Scratched a nonstick pan by rinsing it in the sink first

I always rinse plates before they go in the dishwasher. Last Tuesday I was rinsing a nonstick frying pan under hot water and a stray fork from the sink slipped and put a scratch right in the middle. Now the coating is peeling. My wife said I should have just scraped the food off directly into the trash and put it in the rack. She might be right. Has anyone else messed up a pan during the pre rinse step?

2 comments

2 Comments

margaret_singh11d ago

Wait, do you really do that pre rinse thing for nonstick pans? I used to always give mine a quick rinse before the dishwasher too, thought it was just being thorough. But after my wife caught me scratching our favorite pan with a metal spatula she was pretty upset. Now I just scrape the food off with a wooden spoon and put it straight in the rack. Honestly I wish I had listened to her earlier because that coating is delicate. Since then I check the sink for anything sharp before I toss a nonstick pan in there.

ellis.victor1d ago

Might be missing something obvious but the dishwasher itself is probably worse for nonstick than any pre rinse would be. The high heat and harsh detergents can break down that coating over time. Hand washing with a soft sponge and mild soap has kept my pans going for years.