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Overhead view of salmon that has been cooked in a jar filled with vegetables in the dishwasher

How to Cook Salmon in the Dishwasher

Last Modified: December 16, 2019 // by Tracy Ariza, DDS // November 21, 2019 I may receive a commission if you purchase through links in this post. Learn more here.

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A sustainable way to cook fish to flaky perfection, cooking in your dishwasher makes double use of the heat of the washing process, allowing you to conserve energy. Learn how and why to cook in the dishwasher and what foods work best. A simple salmon recipe for the dishwasher is also included. #sustainableliving #sustainable #nowaste #thethingswellmake #MIY
A sustainable way to cook fish to flaky perfection, cooking in your dishwasher makes double use of the heat of the washing process, allowing you to conserve energy. Learn how and why to cook in the dishwasher and what foods work best. A simple salmon recipe for the dishwasher is also included. #sustainableliving #sustainable #nowaste #thethingswellmake #MIY

Save energy by cooking salmon in the dishwasher while you clean your dishes. Not only is it a sustainable way to cook, but it also makes a deliciously flaky and moist fish.

Overhead view of salmon and cut veggies that were cooked in jars in the dishwasher.
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Several years ago, a dishwasher commercial here in Spain caught my eye. An Italian blogger showed off her method of cooking in the dishwasher, all while cleaning dishes. She even wrote a whole cookbook of recipes for dishwasher cooking.

Is it possible to cook in the dishwasher?

Seeing as I have a fondness for the unusual, and I also like to try to live as sustainably as possible, I figured I may as well give it a try.

With that in mind, one day, a couple of hours before lunchtime, after noticing that I still needed to wash my dishes, I decided to give it a try. Armed with a fillet of hake that my husband had fished the day before, I made my first attempt at dishwasher cooking.

And it worked. So, yes, you can definitely cook in the dishwasher. (I’ll elaborate in a second.) ?

Salmon in jars in the dishwasher, ready for cooking there.

What can be cooked in the dishwasher?

  • Fish is great for dishwasher cooking.
  • Vegetables also cook well
  • Pasta and couscous (In fact, the Mythbusters made lasagna in one…)

Why not try out some of my other seafood recipes?

Is it safe to cook in the dishwasher?

When the Mythbusters, together with Alton Brown, decided to take on the myth of if one could cook lasagna in the dishwasher, they tested the internal temperature with a temperature probe placed inside the dishwasher. Alton Brown was hoping for a heat of 140ºF for safety. Their dishwasher reached around 136º instead.

They proceeded anyway, and were actually quite surprised at how well their lasagna turned out. Of course, it lacked the browned top that would be achieved under a grill, but otherwise, it was delicious.

Keep in mind that for lasagna, the meat and sausage were pre-browned in a pan as they normally would be.

I’d suggest, for safety reasons, to stick with foods that don’t necessarily need to be completely cooked or that cook quickly to be safe to eat. Vegetables and pasta work well, as do fish recipes.

You’ll also want to make sure that you use a cycle that heats up adequately. Avoid especially light cycles. Some dishwashers have a “sanitize” cycle that heats to over 140º. Those may prove to be the best cycles for cooking.

How to keep the soapy water out

Most recipes I’ve seen online cooked fish or pasta wrapped in “heavy duty” aluminum foil. Many suggested cooking in the top part of the dishwasher without soap. Their premise was that fish cooked in the dishwasher tasted better than that cooked using other methods.

Cooking in the dishwasher without soap isn’t practical at all, though. It defeats the whole purpose of cooking in the dishwasher in the first place! (Wouldn’t you agree?)

While I’ve never tried using just foil myself, many people have successfully used it for cooking in the dishwasher.

I, on the other hand, usually use jars with rubber gasket seals. Using those types of jars, I’ve never had a problem with soapy water getting inside. I have also used other types of canning jars without issues.

Jars filled with vegetables and salmon, covered with foil.

That said, you can choose to cover the lid with aluminum foil, just to be safe.

My first attempt at dishwasher cooking

I decided to go all-in and rolled my fish fillet up in a jar with an airtight lid. That’s what the Italian blogger used. It also seemed like the most sustainable cooking option. The jar I used had a rubber gasket with a pressure clamped lid, but would it be enough?

  • Overhead view of hake in a jar with butter and thyme, ready for cooking in the dishwasher.
  • A fillet of hake of with butter, thyme, and garlic on top.

That first day, I cooked the fish with butter, garlic, and herbs. I minced the garlic, and sprinkled it on the fish along with some lemon thyme and salt. I also added few pieces of butter inside the fish before placing it in the jar.

I kept the “recipe” simple. After sealing it, I placed the jar into the dishwasher along with my dirty dishes. Then I crossed my fingers and started the wash cycle.

Halfway through the cycle, I peeked in…

A jar in the dishwasher filled with hake, ready for cooking it in the dishwasher.

I had my doubts…

Not only did the fish still look raw, but the butter hadn’t even melted yet. Plus, there seemed to be the tiniest bit of water in the bottom of my jar. I began to think I was going to end up with raw, soapy, fish for lunch.

I guess my dishwasher does most of its heating towards the end of the cycle, though. When finished, I could see that the butter had melted (at least). I still wasn’t sure about the fish, though.

A jar with hake that was cooked in the dishwasher

In the end, it was delicious!

Cooking in the dishwasher resulted in a very flaky and perfectly cooked moist, flavorful fish!

Having rolled up the fish to cook it, I wasn’t able to remove it in a way to take pretty plated photos.

In the end, I ate it out of the jar. As long as you’re saving energy cooking, why not save yourself the extra plate to cook?

Advantages

  • Save energy
  • Effortless
  • Cooks fish to perfection

Disadvantages of cooking in the dishwasher

  • Long cook time (Plan for around 1.5-2 hours)
  • Little control
  • May not fully cook or be safe for cooking some meats

Video

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Overhead view of salmon that has been cooked in a jar filled with vegetables in the dishwasher

Dishwasher Salmon

Save energy by cooking salmon in the dishwasher while you clean your dishes. Not only is it a sustainable way to cook, but it also makes a deliciously flaky and moist fish.
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours
Servings: 2 people
Calories: 371kcal
Author: Tracy Ariza, DDS

Equiment

  • dishwasher
  • canning jars

Ingredients

  • 300 g salmon fillets 2 fillets, 150g each
  • 1 zucchini
  • 1/2 red pepper
  • 2 Tbsp. butter
  • 1/8 tsp. salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/8 tsp. dill
  • 1/4 tsp. garlic powder

Instructions

  • Rinse and dry the zucchini and red pepper. Remove the seeds and stem from the red pepper. Dice the vegetables and add them to the bottom of 2 canning jars. Sprinkle them with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
  • Prepare the fish by seasoning it with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and dill. Place it over the vegetables in the jar.
  • Add 1 Tbsp. of butter to each jar, over the fish. Add any other desired seasonings.
  • Seal the jars shut. If you are worried about the air-tightness of your lid, cover the sealed jar with a sheet of aluminum foil.
  • Place the jars in the dishwasher and run a normal cycle.
  • When the cycle has finished (or towards the end of the dry cycle), remove the jars from the dishwasher.
  • Remove the aluminum foil, if used, and open the jars. You can eat the fish and vegetables directly from the jars or move them to a plate. Enjoy!

Notes

You can use fresh garlic instead of the garlic powder, but keep in mind that the minced garlic doesn’t cook for long enough to become milder in flavor. It, instead, remains quite strong in flavor which is why I suggested using garlic powder. 
Do not use quick or light dishwasher cycles.
You can cook the fish with other vegetables instead.
Other foods that cook well in the dishwasher include most vegetables, fish and seafood, couscous and other pasta dishes, etc.
Course Main Dish
Keyword fish, seafood
Other Diets Candida Diet, Dairy free, Gluten free, Keto, Low Carb, Paleo
Tried this recipe? Tag me today!Mention @thethingswellmake or tag #thethingswellmake!
Serving: 1fillet (150g) with vegetables | Calories: 371kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 120mg | Sodium: 195mg | Potassium: 1054mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1187IU | Vitamin C: 56mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 2mg

Have you ever tried cooking in the dishwasher? I’d love to hear what you’ve cooked and how it turned out!

Update Note

This post was originally published on March 7, 2015. It was rewritten and republished in November 2019 to add more information, a recipe, more pictures, and video.

Category: Seafood, Sustainable living

About Tracy Ariza, DDS

Tracy Ariza, B.A., D.D.S., left dentistry and the United States to found Oh, The Things We’ll Make!, writing to you from the Spanish Riviera. She loves making things herself in order to keep control of what goes in them. While far from perfect, she strives each day to live a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Hilary @ The Cleaner Walthamstow

    August 2, 2016 at 11:51 AM

    I have never heard of this idea! Actually, I was shocked and curious after seeing the title. I’m still not so sure I’ll try this but still a very interesting post. Maybe if you have other successful dishes cooked in the dishwasher you can share some photos again.

    Reply
    • Tracy Ariza

      August 2, 2016 at 12:54 PM

      Hi Hilary,
      Ha! Right?
      It’s kind of a crazy idea, but it actually does work. To be honest, I haven’t been very adventurous with my dishwasher cooking adventures. I have thrown a bit of fish in there occasionally, but I guess I’ve been afraid to put anything too labor intensive in there on the off chance that the seal that’s been working thus far gives out on me. You also have to plan ahead because the dishwasher takes so long, so it’s not a great idea to use the dishwasher when you’re already hungry.
      Maybe I should give it another shot, though, to add a few recipes to the post. That could be fun. šŸ™‚

      Reply
  2. TMJ Treatment Orange County

    June 2, 2016 at 3:50 PM

    What an interesting concept, not happy about how long it would take to cook, but I guess it’s a good way to learn patience, thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    • Tracy Ariza

      June 2, 2016 at 5:31 PM

      Haha- yes, very true. You have to plan ahead to make the most of it.

      Reply
  3. Sarah @ Sensibly Sustainable

    March 9, 2015 at 3:49 PM

    Say Whaaaat?! This is awesome, I’ve never heard of cooking in the dishwasher, lol!! You mentioned the book, does she say if some fish (or other things) don’t work quite as well as others?

    Reply
    • Tracy Ariza

      March 10, 2015 at 2:50 AM

      Hi Sarah.
      I know, right!?!? šŸ™‚
      I don’t actually have the book, nor do I know if it’s available in more languages than just Italian. (I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s available in English, though.)
      What I can say is that I’ve read all sorts of recipes that use the dishwasher to cook the foods. Obviously, fish and veggies are the easiest and safest, but I have seen people cook chicken in the dishwasher, too. I’d probably cut it into small pieces, and make sure it’s fully cooked before eating, and I’ll probably try it myself sometime soon.
      I actually even saw one place that said that someone had cooked a turkey in the dishwasher because it didn’t fit in the oven!! I don’t even want to think about how many cycles THAT would take!! Hahaha
      I guess some people are even crazier than I am. šŸ˜‰

      Reply
      • Tracy Ariza

        March 10, 2015 at 2:53 AM

        Here’s a link to the Italian blogger I mentioned. It appears that her book is available in English (mentioned at the end of the page).
        https://ecocucinaen.wordpress.com/about/

        Reply

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Hello, I’m Tracy!

I love making my own natural products like soaps and lotions and my own pantry items like yogurt and salad dressings.
Why do I do it? Sometimes to save money, sometimes because it's healthier, but I always love having control of the ingredients!​
Oh, the things we'll make!...

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