12 cleaning mistakes that might be ruining the taste of your food
We're all guilty of at least some of these
Not getting all the grounds out of your grinder.
Not getting all of the grounds out of your grinder.
As tedious as it might be to wash your grinder with soap and water on a daily basis, it's key to do so if you're passionate about your morning coffee. "Coffee bean oils may turn rancid and give fresh coffee an off taste," says Carolyn Forte, director of the Cleaning Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute.
PHOTO: Getty
Cooking on a dirty grill.
Cooking on a dirty grill.
"Charred bits and flavors of previously cooked food can transfer to fresh foods," Forte says. Yuck. To clean grill grates, the Good Housekeeping Institute recommends scrubbing the surface with coil brushes that don't have bristles or some crumpled aluminum foil.
PHOTO: Getty
Cleaning a skillet in the dishwasher.
Cleaning a skillet in the dishwasher.
Washing with mild soap is OK, but the dishwasher is not: "What will strip the seasoning off a skillet is ," says Sharon Franke, the director of the Kitchen Appliances and Technology Lab in our Good Housekeeping Institute. And because seasoning prevents foods from sticking to a pan, this could cause your dinner to cook unevenly.
PHOTO: Getty
Using a strongly scented dishwasher detergent.
Using a strongly scented dishwasher detergent.
It's true: Not all detergents are made equally. "I've heard complaints that sometimes dishwasher cleaners are so heavily fragranced that people complain the scent lingers on their dishes," Forte says. And who wants their plate of pasta to taste like soap?
PHOTO: Getty
Not cleaning oven spills promptly.
Not cleaning oven spills promptly.
Unfortunately, juicy spills in your oven shouldn't be put off until tomorrow. " not only bake on more with subsequent cooking, but they can emit odors that may impact the taste or smell of fresh food cooking in there," Forte says.
PHOTO: Getty
Not flushing your coffeemaker after a deep clean.
Not flushing your coffeemaker after a deep clean.
If you descale your coffeemaker with white vinegar every month, bravo. But if you notice your morning mug doesn't taste the same the next day, we might know why: "Not thoroughly flushing the coffeemaker after descaling it could give your next cup of coffee a vinegar taste and smell," Forte says.
PHOTO: Getty
Not rinsing plastic containers after use.
Not rinsing plastic containers after use.
By immediately removing the food and juices that are stuck on the sides, you'll help eliminate smells and stains as early as possible. But, if you forget this step (and we've all been there!), lingering odors could impact , Forte says.
PHOTO: Getty
Using too much dishwasher detergent.
Using too much dishwasher detergent.
Sometimes more is not better, and this is proof: Use too much of this stuff and you could be left with residue on your plates. Yuck. If you do make this mistake, though, Forte says you'll (hopefully) notice before you start to eat: "Chances are you'll see or smell the residue and wash it off before using the plates."
PHOTO: Getty
Letting utensils nestle in your dishwasher.
Letting your utensils nestle in your dishwasher.
When you load forks, spoons, and knives all facing the same way, they tend to nestle together, which prevents your appliance from doing a thorough wash job. "Spoons, particularly, can nest in the dishwasher, but when that happens, you rewash them," Forte says. Or, you could load your dishwasher with every other utensil facing the opposite direction.
PHOTO: Getty
Putting your garlic press in the dishwasher.
Putting your garlic press in the dishwasher.
This tool should really be hand-washed. "Washing it in the dishwasher will lead to dried garlic in holes that will prevent it from working properly," Franke says. Meaning you might not be able to get all the garlic you need for your recipe out of your press the next time you use it.
PHOTO: Getty
Not rinsing bleach carefully.
Not rinsing bleach carefully.
Even though this cleaning agent is a beast at killing bacteria and other things you don't want to ingest, if not rinsed away well, its taste could ruin your food. "This has happened to me with a coffee filter," Franke warns. So make sure you rinse thoroughly to prevent any strange tastes.
PHOTO: Getty
Not rinsing dishes well enough.
Not rinsing dishes well enough.
Have you ever gone to pick up a glass off of your drying rack, only to fill it with water and gulp a mouthful of soapy liquid? Yuck. Speeding through the rinse process can have immediate consequences.
PHOTO: Getty
Not getting all the grounds out of your grinder.
Not getting all of the grounds out of your grinder.
As tedious as it might be to wash your grinder with soap and water on a daily basis, it's key to do so if you're passionate about your morning coffee. "Coffee bean oils may turn rancid and give fresh coffee an off taste," says Carolyn Forte, director of the Cleaning Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute.
PHOTO: Getty
Cooking on a dirty grill.
Cooking on a dirty grill.
"Charred bits and flavors of previously cooked food can transfer to fresh foods," Forte says. Yuck. To clean grill grates, the Good Housekeeping Institute recommends scrubbing the surface with coil brushes that don't have bristles or some crumpled aluminum foil.
PHOTO: Getty
Cleaning a skillet in the dishwasher.
Cleaning a skillet in the dishwasher.
Washing with mild soap is OK, but the dishwasher is not: "What will strip the seasoning off a skillet is ," says Sharon Franke, the director of the Kitchen Appliances and Technology Lab in our Good Housekeeping Institute. And because seasoning prevents foods from sticking to a pan, this could cause your dinner to cook unevenly.
PHOTO: Getty
Using a strongly scented dishwasher detergent.
Using a strongly scented dishwasher detergent.
It's true: Not all detergents are made equally. "I've heard complaints that sometimes dishwasher cleaners are so heavily fragranced that people complain the scent lingers on their dishes," Forte says. And who wants their plate of pasta to taste like soap?
PHOTO: Getty
Not cleaning oven spills promptly.
Not cleaning oven spills promptly.
Unfortunately, juicy spills in your oven shouldn't be put off until tomorrow. " not only bake on more with subsequent cooking, but they can emit odors that may impact the taste or smell of fresh food cooking in there," Forte says.
PHOTO: Getty
Not flushing your coffeemaker after a deep clean.
Not flushing your coffeemaker after a deep clean.
If you descale your coffeemaker with white vinegar every month, bravo. But if you notice your morning mug doesn't taste the same the next day, we might know why: "Not thoroughly flushing the coffeemaker after descaling it could give your next cup of coffee a vinegar taste and smell," Forte says.
PHOTO: Getty
Not rinsing plastic containers after use.
Not rinsing plastic containers after use.
By immediately removing the food and juices that are stuck on the sides, you'll help eliminate smells and stains as early as possible. But, if you forget this step (and we've all been there!), lingering odors could impact , Forte says.
PHOTO: Getty
Using too much dishwasher detergent.
Using too much dishwasher detergent.
Sometimes more is not better, and this is proof: Use too much of this stuff and you could be left with residue on your plates. Yuck. If you do make this mistake, though, Forte says you'll (hopefully) notice before you start to eat: "Chances are you'll see or smell the residue and wash it off before using the plates."
PHOTO: Getty
Letting utensils nestle in your dishwasher.
Letting your utensils nestle in your dishwasher.
When you load forks, spoons, and knives all facing the same way, they tend to nestle together, which prevents your appliance from doing a thorough wash job. "Spoons, particularly, can nest in the dishwasher, but when that happens, you rewash them," Forte says. Or, you could load your dishwasher with every other utensil facing the opposite direction.
PHOTO: Getty
Putting your garlic press in the dishwasher.
Putting your garlic press in the dishwasher.
This tool should really be hand-washed. "Washing it in the dishwasher will lead to dried garlic in holes that will prevent it from working properly," Franke says. Meaning you might not be able to get all the garlic you need for your recipe out of your press the next time you use it.
PHOTO: Getty
Not rinsing bleach carefully.
Not rinsing bleach carefully.
Even though this cleaning agent is a beast at killing bacteria and other things you don't want to ingest, if not rinsed away well, its taste could ruin your food. "This has happened to me with a coffee filter," Franke warns. So make sure you rinse thoroughly to prevent any strange tastes.
PHOTO: Getty
Not rinsing dishes well enough.
Not rinsing dishes well enough.
Have you ever gone to pick up a glass off of your drying rack, only to fill it with water and gulp a mouthful of soapy liquid? Yuck. Speeding through the rinse process can have immediate consequences.
PHOTO: Getty
Not getting all the grounds out of your grinder.
Not getting all of the grounds out of your grinder.
As tedious as it might be to wash your grinder with soap and water on a daily basis, it's key to do so if you're passionate about your morning coffee. "Coffee bean oils may turn rancid and give fresh coffee an off taste," says Carolyn Forte, director of the Cleaning Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute.
PHOTO: Getty
Cooking on a dirty grill.
Cooking on a dirty grill.
"Charred bits and flavors of previously cooked food can transfer to fresh foods," Forte says. Yuck. To clean grill grates, the Good Housekeeping Institute recommends scrubbing the surface with coil brushes that don't have bristles or some crumpled aluminum foil.
PHOTO: Getty
Cleaning a skillet in the dishwasher.
Cleaning a skillet in the dishwasher.
Washing with mild soap is OK, but the dishwasher is not: "What will strip the seasoning off a skillet is ," says Sharon Franke, the director of the Kitchen Appliances and Technology Lab in our Good Housekeeping Institute. And because seasoning prevents foods from sticking to a pan, this could cause your dinner to cook unevenly.
PHOTO: Getty
Using a strongly scented dishwasher detergent.
Using a strongly scented dishwasher detergent.
It's true: Not all detergents are made equally. "I've heard complaints that sometimes dishwasher cleaners are so heavily fragranced that people complain the scent lingers on their dishes," Forte says. And who wants their plate of pasta to taste like soap?
PHOTO: Getty
Not cleaning oven spills promptly.
Not cleaning oven spills promptly.
Unfortunately, juicy spills in your oven shouldn't be put off until tomorrow. " not only bake on more with subsequent cooking, but they can emit odors that may impact the taste or smell of fresh food cooking in there," Forte says.
PHOTO: Getty
Not flushing your coffeemaker after a deep clean.
Not flushing your coffeemaker after a deep clean.
If you descale your coffeemaker with white vinegar every month, bravo. But if you notice your morning mug doesn't taste the same the next day, we might know why: "Not thoroughly flushing the coffeemaker after descaling it could give your next cup of coffee a vinegar taste and smell," Forte says.
PHOTO: Getty
Not rinsing plastic containers after use.
Not rinsing plastic containers after use.
By immediately removing the food and juices that are stuck on the sides, you'll help eliminate smells and stains as early as possible. But, if you forget this step (and we've all been there!), lingering odors could impact , Forte says.
PHOTO: Getty
Using too much dishwasher detergent.
Using too much dishwasher detergent.
Sometimes more is not better, and this is proof: Use too much of this stuff and you could be left with residue on your plates. Yuck. If you do make this mistake, though, Forte says you'll (hopefully) notice before you start to eat: "Chances are you'll see or smell the residue and wash it off before using the plates."
PHOTO: Getty
Letting utensils nestle in your dishwasher.
Letting your utensils nestle in your dishwasher.
When you load forks, spoons, and knives all facing the same way, they tend to nestle together, which prevents your appliance from doing a thorough wash job. "Spoons, particularly, can nest in the dishwasher, but when that happens, you rewash them," Forte says. Or, you could load your dishwasher with every other utensil facing the opposite direction.
PHOTO: Getty
Putting your garlic press in the dishwasher.
Putting your garlic press in the dishwasher.
This tool should really be hand-washed. "Washing it in the dishwasher will lead to dried garlic in holes that will prevent it from working properly," Franke says. Meaning you might not be able to get all the garlic you need for your recipe out of your press the next time you use it.
PHOTO: Getty
Not rinsing bleach carefully.
Not rinsing bleach carefully.
Even though this cleaning agent is a beast at killing bacteria and other things you don't want to ingest, if not rinsed away well, its taste could ruin your food. "This has happened to me with a coffee filter," Franke warns. So make sure you rinse thoroughly to prevent any strange tastes.
PHOTO: Getty
Not rinsing dishes well enough.
Not rinsing dishes well enough.
Have you ever gone to pick up a glass off of your drying rack, only to fill it with water and gulp a mouthful of soapy liquid? Yuck. Speeding through the rinse process can have immediate consequences.
PHOTO: Getty
We're all guilty of at least some of these
After going above and beyond while , you're probably not thinking about how your cleaning could impact your food. But we have some bad news: That hard work might end up ruining the taste of tomorrow's dinner. Try avoiding these cleaning mistakes next time around, and your cup of coffee will taste so much better.