If you open the dishwasher halfway between a cycle to put in an extra dish, it can interrupt the cleaning process and have a few potential consequences:
Disruption of cleaning: Opening the dishwasher mid-cycle interrupts the water spray and detergent action. The dishes inside may not get properly cleaned, and the detergent's effectiveness may be compromised.
Heat and steam: Dishwashers use hot water and steam during their cycles. Opening the dishwasher mid-cycle can release hot steam, which can cause burns or discomfort if it comes into contact with your skin.
Water spillage: If the dishwasher is in the middle of a water-fill or rinse cycle, opening the door can lead to water spilling out onto the kitchen floor.
Delayed completion: When you close the dishwasher door after adding the extra dish, it will likely resume the cycle from where it left off. Depending on the model, it may continue the same cycle or attempt to adapt the cycle to the changes, which could lead to longer overall cleaning times.
To avoid these issues, it's generally best to wait until the dishwasher completes its cycle before adding any extra dishes. If you need to add an item mid-cycle, it's better to pause the dishwasher or wait for the current cycle to finish before opening the door. However, keep in mind that even if you pause the dishwasher, opening the door will still release hot steam and may disrupt the cleaning process.
For the best results and to maintain the dishwasher's efficiency, it's recommended to load all the dishes before starting the cycle and to follow the manufacturer's guidelines for proper use. If you have a lot of extra dishes to wash, you may want to consider running a separate cycle for them once the current cycle is complete.