A lot of modern dishwashers don’t even have heating elements anymore, but instead do a fan dry. There’s even one model that pops the door open when the cycle is over with to let out the steam and prevent condensation.

There’s a technology beyond even those two approaches that works really well. Bosch only in their high end 800 series model (and their higher end Thermador brand) called “Crystal Dry”. It uses a crystal desiccant in a compartment in the back of the tub. During the heating phase it forces heat through the desiccant drying it out from the previous run making it VERY moisture absorbent. Then during the drying phase it cycles air through the desiccant pulling nearly all water out of the air inside. The solid desiccant is used continuously without replacement.

The result is that the dishes, including plastics, come out bone dry (unless you have a bowl that flips over collecting water during a cycle). This also uses a small fraction of the energy needed for traditional drying and is significantly faster to dry. No door popping open, not cloud of steam when you open the dishwasher after it runs.