reduce corrosion and damaging chemical reactions. Additionally, select a quick or delicate wash cycle. Avoid adding prewash detergents.
How Do You Remove Aluminum Stains from a Dishwasher?
Oxidation might be not damaging for your favorite baking cups. It means that the surface produced a protective layer. Now it’s less prone to corrosion. However, exposure to certain minerals and chemicals might cause chemical reactions.
It’s not difficult to remove dark stains from aluminum pans or pots. Use lemon juice, vinegar or ketchup, therefore. It removes tarnish but doesn’t damage the surface. Specific aluminum polishing paste also works. Using harsh materials like sandpaper or steel wool is not acceptable. It scratches the surface. In future, it gets harder to remove the stains.
Cleaning your dishwasher is much easier. It may only get hard water stains. Lemon juice or any acid cleaner removes heavy deposits. Anyway, wash your aluminum cookware and utensils by hand.
- Rinse the surface.
- Wash your pan thoroughly.
- Use warm water and mild dish soap.
- If it doesn’t work, a scratchy sponge or a soft-bristled brush is acceptable.
- Dry the baking dish with a soft, cotton cloth.
Drip-drying is not efficient. As a result, it makes aluminum look dull. So, if you clean your favorite cookware at once after use, it lasts long. Restoring its natural shine is not easy, but possible. Aluminum pots and pans are lightweight and handy. They cook food evenly. Above all, select top-quality, hard-anodized items. Subsequently, if use them properly, cooking and baking in them is safe. The only disadvantage of the cookware is that it’s not dishwasher-friendly. To sum up, have a relaxed attitude to the downside and enjoy cooking:)