Using One Dishwasher for Meat and Dairy Dishes

Question

Is it permissible to wash meat and dairy dishes in the same dishwasher, when running them separately, each time a different cycle? Does it matter that the water is hot and that the filter is shared?

Rav Adiria Pinchas · Accepted Answer

Shalom u-verachah,
The discussion here refers to a dishwasher in which the washing is not with clean hot water alone, but with hot water together with soap. From an examination of the books it emerges that there are several opinions on the matter, some more stringent and some less so; in general this halachah is more stringent for those who follow the ruling of the Rema. As a practical guideline, it is recommended to use the dishwasher only for meat dishes, and to wash the dairy dishes separately, or vice versa. Insofar as there is a need to use one dishwasher, one must always take care to place in the dishwasher only dishes without large and significant food residues, and to clean thoroughly all the parts, including the filter, between uses. It is preferable to designate a separate tray (on which the dishes are placed) for dairy and a separate tray for meat (and in particular those who follow the ruling of the Rema should be careful about this). And some have written that after the cleaning one should run the dishwasher "empty," without dishes, as a sort of self-kashering, between the dairy use and the meat use.