When the subjects comes around to the proper way of doing the dishes, not only are the opinions greatly varied and sometimes even conversely opposed, but the different methods used by all the different people are almost like a religious practice. The way that each individual approaches dish washing, as it turns out, is not only highly personal, but it’s also one of the most highly ascribed to routines they ever perform. And it’s been discovered that, on more than one occasion, the party host or hostess will come behind the generous contributions of dish washing guests (after the party is over,) and individually inspect the dishes, utensils, glasses, etc. with a keen eye peeled for any overlooked places. Everyone believes that their particular method of dishwashing, whether it’s by hand or by using the convenience of the modern dishwasher, is the superior way to clean, rinse and dry–and above all other methods. Some even wash dishes before loading to the dishwasher, read an article about that here.
Dish Drying Method Number One: a Towel
Long existing as a standalone method for drying dishes, the dish towel has always occupied a prominent space in the annals of time, ever since there were actual dishes off which meals could be served. Even though dish drying racks used to prominently sit on the countertop and off to the side of the conventional kitchen sink, the larger numbers of people would only use these dryer racks to house the wet dishes for minutes, as they would drip most of the rinse water onto the rack’s base and then, that water would roll on down, into the sink. In 2001, however, the Journal of the American Dietetic Association (JADA.) released documented findings about how using dish towels to dry dishes were a fairly dependable way to promote the growth of harmful bacteria. Much of these bacteria are picked up from the bacteria on others’ hands, and also from only partially cleaned dishes. When folded and hung wet, a breeding ground for bacteria is quickly established. Then, the next time you use that towel to dry your dishes, that bacterium is transferred to your dishes. FADA requires that all forms of public kitchens must allow their dishes to air dry, and never use dish towels. So even in places like restaurant kitchens, where dishes get mostly dry from the hot temp of the wash and dry cycle of a commercial washer–followed by the hot heated drying that can be performed by many commercial dishwashers–any further drying must be performed from the air, alone. Of course, if you think about it, a dish drying towel can only be dry for drying the first couple of dishes. After encountering a few wet dishes the towel will naturally become wet. So, take wet dishes being dried by wet dish towels, and to that, add stacking them, one on top of the next, and you are creating a perfect environment for bacterial growth between the dishes, on them.
Other Ways in Which Wet Dishes are Not Good
Another source of bacterial contamination for your dishes can occur whenever you hold a wet dish, because a moist, warm environment is the very best condition for bacteria to proliferate. Bacteria is invisible to the naked eye, but be sure that bacteria are everywhere. For your health and the health of your family and friends, make sure to air dry your dishes before you store them in the cabinets. Kitchen drawers and cabinets can be made from a variety of woods and composites, and even when you line the bottoms with that rubbery grid material that cushions them and provides a protective layer between the dishes, glasses and the actual cabinets and drawers, trace amounts of water can drip down. While this may seem rather nominal at first, such water dripping down over time can eventually result in a lot of trouble for the integrity of your expensive kitchen cabinets and drawers.
Bacterial Growth Increases Over Time
In a recent study, bacterial growth was found by researchers on 100 dishes that were used to serve food to veterans at the Portland Oregon Veterans Affairs Medical Center. 100 dishes that were used to serve food to veterans there were washed by using the onsite commercial dishwasher. Next, half of them were air dried for a period of 24 hours, and the other half were stacked all together while they were still wet. Now, during the first 24 hours, there was no discernible difference in bacteria levels between dishes in the two groups. After 48 hours, however, a significantly higher number of bacteria was found growing upon the dishes that were stacked while wet. Surely more than a few of us have grabbed a tray, plate and napkins at a cafeteria food line or restaurant buffet, only to discover an adequate amount of water still on the plate. This is a fairly typical occurrence, and while not immediately dangerous, its the plates that are stacked while wet and allowed to sit unaddressed for more than 24 hours that are cause for concern. In buffets and cafeterias, generally the plates are used over and over, and really quickly. This means they have no time to develop bacterial growth of any significance. Air drying dishes keeps any bacteria from multiplying from a large number of microorganisms.
Your Dishwasher Should Effectively Clean and Dry Your Dishes
A large convenience of having a dishwasher is in not needing to dry your dishes. When you open up your dishwasher to unload the dishes, only to find that they are still wet, there could be a number of reasons. The easiest fix could be in understanding how not to overload your dishwasher. Overloading can prevent the air from circulating. First, try running a load or two with fewer items. If they are also wet, the next easy fix is to add rinse aid to your machine. It prevents moisture from accumulating inside the washer. If neither of these seems to be the problem, check for trouble in these areas:
The Thermostat: The thermostat is responsible for regulating the temperature of the washing and drying cycles. They can sometimes malfunction. To check the thermostat, set your dishwasher to the shortest possible cycle, with the hottest water temperature. After the washing and rinsing has completed and the drying cycle has begun, open the dishwasher door. The interior should be definitely warm. If it’s not, the problem could be the thermostat, which can’t be fixed, and will need to be replaced.
The Heating Element: Your dishwasher is designed with a heating element that is located at the bottom. Heating elements can sometimes burn out or malfunction, resulting in still-wet dishes at the end of the process. To visually inspect your dishwasher’s heating element, first unplug it, and then remove its lower rack. Look for any abnormalities on the element like broken areas or burned out places. If you notice any such areas, you will need to replace it. Otherwise, call an appliance repair professional to inspect your dishwasher.
