Before washing dishware in a dishwasher, it is generally recommended to scrape off large food particles and leftovers but avoid fully rinsing the dishes. Modern dishwashers and detergents are designed to handle light food residue efficiently, and the enzymes in dishwasher detergents actually work better when some food is present for them to break down. Scraping off solid pieces of food prevents clogging of the dishwasher’s filter and ensures better cleaning performance without wasting water. Rinsing or pre-washing dishes is generally unnecessary and can reduce the effectiveness of dishwashing detergents, as well as waste water and energy. However, if there are heavily dried, burnt, or very sticky residues like baked-on cheese or barbecue sauce, a brief soak or gentle rinse may be helpful before loading these dishes into the dishwasher. In summary, the best practice is to scrape off excess food, load dishwasher- safe dishware strategically, and let the dishwasher and detergent do the cleaning, skipping a thorough pre-rinse unless absolutely necessary for tough residues.
