Silverware in the dishwasher: Handle up or down?

[N9JIG]

Poll Question:

My wife and I have argued about this since we were married. Does silverware go in the dishwasher handle-up or handle down? I say the handle goes up so you can put it in and take it out without touching the tines, bowl or blade. The wife says that the handle goes down so the rest of the item gets cleaned better.

Naturally, she wins being the wife, but maybe I can get some support on this...

[kc0vgj]

Down for spoons and forks. up on knifes do to safety issued, worked in a restaurant as a teen. So both of you are right to a point..lol

[JoeyC]

There is no right way to place silverware in a dishwasher. If I were you, I'd let her put them in her way, and you put yours in your way. If she wants to nitpick about petty things like that, tell her she can do all the dishes from now on.

[Eireguy]

Sharp knives faced down,everything else up.imo

[awattam]

Joey C. The wife's way is always the right way and will vary depending on what mood shes in at the time. Best thing to do is just put it in the way you want to and let her nag for about 5 minutes as shes fixing it.

[com501]

The dishwasher PRINTED MANUAL says spoons, forks and butter knives UP, steak knives DOWN for safety. Doesn't anyone read the manual anymore??

[W9BU]

Knives down. All else up.

That reminds me...I need to go load the dishwasher.

[searingxheretic]

I only use plastic sporks at home. It avoids this confusion.

Sent from my cm_tenderloin

[zz0468]

The wife's way is the "correct" way.

Choose your battles more wisely, and save the win for something that's actually important.

[slicerwizard]

Originally Posted by com501

The dishwasher PRINTED MANUAL says spoons, forks and butter knives UP, steak knives DOWN for safety. Doesn't anyone read the manual anymore??

And we have our winner. Dirty bits up so they actually get cleaned (hello - that's why you put them in the dishwasher), unless they're real sharp.

[rapidcharger]

From a food safety standpoint, the silverware should be handles up so that the person removing the clean silverware doesn't touch the clean part.
That said, in my home I have handles down but I take care to reach in and not touch the silverware by the part people stick in their mouth. And I do that so that it cleans better. Does it clean better? I think so but only when you space it out.

That's my 2 cents. In a restaurant setting I'd keep it handles up though.

[com501]

If my dishwasher in the restaurant wasn't wearing gloves he'd be fired. Besides, a commercial dishwasher uses tubs for silverware, you handle the tubs.

[W9BU]

Originally Posted by com501

If my dishwasher in the restaurant wasn't wearing gloves he'd be fired.

Which brings us to the point I was going to make.

If you are that concerned about the cleanliness of the silverware, and in a commercial setting you are, then you only handle the clean utensils with gloves. In the home, I don't see the problem with handling silverware after you've carefully washed your hands. But, if you're concerned about it, wear gloves.

[MisterK33]

Ehhh... still doing them by hand. But I put the knives handle up for safety in the drying rack, the rest handle down so I can see what I'm reaching for.

[ScannaMan9]

I think everyone agrees knives blade- down...
I keep spoons and forks either way- however they are put in.

[ka0blc]

My partner got a call to “family dispute” . They were a silverware up household, and the dishwasher door was open. The husband pushed the wife, she backed into the open door on the dishwasher, and sat down and suffered minor injuries. The husband was arrested for domestic abuse. That Deputy was known as the Crack Investigator for years.

[newsphotog]

Dang, the poll is closed.

Handle down for me. Especially knives. I like to live dangerously. I have received lacerations on my wrist only a couple of times.

[Jim41]

Originally Posted by N9JIG

Poll Question:

My wife and I have argued about this since we were married. Does silverware go in the dishwasher handle-up or handle down? I say the handle goes up so you can put it in and take it out without touching the tines, bowl or blade. The wife says that the handle goes down so the rest of the item gets cleaned better.

Naturally, she wins being the wife, but maybe I can get some support on this...

1. Simple Answer: Wife is always right!
2. My dishwasher is designed and configured so that knives must go blade down and forks and spoons must go handle down.

Jim41

[W9BU]

Originally Posted by Jim41

2. My dishwasher is designed and configured so that knives must go blade down and forks and spoons must go handle down.

I have a General Electric dishwasher, don't know the model, that has a plastic grids which fold down over the top of the silverware baskets. The grid is sized so that knives go blade down and while forks and spoons go handle down. Does your d/w have this grid? On mine, you can fold the grid up and put your silverware in the baskets anyway you please. If your does this, then you can break with conformity...wife permitting.

[rapidcharger]

Originally Posted by W9BU

I have a General Electric dishwasher, don't know the model, that has a plastic grids which fold down over the top of the silverware baskets. The grid is sized so that knives go blade down and while forks and spoons go handle down. Does your d/w have this grid? On mine, you can fold the grid up and put your silverware in the baskets anyway you please. If your does this, then you can break with conformity...wife permitting.

Of course you don't need to rush out and buy a new dishwasher if your silverware basket doesn't have the grid lid. Mine cam with a grid lid for the knives but I took it out to make room for more dishes and pots and pans. When I've got a super sharp knife it won't fit in the basket anyway and I stick it on the top rack. Problem solved. All silverware should go on the top rack laying flat.