The age-old question of which way to load your cutlery into the dishwasher has sparked debates in kitchens everywhere and anywhere - Should your knives, forks, and spoons go up or down?
Well, don’t spend the week worrying, because we've got the definitive answer for your next load.
Why should you put your cutlery pointing down in the dishwasher?
I mean, the obvious goes without saying - when it comes to forks and knives, they're safest with their pointy ends down. Let’s be real, no one wants a surprise stab while unloading a fresh wash.
Speaking of unloading a wash, leaving your cutlery pointing down is the most hygienic way of handling your clean dishes.
“This approach ensures you won't touch the part of your silverware that goes into your mouth when unloading the dishwasher,” says Jessica Petrino, educator and appliance expert.
If you do put your cutlery face down, Consumer NZ suggests making sure to mix knives and forks around - the last thing you want is for a little spooning action to get in the way of the cleaning process.
No one likes finding any leftovers on their cutlery when digging into their next meal.
Why should you put your cutlery pointing up in the dishwasher?
Finish NZ weighs in on the great cutlery debate, suggesting that the orientation of your cutlery depends on the dishwasher's capacity.
They wrote: “It’s best to point spoon handles down to save room.”
So, if you've got some breathing room, go ahead and place your spoon handles up.
Expert Bree Lemmen, kitchen brand manager for Whirlpool, told Martha Stewart: “Pointing utensils up in the dishwasher—with the handles down—will give you the deepest clean.
“This method keeps the silverware from nesting back-to-back, allowing more room for the water to get in between the silverware.”
We asked you - our 'Breeze In The Kitchen' Facebook Group - if you're 'Team Up' or 'Team Down,' to get this sorted once and for all.
And there was a clear cut winner...
Despite the majority of the expert advice pointing towards the sharp ends pointing down, the definitive answer goes to - pause for suspense - Team Up!
The people have spoken. Are you with the rest of the general public or are you sticking to your guns? Either way, I think we can ALL agree that knives will forever go pointed down, right... RIGHT?!
