The modern kitchen is equipped with household appliances that make the work of a housewife easier. They help ensure quality care for your kitchen utensils while saving time and resources. Such devices include a dishwasher. However, when using the device, you need to take into account many nuances, since improper use will lead to final damage to valuable dishes and cutlery. Is it possible to wash the meat grinder in the dishwasher, and for which items is it better to wash it by hand?
Is it possible to wash the meat grinder in the dishwasher?
The process of washing a manual or electric meat grinder is practically the same. First of all, the device is disassembled into parts, then the remaining food is removed and washed with warm water using cleaning products. Naturally, the body of the electrical unit, which contains the elements of the electrical circuit, is prohibited from being immersed in water. The removable parts of the meat grinder require careful cleaning, so in order to save time, many housewives put them in the dishwasher.
The result is very surprising: after several cleaning cycles, the surface of the parts becomes dull and covered with a black coating.This occurs due to oxidation of the metal used to make mechanical and electric meat grinders.
However, the problem is not only that the surface takes on an unsightly appearance. Experts say that continued use of the unit in this condition will lead to rapid spoilage of food and food poisoning. Metal particles entering the human body provoke diseases of the upper respiratory tract, damage to the nervous system, and tend to accumulate in the bones. Why does this effect occur and what should the housewife do?
Why does the meat grinder turn black after being washed in the dishwasher?
Meat chopping machines are usually made of aluminum alloys. The metal reacts with water, so for safety reasons the surface of the parts is covered with an oxide film. It prevents the destruction of the material and protects it from the harmful effects of moisture and detergents. After washing in the kitchen sink, the color of the unit does not change, but after washing in the dishwasher, obvious changes appear - the parts become black. Why does this happen?
The fact is that the temperature of the water used for hand washing usually does not exceed 40 degrees, while in a dishwasher it ranges from 45 to 90 degrees. The duration of exposure to moisture also plays a significant role - one automatic washing cycle takes longer than required for manual cleaning. It must be remembered that concentrated alkaline compounds are used in the dishwasher, which can ruin the appearance of some kitchen items.
The combination of these factors leads to the fact that the oxide film dissolves, and further partial destruction of the metal occurs, as evidenced by a dark coating on the parts. Further operation of the device is impossible, as this is dangerous to human health.
Before using the unit, care should be taken to thoroughly clean the blackened surface of the removable elements of the machine.
How to remove black deposits from a meat grinder?
To give the product its original appearance, you will have to do a lot of work. Experts advise not to restore the device if its surface is completely covered with a dark coating and the metal is very damaged. Well, if the washing took place at a low temperature and there are a small number of dark spots on the surface, then you can start rescuing. “Helpers” can be the following:
- Soda.
The parts are wiped with soda and a scraper. The procedure is repeated several times. Unfortunately, it leaves scratches on the surface. - Vinegar.
Prepare a solution of water and vinegar in a 4:1 ratio. We put the parts in it and leave it overnight. - Chalk.
Grind the chalk into powder. Apply the resulting product to the parts and wipe with great diligence. - Laundry soap.
Soak the meat grinder parts in warm water and leave for 15 minutes. After this, we wash them with a soapy sponge. - Toothpaste.
Gently removes darkening without damaging the surface.
Special products that can be purchased at the store may also be useful. These include the following:
- paste GOI;
- shine of Steel – Sanitol;
- shining shine of metals – Centralin;
- Dialux polishing paste.
What else can't be washed in the dishwasher?
In the instructions for the dishwasher, the manufacturer indicates which dishes can be washed in it and which cannot. When loading plates, pans, pots and other kitchen utensils, it is advisable to clarify what material they are made of. In some cases, the back of the cutlery will indicate whether it is dishwasher safe. If there are any doubts about the composition of the material, it is better to prefer the manual method of washing. To ensure that your dishes always remain clean and sparkling, it is advisable to follow all recommendations and not load the following items into the machine compartment:
- Wooden rolling pins, boards. The tree cannot withstand the destructive and prolonged effects of high humidity and temperature.
- Plastic parts. Plastic may deform at elevated temperatures or change color.
- Crystal and porcelain. Sensitive and delicate material will crack when in contact with powerful jets of hot water.
- Kitchen accessories containing silver, aluminum or nickel silver. These are garlic presses, spoons or forks. They usually require special care.
- Cast iron cookware. It is not advisable to put old frying pans in the dishwasher, since they are also covered with a protective layer that is destroyed under the influence of high temperature and alkali. Subsequently, the dishes are exposed to corrosion.
- Tin and copper products. Appliances made from these non-ferrous metals may become darkened or stained.
- Cracked dishes. When loading such dishes into the compartment, we risk getting a lot of fragments, which are very problematic and dangerous to collect.
Design of a manual meat grinder
Almost every kitchen has an old, reliable mechanical meat grinder.Based on its analogue, products with an electric drive were created, that is, similar parts are present in both one and the other model. To properly assemble a meat grinder, you need to know its design. So it consists of:
- One-piece body. Old copies were made of cast iron; later they began to produce cases made of aluminum alloys. There is a neck in the upper part of the body into which products for grinding are placed.
- Auger. A spiral element that moves products towards the exit.
- Knife. Performs rotational movements and is put on the end of the auger. It can be with wings or in the form of a disk.
- Lattices. Provides grinding of products. When making cookies and other baked goods from dough, special shaped elements are inserted instead of a lattice.
- Clamping device. The round-shaped element securely fixes all parts of the device. For ease of fastening, special protrusions are made on its surface.
- Handles and screws. On the reverse side of the structure there is a handle through which the mechanism rotates. It is secured with a screw.
The meat grinder is installed on a table or other horizontal surface and secured with a threaded element. If necessary, some material is placed under the base to ensure reliable fixation of the machine and prevent its movement during operation.
In order for the device to work perfectly, when assembling the structure, it is important to ensure that all actions are correct.
Rules for caring for a manual meat grinder
A mechanical meat grinder is a necessary tool in any kitchen, but you don’t need to use a dishwasher to clean it.After cooking, you will have to take a little time to clean it and prepare it for further use. To do this we proceed as follows:
- When finished using the device, it should be immediately disassembled and washed. Otherwise, the surface will be susceptible to oxidation.
- We remove food residues from knives and other parts using a stiff brush. The grate can be cleaned with a toothpick.
- We wash all parts in warm water.
- Apply a little non-aggressive dish soap to a sponge and process all the parts. If necessary, you can wipe the surface with baking soda and a brush.
- Rinse everything thoroughly and treat with boiling water.
- We wipe clean parts with a cotton towel or napkin and send them to a dry, warm place for final drying. If the meat grinder is not dried, then rust will form on it.
- We assemble the device, place it in a fabric bag or wrap it in paper and store it in a dry place.
A meat grinder is usually used to grind raw foods. Some of them may contain harmful microorganisms that, when entering the human body, cause irreparable harm. That is why high demands are placed on the sanitary treatment of the meat grinder and all surfaces in contact with meat.
If you are not sure of the high quality of the meat, then additionally treat the meat grinder with saline solution. It is prepared from water and salt: half a spoon of salt is dissolved in one liter of boiled water. The machine is immersed in a container with the solution in a disassembled, clean form; the processing time is about 15 minutes.
These simple recommendations will help restore a well-groomed appearance to your kitchen unit.At the same time, do not forget that repeated cleaning in the dishwasher may be the last. Therefore, for products that require special care, we prefer manual washing instead of automatic washing.
