I put an aluminum wok lid in the dishwasher and it came out with black marks on it. I’ve also seen other aluminum cookware come out with some kind of white powder specs on it.
So apparently aluminum is dishwasher unsafe. But obviously it’s not the water that’s the problem. It must be the detergent. So the question is, what can a lazy motherfucker like myself do? Why don’t I see aluminum-safe dishwasher detergents on the shelf?
Possibly related: Bailey’s creme liquor turns black underneath an aluminum cap. Is that a chemical reaction or spoilage, or something else?
That is just the aluminum oxidizing. Essentially rust for aluminum. It will happen no mater what with aluminum cookware unless it is anodized or coated in something. Even then it will still happen eventually. To be fair, the dishwasher is going to affect the appearance of even the most expensive pots and pans over time. It’s one of those things where you either accept it or put in the work (and waste the water) to keep it looking nice. The solution for me was buying stainless steel, throwing it in the dishwasher most of the time then hitting it with barkeeper’s friend every once in a while.