9 Best Drying Dishwashers (Reviews and Buying Guide 2020)

The best drying dishwashers are somewhat of a rarity.

Some dishwashers struggle with drying plastics and silverware even if they have an extra drying cycle. However, the ones we chose for this list have yielded the best results so far.

Best drying dishwashers (Updated List)

On this list, we will be focusing on the best drying dishwashers currently available.

But before we get into the actual rankings, here are the top three dishwashers with high drying capabilities that have impressed us:

Name	Product	Best for	Price
Thermador Star Sapphire DWHD870WFP		Best drying dishwasher overall	Best Buy App. Connection AJ Madison
Samsung StormWash DW80R5061US Dishwasher		Best drying dishwasher with air dry function	Best Buy App. Connection AJ Madison
KitchenAid KDTM404KPS Dishwasher		Best drying dishwasher for sanitization	Best Buy Abt Goedeker’s

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9. Maytag MDB4949SHZ Built-in Dishwasher

Weight:	54 pounds
Dimensions:	34 1/2 x 23 7/8 x 24 1/2 inches
Standard cycles:	6
Place settings:	14

One of the best drying dishwashers from Maytag is the MDB4949SHZ Built-in Dishwasher.

Apart from drying dishes well, it is also resilient against hard food remains due to its 4-bladed chopper. Users like its quiet operation of only 50 decibels, which is only slightly higher than the ambient sounds in a library.

The Maytag MDB4949SHZ Dishwasher reviews also mention that it’s easy to install as long as you already have an installation kit from an older dishwasher and that the touch controls are easy to operate and intuitive.

Verdict

The Maytag MDB4949SHZ Built-in Dishwasher heats water so well that dishes come out dry and sanitized on every single washing cycle.

Our only major complaint about it is that it doesn’t handle water hardness all that well, but even that can be solved with a detergent made for hard water.

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8. General Electric GDT605PSMSS Dishwasher

Weight:	82 pounds
Dimensions:	24 x 23.75 x 33.37 inches
Standard cycles:	4
Place settings:	16

The GE GDT605PSMSS Dishwasher has dedicated silverware jets that specifically target utensils.

It actively eliminates the need for pre-rinsing and soaking through its steam prewash function that loosens tough soils before any cycle. The General Electric GDT605PSMSS also lets you wash just the upper or lower racks to conserve water and electricity when you don’t need to clean a full load.

It also features the patented Piranha hard food dispenser with a stainless steel blade rotating at 3,600 RPM to pulverize food particles and help prevent large particles from clogging the wash arms. Finally, another thing that we like about this excellent drying dishwasher is its bottle wash jet that cleans hard to reach places from glasses and other tall items.

Verdict

The General Electric GDT605PSMSS Dishwasher is, so far, the best drying dishwasher from this famous brand.

While a few users have complained about problems with their unit, it is not a general rule of thumb. Many other people have been using this dishwasher for several years without running into trouble.

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7. LG LDF5545ST Dishwasher

Weight:	75 pounds
Dimensions:	23 3/4 x 24 3/5 x 33 3/5 inches
Standard cycles:	9
Place settings:	15

The LG LDF5545ST Dishwasher is one of the most touted out of LG’s current line-up of appliances.

It comes with several smart dishwasher features, one of which is the patented SmartDiagnosis system that helps troubleshoot a problem quickly and efficiently right over your phone.

Another feature we like about the LG LDF5545ST Dishwasher is that it takes a lot of the guessing games out, as it senses the amount of grime on your dishes and sets the best wash cycle for optimal cleaning. Furthermore, it also has a feature that lets you wash only items on the lower or upper rack to save on water and energy if you don’t need a full load.

Verdict

The LG LDF5545ST Dishwasher has a plethora of smart dishwasher features at an affordable price.

Coming included with it is a cup holder, cutlery basket, and a simple to read and understand manual that goes over through the installation process and many troubleshooting options.

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6. Frigidaire FFCD2413US Dishwasher

Weight:	83 pounds
Dimensions:	35 x 24 x 25 inches
Standard cycles:	3
Place settings:	14

One of the best budget dishwashers under $500 is the Frigidaire FFCD2413US Dishwasher.

You can get the dishwasher in three different variants: stainless steel, black, and white. Leaving the aesthetics aside, the Frigidaire FFCD2413US is a reliable drying dishwasher that has received numerous positive reviews on many commercial websites.

While it may not have as many features as the other best drying dishwashers on our list, we can’t really complain about the price. It does a good job when it comes to both cleaning and drying all types of dishes. It won’t dry plastics as well, but for other types it works great.

Verdict

The Frigidaire FFCD2413US Dishwasher isn’t all that impressive, but when it comes to cleaning and drying, you can’t complain, especially for the price.

If you’re willing to sacrifice quietness for a good dry and still keep your wallet relatively full at the end of the day, this model is a great choice overall.

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5. Whirlpool WDT730PAHZ Dishwasher with Fan Dry

Weight:	54.9 pounds
Dimensions:	23 7/8 x 24 1/2 x 34 1/2 inches
Standard cycles:	5
Place settings:	15

Coming with a fan dry option is the Whirlpool WDT730PAHZ Dishwasher.

The heating element does a great job of getting regular day-to-day dishes dry. However, like most dishwashers, it doesn’t get plastics completely dry, which is why it ranks slightly lower on our list.

Nevertheless, the Whirlpool WDT730PAHZ Dishwasher’s drying capability is still miles ahead of many other models within the same price range. And the added fan dry option further dissipates heat and condensation, making chinaware, glasses, and silverware come out as dry as possible.

Verdict

The Whirlpool WDT730PAHZ Dishwasher with Fan Dry manages to bring excellent washing and drying capabilities while still remaining a budget-friendly option.

Whirlpool has managed to impress many users with their excellent customer service and reliable warranties that cover numerous parts and labor, as well as the dishwasher’s motor.

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4. Bosch 800 Series SHXM88Z75N Dishwasher with CrystalDry

Weight:	116 pounds
Dimensions:	23.75 x 23.56 x 33.87 inches
Standard cycles:	6
Place settings:	16

At just 40 decibels, you’ll barely hear the Bosch SHXM88Z75N Dishwasher even when it’s running at full capacity.

This model includes several of Bosch’s patented technologies, such as InfoLight, CrystalDry, MyWay racks, and the EasyGlide rack system. It’s rated at the Tier 1 energy efficiency class and it only consumes about 3.5 gallons of water for each cycle.

Judging from all these specifications, features, and Bosch SHXM88Z75N reviews that this is one of the best Bosch dishwashers you can get right now. Add to that the fact that Bosch is known for its top-notch customer service and support, and you’ve got plenty of reasons to get this dishwasher apart from the fact that it dries everything excellently.

Verdict

The Bosch 800 Series SHXM88Z75N is clearly one of the best drying dishwashers at from this reputable brand.

While it might not be the most affordable dishwasher you can get, the price is worth it because of all the features it offers.

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3. KitchenAid KDTM404KPS Dishwasher With Extended Heat Dry 

Weight:	116 pounds
Dimensions:	23.88″ x 26.75″ x 24″
Standard cycles:	5
Place settings:	16

Featuring a drying bar with tabs on the third rack and two drying modes for every cycle, the KitchenAid KDTM404KPS Dishwasher does a phenomenal job of drying every dish even when fully loaded.

It comes with smart dishwasher features, such as sensors that detect how dirty each dish is and targets the spray arms more toward them to provide better cleaning. The SatinGlide Max Rails allow you to move the racks seamlessly without making much noise or putting in too much effort.

Furthermore, the KitchenAid Dishwasher with extended heat dry has a Sani-Rinse option that eliminates 99.99% of food soil bacteria by adding a high-heat final rinse to sanitize dishes. This further improves its drying capabilities to the point that it dries out even plastics perfectly.

Verdict

The KitchenAid KDTM404KPS Dishwasher is an amazing deal even for its higher-end price.

With so many drying options and a cycle that focuses heavily on sanitizing dishes, you can rest assured that everything will come out squeaky-clean and super dry every single time.

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2. Samsung StormWash DW80R5061US Dishwasher

Weight:	101 pounds
Dimensions:	23.9″ x 33.9″ x 24.8″
Standard cycles:	6
Place settings:	15

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly dishwasher under $700 that also dries dishes nearly to perfection, your best choice is most likely the Samsung DW80R5061US.

The dishwasher’s heating element does a fantastic job on its own. However, the Samsung StormWash Dishwasher also pops the door open automatically when a cycle is finished to further improve on the dish-drying feature.

It also comes with a 3rd rack made especially for utensils and silverware that allows you to take out the bottom rack’s basket to provide more space for plates, cups, and other dishes. And to further improve on the space-saving feature, the upper rack is highly adjustable to accommodate tall items.

Verdict

The Samsung StormWash DW80R5061US Dishwasher brings a ton of value for its price point.

Not only is it one of the best drying dishwashers out there, but it’s also highly affordable, easy to use, and cleans out even tough spots and hardened food remains with relative ease.

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1. Thermador Star Sapphire DWHD870WFP

Weight:	103 pounds
Dimensions:	33 7/8″ x 23 9/16″ x 23 3/4″
Standard cycles:	8
Place settings:	16

Thermador’s Star Sapphire DWHD870WFP dishwasher has so many excellent features that we don’t even know where to start.

The one stand-out feature that the Thermador DWHD870WFP has is its Zeolite drying method. What this light does is absorb moisture and output heat more thoroughly throughout the entire dishwasher. This way, it dries dishes far better than any other model on the market.

As for the other features, it comes with all the bells and whistles you’d expect from the best high-end dishwashers. It has Wi-Fi connectivity which allows you to control it from a distance. The door pops open on its own after the cycle is done to allow for air drying. And it outputs only 44 decibels, which one of the lowest noise levels on any dishwasher available today.

Verdict

The Thermador Star Sapphire DWHD870WFP is our top choice for the best drying dishwashers currently available for purchase.

After many hours of research and looking through tons of dishwasher reviews online, we have concluded that nothing dries as well as this model.

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Frequently asked questions

Why Won’t My Dishes Get Dry?

If your dishwasher doesn’t dry dishes properly, it might mean that the heating element isn’t as powerful as it should be.

You might want to get a new dishwasher that has several heated drying options, as well as an air-drying option or a fan dry option to get the best results.

While even the best drying dishwashers still leave a few water droplets, especially on plastic dishes, you will notice a huge difference between other dishwashers and the models listed above.

How Do I Get Drier Dishes?

If your current dishwasher doesn’t dry dishes all that well, we suggest getting a rinse-aid dispenser.

Some non-toxic detergents come with an integrated rinse-aid, so you can get a 2-in-1 package at a decent price.

Another great method to get drier dishes is by letting them air dry. A significant difference when it comes to amount of bacteria is found when dishes are stored inside a cabinet or dishwasher drawer versus letting them dry naturally.

Why Don’t My Plastics Dry in the Dishwasher?

Plastic items have a lower thermal mass than ceramic or metal items in the dish load.

When their surface cools down after the drying cycle is complete, they tend to retain more water than the rest of the dishes because the moisture on the surface is less likely to evaporate into the air and be removed by the dishwasher dry system.

Because of this, no dishwasher will be able to perfectly dry dishes made out of plastic, no matter the temperature levels during the washing and drying cycles. Using rinse-aid helps a little, but it still probably won’t get that perfect finish that metal or ceramic dishes get after the drying cycle is complete.

Is it OK to leave dishes in my dishwasher overnight?

If you want to leave dishes inside the dishwasher overnight for whatever reason, you should at least open the door to let them air dry.

There are many dishwashers currently on the market that automatically open the door once the washing, drying, and rinsing cycles have completed, so you might be interested in those.

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Final thoughts on the best drying dishwashers

You’ve now seen several of the best drying dishwashers currently on the market today.

If you take the time to go through the list and every item’s strengths and weaknesses, you will surely find something that fits your needs and budget. Good luck on choosing your next dishwasher!