Where should I place large pots and pans in my dishwasher?

Check your dishwasher’s own Owner’s Manual first, especially its loading diagram. That is the best way to confirm what your model permits and where bulky items belong. As general guidance, GE recommends putting heavily soiled pots, pans, and casserole dishes in the lower rack, with the open end down and facing the wash arm below it. It also advises angling items for drainage and avoiding stacking. [S1]

For a practical starting arrangement, try the lower rack and leave enough separation that one item is not nested inside or resting over another. Keep the openings oriented as the manual illustrates; the general GE guidance is not a substitute for model-specific instructions. If your pot or pan cannot fit in the indicated position without crowding the rack, consult the diagram rather than forcing the arrangement.

Before starting a cycle, check that the cookware fits without obstructing the spray system. GE specifically says to ensure the spray arm can rotate freely. [S1] Use the manual’s instructions to check the arm’s movement; do not start a cycle if an item visibly blocks it.

Also look at the space above and around the pot. A handle or tall rim may matter if it reaches into the path shown in your manual. There is no single clearance measurement here that applies to every dishwasher, so use the model’s diagram and instructions rather than guessing. If the pot only fits by blocking a moving part or pressing against another item, rearrange the load or wash that piece another way.

Only if your dishwasher has that feature and its manual permits it for your load. A Bosch manual identifies the lower basket for pots and pans and says that, on applicable models, basket spikes can fold down to create more space. It also marks this feature as model-dependent. [S2]

Look for the rack feature in your own manual and follow its diagram. Do not assume that a support that looks movable is designed to fold down, or that a layout shown for another model applies to yours. The cited guidance establishes that some Bosch models have folding spikes; it does not establish which features your dishwasher has or how every cookware item should be positioned.

Use this short pre-start check, then compare anything unusual with your manual:

1. Find the loading diagram for your exact dishwasher model.
2. Put pots and pans in the rack and position the openings as the manual shows. As general GE guidance, heavily soiled cookware goes in the lower rack with the open end down and facing the wash arm below. [S1]
3. Angle items for drainage and avoid stacking them. [S1]
4. Check that cookware does not obstruct the spray system and that the spray arm can rotate freely. [S1]
5. Use folding rack supports only if your model has them and the manual allows the arrangement. [S2]

For example, if your manual shows a large pot in the lower rack, you might place it open-end down in that position, angle it as directed, and put a frying pan in a separate available space rather than nesting it against the pot. Then check the arm and surrounding clearances using your model’s instructions. That example is a starting point, not a guaranteed fit for every rack.