Depending on who you ask, the dishwasher is either a godsend or a necessary evil.

For those who hate doing dishes by hand, the dishwasher is a welcome addition to the kitchen. But for those who prefer to wash their dishes by hand, the dishwasher can be seen as an unnecessary appliance that takes up valuable counter space.

Whatever your opinion, there's no denying that the dishwasher can be a time-saving appliance - especially when it comes to cleaning large items like pots and pans.

And as it turns out, the dishwasher can also be used to clean another kitchen staple: Dirty potatoes.

The potato-washing hack has quickly gone viral and it's making mealtime, apparently, much easier.

Barbara Costello, known as @brunchwithbabs on TikTok, shared a video masterclass of her washing potatoes in the dishwasher for Thanksgiving, and it has since garnered nearly 6 million views and over 566,000 likes.

”You’re making potatoes for a crowd — don’t hand wash all these potatoes. Do put your dishwasher to use," says Barbara

"Just load up your dishwasher with those potatoes and put it on a quick rinse cycle — obviously no soap."

According to this popular "hack", simply adding a few potatoes to the top rack of an empty dishwasher cycle can help to clean stubborn residue, grime, and dirt. While some commenters have voiced concerns about soapy or gritty residue making its way into the potatoes, others argue that this hack is perfectly safe - and worth trying if you're looking for an easy way to get your potatoes clean.

It’s no surprise that many people are skeptical of this hack—after all, why put yourself at risk for potential contamination when there are simpler alternatives? Especially when it comes to something as important as food safety! It's not worth risking your family's health just for a few minutes of convenience. Additionally, some people have pointed out that this practice isn't very eco-friendly either; running an entire cycle of dishes (and water) just for one potato doesn't make sense from an environmental standpoint either.  

And to no surprise, food safety experts are clear when it comes to washing potatoes in the dishwasher: don't do it! According to Dr. Catherine Cutter, a professor of food science at Penn State University, “There are too many opportunities for foodborne illness from cross contamination from other foods or items being washed at the same time with soils containing bacteria."

She continues, "It would be safer to peel and wash them by hand instead of running them through a dishwashing machine where you could potentially be contaminating other items with bacteria from the soil."

Although it may seem like a quick and easy way to clean them, experts advise against washing potatoes in the dishwasher. The detergent that is used in dishwashers is not meant to be consumed, and it can potentially contaminate the potatoes if they are washed in the machine.

Additionally, potatoes are porous, meaning that bacteria or other residues can be absorbed into them. For these reasons, it is best to wash potatoes by hand using soap and water. This will help to ensure that they are free of contaminants before being consumed.

In conclusion, while washing potatoes in the dishwasher may seem like a great shortcut on paper, it's not worth taking any risks with your family's health—especially when there are simpler alternatives available! From a food safety standpoint as well as an environmental perspective, it's better to avoid this hack altogether. So if you're looking for shortcuts in kitchen clean-up duty, stick with traditional methods like peeling and boiling instead!