Why So Many People Are Washing Vegetables in Their Dishwashers on TikTok

The Internet is full of clever tricks when it comes to cooking in our kitchens, like using cheese graters to destem herbs, or microwaving your garlic for easy peeling. However, some are rather shocking to see, and one of the most recent viral videos on TikTok has us scratching our heads: cleaning fruits and vegetables in your dishwasher.

While this video posted by @larad_official, as well as the results, makes it seem like the dishwasher is a great solution for cleansing your produce after purchasing, we couldn’t help but wonder if it’s actually safe to do. A little vinegar running through the dishwasher seems safe, but what if there’s any leftover residue from your dish detergent? Will your produce still be safe to eat?

We asked Matthew Taylor, MCIEH, CEnvH, the senior manager and consulting lead for National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) in North America, to give us proper insight into whether this viral trend is actually useful, or if it’s only making your produce worse.

While the video seems enticing, with colorful clean fruits and vegetables that come out perfectly after a rinse in the dishwasher, Taylor tells The Kitchn that it isn’t the safest way to clean your produce.

“Washing any food items in the dishwasher, including fruits and vegetables, can lead to serious food safety risks and is not recommended,” he says. “While most dishwashing detergents and rinse aids are tested to safely clean utensils, dishes and glassware, direct exposure to food and fresh produce is not intended, and this could pose a risk to your health. Even if you wash the produce without the detergent present, residues of the chemical can permeate fruits and vegetables as well as leftover debris and grime that could remain in the dishwasher. This can present a higher risk for produce that is often consumed unpeeled, such as apples or cucumbers.”

Along with the use of detergents in your machine, Taylor points out that the dishwasher is likely not properly sanitized to be able to handle food, and could even contaminate your produce further.

“There could also be areas of the dishwasher (especially older appliances) that don’t get cleaned and sanitized as well as they used to and that too could contaminate the food, not to mention leftover food debris from that previous wash cycle and the possibility of getting pieces of old food debris in there. [It’s] not good or safe!”

Instead of running your produce through the dishwasher, or following other “hacks” you see on social media, Taylor says instead to wash your fruits and vegetables by hand with the science-backed methods that are recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the NSF.

“One of the most important steps is to thoroughly wash your hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap before handling fruits and vegetables, then rinsing under tap water prior to peeling, cutting and consuming or preparation,” he explains. “Preparing products in a clean sanitized sink and using cutting boards and utensils that have been cleaned effectively beforehand is a must.”

Once your produce is properly rinsed, he recommends keeping it cold (at or below 40 degrees) to reduce spoilage and the spread of harmful organisms that can cause foodborne illness.

Plus, Taylor explains that most of the time, fruits and vegetables for sale in U.S. grocery stores are washed prior to being sold on shelves, so a simple wash and rinse is all you need compared to a thorough cleanse in a dishwasher. “Although there is a risk that some may not have been washed, potentially those purchased from farm shops, stands, or those described as organic. Some will be labeled as ‘washed’ and ready to eat, although it is good practice to still wash these at home before consuming. For commercial produce operations, this is a requirement.”