Is dishwasher useful for Indian kitchen? Of course it is. You just need to pick the right one.
Dishwasher is the ultimate appliance which saves both your time and energy. Dishwashers are not really a well-known product for the Indian kitchens, perhaps due to the misconception that Indian utensils are not fit to be cleaned in a dishwasher.
But, with increasing urbanization and changing status of lifestyle, the market for dishwashers in India is experiencing an uplift with a substantial increase in growth.
Indian cooking involves the extensive use of oil and spices which soils the utensils gravely. Moreover, Indian cooking is carried out in deep kadais, patilas and other stainless steel cookware which are not very common in western cooking.
Hence, the dishwashers that are used in other countries may not be appropriate for cleaning the typical utensils used in Indian kitchens.
In this article, we are going to have a look at how to choose a dishwasher for Indian kitchen. This means, we will look at those features which have been engineered exclusively to cater the demands of Indian utensils.
So, let us get started.
Is dishwasher useful for Indian kitchen or utensils?
This is the most asked question in every platform. Well, yes, a dishwasher is appropriate for Indian kitchens. But you need to go with the ones that have been designed for the Indian kitchens.
As I have already mentioned in the beginning that Indian utensils are very different in nature with large deep seated kadais, patilas, handis, pressure cookers being at the center of the lot. Dishwashers which have been claimed appropriate for the Indian kitchens are those which have programs that can deal with these utensils.
The dishwasher which is designed to suit the Indian kitchen leads to soiling of utensils to an infinite level because the dishes involve the extensive use of fatty cooking medium. It also leads to the effective cleaning of these utensils.
Hence, a dishwasher is absolutely useful in any Indian kitchen. What you really need to look for is whether it has been programmed for the Indian utensils or not.
Who should buy a dishwasher?
This is a very practical question. Well, if we look at the Indian way of lifestyle and cooking, I would say that every one should go with a dishwasher. It is actually an essential component of the kitchen.
But, if I have to emphasize on the fact that which is the group that needs it badly, I would say that in homes where both the members are working and have least time to spend for these household chores, a dishwasher is an absolute necessity.
After spending the entire day in hectic projects, nobody would love to do the dishes. Moreover, when there is a gadget available, you must not worry about that as well.
Secondly, in posh areas and metropolitan cities, one hardly gets a good maid and the wages of the maids are also extremely high to afford. In such cases, you can go with a dishwasher.
Yes, it is a one-time investment but can save you of the recurring costs and efforts in the long run.
How to choose a dishwasher for Indian kitchen
Dishwashers are a real saver of time, energy, water, and effort when it comes to cleaning of the utensils. At the same time, the initial cost of dishwashers is also quite high.
So, you do not want to end up buying anything that is unworthy for your kitchen. So, let us have a quick look on how you can choose a dishwasher for Indian kitchen.
1. The size
Choosing the right size of dishwasher is the first big task. There are two varieties of dishwashers – compact and standard. Compact as its name suggests is smaller in width, usually 18 inches and therefore fits within a small space but at the same time can handle less load than standard.
The standard variant on the other hand is of 24 inches width, which can handle more load but needs a larger space to fit in. You can choose the one which suits you better depending on your requirements and the availability of space.
2. Look for the one that makes less noise
Get hold of a variety which makes the least noise. Any dishwasher which produces less than 50 dB of noise while operating should be ideal for a household. The other varieties make such a great noise that you will soon feel irritated and disgusted with the appliance. It is a wise decision to go for such dishwashers that provide options for customizing every aspect of cleaning the dishes.
3. Does it have adjustable racks?
Choose a dishwasher which has the option of adjustable racks. The benefit that you get in case of adjustable racks is that you can arrange the utensils in the best possible way. Especially, for the utensils that are common in Indian kitchens, the adjustable rack makes it easier to make all the utensils fit in.
The racks should be height adjustable as well and must include the roller movement features to facilitate the ease of locomotion. The choice of racks is far more important than what we think. So, it is absolutely essential that you go for a dishwasher with good racks.
4. Stainless steel racks
Always choose a model which has stainless steel racks in it. Most of the cheap dishwashers includes plastic tubs within them. The plastic tubs generally get worn out after prolonged use. Moreover, they also delay the drying process.
On the other hand, if you choose a stainless-steel rack, it shall be a life long investment. The stainless-steel racks have the least possibilities of getting rusted. Moreover, they really aid in quick drying and provide the experience of a clean and odour free cleaning.
5. The features
The best dishwasher for Indian cooking should have multiple updated washing cycles. A dishwasher is not simply cleaning and drying. Recent updates in dishwashing cycles make them far more advanced.
Options, such as pre-rinsing, sanitizing the utensils are must to have for a proper dishwashing task. Look for these features when you invest in a good dishwashing machine. Also, try to have a scrutiny over the finer details like the presence of sensor for detection of leakages.
The best dishwashing machines must have features, which optimizes the use of washing liquids and water. Also, try to choose the ones that are energy efficient. Choose the ones which can adjust the temperature of water according to the level of soiling.
6. Less power and water consumption
Always remember, the dishwasher made for Indian kitchen will be the one, which works by optimizing all the aspects. That means a well to do dishwasher is the one that will optimize the usage of cleaning liquid, rule out the possibility of use of excessive water, and also optimize the power consumption.
7. Sturdy body
A sturdy heavy-duty model is always the best possible choice for anyone. There may be less of features and least details and it could be just a basic dishwasher but what you cannot compromise with is the shelf life of the dishwasher that is conferred by a sturdy body.
8. Adjustable racks vs fixed trays?
Sliding and height adjustable racks cost more but have their own advantages. But, if you think that you hardly use a lot of utensils and do not need an adjustable one, you can switch over to the fixed ones which shall cost you considerably less.
If you are really tight on budget, you can also go around choosing the ones which come with plastic trays. They also reduce the initial investment.
Using dishwasher vs hand washing: how much water and energy I can save?
Hand washing is not only tedious but leads to wastage of a great deal of water. Studies have clearly proven that washing dishes by hand leads to usage of 5 times more water than what would be required in a dishwashing machine.
Now, strictly speaking, that is not a fault. It does take more water when you are doing the dishes by hands. You keep the water running and go on rinsing the plates and scrubbing them. So, when it comes to water optimization, you cannot beat a dishwasher.
Apart from water, the effort needed for doing the dishes by hands is far more yet the outcome is definitely far better in case of dishwashers. Now, men cannot beat machines is true and that is what the machines had literally evolved for.
There are also multiple sensors in dishwashers which sense leakage and thus eliminate every chance of water wastage. As for the energy consumption, the man power is of course diminished and you can spend the time after a meal or cooking by relaxing and not fighting with the stains.
Your weekends can be adorned with tasty dishes and not the freaky smelling utensils. Well, always check out the power consumption rating of a dishwasher before purchasing to ensure that it does not burn a hole in your pocket with its contribution towards the monthly bills.
Bosch vs IFB vs Siemens dishwasher: which is better?
Bosch is definitely the best brand when it comes to dishwashers. The features of Bosch are far more customer friendly and any novice can also get acquainted with it in a really small time.
What is an important thing to note is that, Bosch and Siemens are practically the same company (BSH Hausgeräte). Siemens has no individual ownership now as it has sold all its shares to Bosch.
So, the difference is only in the name whereas the origin is the same, that is, Bosch.
Now, what really would then matter is the model and features of each model. So, you can go with the model that suits you the best.
How to use dishwasher correctly for Indian utensils
Here are the steps that you need to follow to use a dishwasher properly:
1. Clear away all the chunky solid food particulate remains from the utensils. This will cause a hindrance in washing.
2. Assort the utensils in the tracks in the correct way. This is perhaps the most crucial step in the use of a dishwasher.
- The plates usually go into the bottom most rack, where slots are assigned for them. Make sure to maintain a minimum distance between every two plate to ensure proper cleaning.
- The deep pans and pots also go in the bottom rack. The correct way to place them is keeping the open side facing downward.
- The small bowls and boxes all go in the topmost rack.
- The cups, mugs, and glasses must be kept at an angle. You can use any plastic holder to prevent them from tripping.
- The cutlery must be placed in an appropriate space designated for them. They must be placed in a handle down position.
3. Check out if the spinning arms are freely rotating or not. Clear their paths by removing any possible obstruction.
4. Now, add the detergent or cleaning liquid in the designated soap dispensing unit. You could also add some pre-rinse liquid before washing if your machine supports a pre-rinsing feature. This avoids the hassles of manual cleaning.
5. The dispensing pipe must be cleared before turning the dishwasher on. You can also use a separate garbage dispenser dedicated to this purpose.
6. Try to allow the entrance of hot water into the dishwasher, which aids in better cleaning. This can be easily achieved if you keep the normal tap open for a few minutes prior to dishwashing. Once the flow of moderately hot water starts from the tap, turn the dishwasher on.
Conclusion
Dishwashers are not quiet popular among the Indian households mainly because of lack of awareness and the misconceptions surrounding it. Of course, they work great in Indian kitchens and can save you a lot of time and effort in washing your utensils.
The traditional way of Indian meals involves the preparation of large number of dishes. Hence, cooking for each meal generates a large number of unclean utensils and it is very tiring to wash all of them. A dishwasher does the job of scrubbing and cleaning the Indian utensils far better than human hands could ever do.
Go get one right now!