Today’s dishwashers are more than just cleaning machines; they’re time-savers that deliver spotless, dry dishes with minimal effort. The best drying dishwashers combine advanced drying technologies, efficient cleaning, and user-friendly features to ensure your dishes come out ready to use. This guide highlights the top 10 dishwashers excelling in drying performance, based on rigorous lab tests and real-world user feedback. From Bosch’s CrystalDry technology to Miele’s AutoOpen drying, these models tackle tough stains and leave even plastics bone-dry.
Top 10 Dishwashers for Superior Drying
1. Bosch 500 Series SHP65CM5N
The Bosch 500 Series SHP65CM5N is our pick for the best dishwasher you can currently buy. It offers excellent, reliable cleaning, can remove difficult food remnants, and will deliver dry dishes after its wash cycles. Top-tier drying with CrystalDry delivers bone-dry results – even on plastics – without the need for towel-drying or door popping. Virtually silent at 42 dB, so you can run it during dinner, nap time, or overnight without even noticing it’s on. A flexible 3rd rack, adjustable tines, and RackMatic system make room for everything from wine glasses to serving trays. Stainless-steel tub, solid racks, and a smooth, handle-free exterior give this dishwasher a high-end, durable feel. Cons: CrystalDry isn’t a heated element – may take getting used to.
- Buy now: Bosch 500 Series on Amazon
2. Miele G 5266 SCVi SFP
The Miele G 5266 SCVi SFP is one of the best dishwashers, offering great cleaning, sleek design, and functionality. During testing, it delivered nearly spotless dishes with no redeposit. And all the dishes we washed came out nice and dry. Maxing out at 42 dBA, it’s soft while running. Its third rack accommodates normal-sized utensils and flatware, as well as larger items, and the upper rack can be adjusted vertically and also tilted at an angle to help with loading and unloading. There’s not a lot to dislike about the G 5266, other than its premium price. Built to last 20 years – double the industry average. AutoDos auto-dispenses detergent perfectly every time. Auto-open door and fan ensure dishes come out dry. Cons: PowerDisks are pricey after your free 6-month supply.
- Buy now: Miele G 5266 on Amazon
3. Bosch 800 Series SHPM88Z75N
If you splurge for one of Bosch’s 800 Series dishwashers, that’ll be a problem of the past. The Bosch 800 Series uses minerals that store heat and absorb water, speeding up the drying process. Bosch calls the tech CrystalDry, and its 800 Series models will dry anything with ease, even plastics. Besides drying well, the dishwasher packs plenty of power to remove stains, and it shouldn’t have any issue cleaning leftovers off of greasy pots, messy plates, or gritty bowls. It has a specific cycle for heavy pots and pans, which will come in handy for cleaning up after a big dinner or event. The addition of a quick wash cycle is perfect for times when you need to run a load but the dishwasher isn’t completely full. Cons: Pricey, but worth it for the performance.
- Buy now: Bosch 800 Series on Amazon
4. Whirlpool WDT970SAKZ
The Whirlpool is a part of the brand’s Eco Series line, which uses less water and energy than the average dishwasher to tackle all types of dirty jobs. This dishwasher comes with three 5-inch cup shelves that fold down to create extra space for your other dishes. It also comes with a presoak and a pre-rinse cycle for those hard-to-remove grime stains, along with extended soak, boost, quick wash, sani rinse, heated dry, and extended dry cycles. Some users say dishes come out dry and spotless, but others say plastics sometimes retain moisture. A dishwasher’s heat-dry option improves drying, especially with glassware and ceramics. Cons: Reduced capacity compared to others, no delay start or glassware cycle.
- Buy now: Whirlpool WDT970SAKZ on Amazon
5. LG Signature LDP6810SS
Users love the LG Signature dishwasher for its drying performance. With TrueSteam technology, dishes come out dry and almost spotless. Even plastic items come out dry, so they don’t have to dry them with towels. With AutoRelease Dry, the door opens at the end of the cycle to help evaporate moisture so your dishes come out dry. Although some users report occasional minor dampness, especially with deeply concave items, the overall drying performance is excellent. The stainless steel tub resists stains and odors, and the removable filter is easy to clean. Cons: Some users cite problems with cleaning and fouling odors.
- Buy now: LG Signature LDP6810SS on Amazon
6. GE Profile PDT705SYWFS
This is one of the roomiest models around, making it ideal if you have a large family or entertain often. Not only can it hold a lot, but the rack configuration makes it easy to fit in plates of all sizes as well as oversized bowls and platters. GE also promises that its drying system will get everything, including plastics dry, so you can put everything away straight from the dishwasher. Among this dishwasher’s cycles are a sanitizing one and a quick one-hour wash. It has a stainless-steel interior and a third rack. With a 45dBA rating, it’s fairly quiet when it’s running. Cons: Some users report issues with drying concave items.
- Buy now: GE Profile PDT705SYWFS on Amazon
7. KitchenAid KDTM704KPS
You’ll love this KitchenAid dishwasher for its upscale design and love it all over again for its upgraded performance. With more than 4,000 perfect reviews, buyers agree this mid-range dishwasher is powerful, reliable, and convenient with features like an adjustable rack, ProWash technology, and heated drying. 30+ Wash Jets provide targeted cleaning across three wash arms, ensuring dishes come out spotless. Third Level Utensil Rack maximizes space for silverware, spatulas, and other long utensils. Cons: Some users complain of leaks which can lead to a moldy smell.
- Buy now: KitchenAid KDTM704KPS on Amazon
8. Samsung DW80R9950US
Samsung dishwashers are excellent for cleaning, with many people praising them for being able to handle tough, baked-on food residues. Users appreciate the linear wash feature for providing thorough coverage, ensuring dishes come out spotless. The AutoRelease Dry feature, which opens the door at the end of the cycle, is often hailed as an essential feature that promotes better air circulation and more effective drying. According to many reviews, dishes, including plastics, come out dry and ready to use. Cons: Heavier items might retain some moisture; some experts cite reliability concerns.
- Buy now: Samsung DW80R9950US on Amazon
9. Frigidaire FDPC4314AS
Clean dishes are one thing – but dry dishes? We love to see it! With this fan-assisted EvenDry technology, you’ll find your dishes are nice and dry thanks to the evenly distributed airflow. The NSF-Certified sanitization cycle removes 99.9% of bacteria from your dishes. This includes everyday household bacteria and is great for sanitizing baby items or dishes after someone in the family has been ill. Expect better coverage with this dishwasher. You’ll find a BladeSpray arm that rotates in two directions, ensuring better water coverage, even in far corners. Cons: Some customers found it difficult to fit in all their dishes due to spacing and loading issues.
- Buy now: Frigidaire FDPC4314AS on Amazon
10. Beko DUT25401
If you want a great value that still offers excellent cleaning, consider the Beko DUT25401, which we can’t rave about enough. In addition to leaving dishes spotless, the best dishwashers are easy to use and completely dry dishes, while also being quiet and energy efficient. They offer great functionality, with third racks or adjustable racks, and top-rated modern dishwashers are Wi-Fi enabled or can be operated with a smart home assistant. Cons: Limited availability in some regions.
- Buy now: Beko DUT25401 on Amazon
Comparison Table of Top Dishwashers
| Model | Drying Technology | Noise Level (dBA) | Capacity (Place Settings) | Price Range | Key Pros | Key Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bosch 500 Series SHP65CM5N | CrystalDry | 42 | 16 | $1,000-$1,200 | Bone-dry plastics, quiet, flexible racks | Non-traditional drying system |
| Miele G 5266 SCVi SFP | AutoOpen + Fan | 42 | 14 | $1,800-$2,200 | Long lifespan, auto detergent dispensing | High cost, pricey PowerDisks |
| Bosch 800 Series SHPM88Z75N | CrystalDry | 40 | 16 | $1,300-$1,500 | Excellent drying, powerful cleaning | Premium price |
| Whirlpool WDT970SAKZ | Heated Dry | 47 | 13 | $800-$1,000 | Eco-friendly, multiple cycles | Plastics may retain moisture |
| LG Signature LDP6810SS | TrueSteam + AutoRelease | 44 | 15 | $1,200-$1,400 | Great drying, sleek design | Occasional cleaning issues |
| GE Profile PDT705SYWFS | Dry Boost | 45 | 16 | $900-$1,100 | Roomy, quiet | Concave items may stay damp |
| KitchenAid KDTM704KPS | Heated Dry | 44 | 16 | $1,100-$1,300 | Powerful, stylish | Leak concerns |
| Samsung DW80R9950US | AutoRelease Dry | 42 | 15 | $1,000-$1,200 | Spotless cleaning, good drying | Reliability concerns |
| Frigidaire FDPC4314AS | EvenDry | 49 | 14 | $600-$800 | Affordable, sanitizes well | Loading challenges |
| Beko DUT25401 | Condensation Drying | 48 | 14 | $700-$900 | Great value, efficient | Limited availability |
Testing Scenarios and Performance
How Dishwashers Were Tested
When we test dishwashers, we challenge them with dirtier loads than you would ever have at home. And, we never pre-rinse anything before loading it in. Prior to testing the cleaning performance of various cycles, we uniformly apply, then bake-, dry- and burn-on mac and cheese, hamburger, oatmeal, egg yolk, milk and more to cookware and 10 five-piece settings of dishes, glassware, cups, saucers and flatware. We even “kiss” each coffee cup with lipstick, a stain that many dishwashers struggle to completely remove. Between staining, drying and cleaning each load, we spend at least 7 hours testing just one cycle, not counting the time it takes to examine each piece once the cycle is done.
In Consumer Reports’ labs, testers load each of our dishwasher candidates with 12 dirtied ceramic plates and run a regular cleaning cycle. Our experts also assess how well each model can dry dishes-and they take an especially close look at plastic items, which dishwashers tend to have more trouble drying. For noise, a panel of judges listens to an entire dishwasher cycle to identify ¡°any annoying noises,¡± as Larry Ciufo, who oversees dishwasher testing at CR, puts it. The dishwashers that make the least racket throughout the cycle receive the highest scores for noise.
Real-World Drying Performance
The Miele G7000 series was hands-down the most effective cleaner we tested. The dishwasher consistently turned out spotless dishes on a variety of cycles, entirely washing away dried-on oatmeal and microwaved-on foods like creamed spinach and beans, rice, and cheese. Notably, this dishwasher dries plastic items better than most models, thanks to its optional heated-dry cycles. The 58-minute QuickIntenseWash cycle was the best quick-cleaning cycle we’ve tested, particularly when used with Miele’s Deep Clean option. It’s the only hour-long cycle we tested that consistently delivered a pristine load.
Bosch’s CrystalDry technology transforms moisture into heat up to 176¡ãF, ensuring dishes, including plastics, are thoroughly dry at the end of each cycle. Samsung’s AutoRelease Dry feature opens the door at the end of the cycle to promote better air circulation, with many reviews noting that dishes, including plastics, come out dry and ready to use. LG’s TrueSteam technology also excels, though some deeply concave items may retain minor dampness.
Buying Guide for Dishwashers
Key Features to Consider
- Drying Technology: Look for models with advanced drying systems like Bosch’s CrystalDry, Miele’s AutoOpen, or LG’s TrueSteam for bone-dry results, especially on plastics.
- Noise Level: Quiet operation is key, especially in open-plan homes. Models under 45 dBA, like the Bosch 800 Series, are ideal.
- Capacity: For families or frequent entertainers, choose a standard 24-inch dishwasher with 12-16 place settings. Smaller households may prefer slimline or drawer models.
- Energy Efficiency: Energy Star-certified models save water and electricity. Whirlpool’s Eco Series and GE’s AutoSense cycle are great examples.
- Rack Flexibility: Adjustable racks, third racks, and foldable tines make loading easier. Bosch’s RackMatic and Miele’s adjustable upper rack are standout features.
Tips for Optimal Drying
- Use rinse aid to improve drying performance and prevent water spots.
- Run hot water before starting a cycle to ensure a more effective wash.
- Check and clean the spray arms to maintain optimal water flow.
- Leave the door open after a cycle to prevent mold and odors.
Pros and Cons of Top Drying Technologies
Bosch CrystalDry
- Pros: Dries plastics thoroughly, energy-efficient, quiet operation.
- Cons: Non-traditional drying may feel unfamiliar, premium price.
Miele AutoOpen
- Pros: Excellent drying, long lifespan, auto detergent dispensing.
- Cons: High initial cost, PowerDisks add ongoing expense.
LG TrueSteam
- Pros: Near-spotless drying, sleek design, Wi-Fi connectivity.
- Cons: Occasional dampness on concave items, mixed reliability reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the best dishwasher for drying plastics?
The Bosch 500 Series SHP65CM5N and Bosch 800 Series SHPM88Z75N excel at drying plastics due to their CrystalDry technology, which uses zeolite minerals to absorb moisture and generate heat up to 176¡ãF, ensuring bone-dry results.
Are heated dry cycles necessary for good drying?
Not always. Advanced systems like Miele’s AutoOpen or Samsung’s AutoRelease Dry use automatic door-opening mechanisms to enhance air circulation, often outperforming traditional heated dry cycles while saving energy.
How can I improve my dishwasher’s drying performance?
Use a rinse aid, ensure proper loading without overcrowding, and run hot water before starting the cycle. Leaving the door slightly ajar after the cycle can also help evaporate residual moisture.
Are expensive dishwashers worth the investment?
Premium models like Miele and Bosch offer superior drying, durability (up to 20 years), and features like Wi-Fi control or auto-dispensing detergent. For frequent use or large households, the investment can pay off in performance and longevity.
Which dishwasher is the quietest?
The Bosch 800 Series SHPM88Z75N operates at just 40 dBA, making it one of the quietest models available, ideal for open-plan kitchens or nighttime use.
Conclusion
Choosing a dishwasher with excellent drying performance can transform your kitchen routine. The Bosch 500 Series SHP65CM5N stands out for its CrystalDry technology and quiet operation, while the Miele G 5266 SCVi SFP offers premium features and longevity. For budget-conscious buyers, the Frigidaire FDPC4314AS and Beko DUT25401 deliver solid performance. Use this guide to find the model that fits your needs, and enjoy spotless, dry dishes with every load. For more kitchen appliance insights, check out Consumer Reports or Good Housekeeping.