Love to bake? Home baking has seen a resurgence in recent years due to popular TV shows and the extra time we're all spending at home. If you want to make sure your cookies are crisp and cakes are soft, then a cooling rack will ensure they cool down evenly without becoming soggy.
To help you find the best cooling rack, we pored through customer reviews and researched the options available. We chose the 5-Tier Stainless Steel Stackable Baking Racks by P&P Chef as our favorite due to their flexibility and strength. We've also put together a 10 best for you to consider and created a handy buying guide reviewed by a professional chef to help you make your choice!
Image | 1 ![]() P&P Chef | 2 ![]() OXO | 3 ![]() HIWARE | 4 ![]() KITCHENATICS | 5 ![]() P&P Chef | 6 ![]() Ultra Cuisine | 7 ![]() Wilton | 8 ![]() Wilton | 9 ![]() Tebery | 10 ![]() Checkered Chef |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | 5-Tier Stainless Steel Stackable Baking Racks | Good Grips Non-Stick Pro Cooling Rack | Cooling Racks for Baking | 100% Stainless Steel Roasting & Cooling Rack | Round Cooking Racks | Stainless Steel Wire Cooling Rack | Elite 3-Tier Cooling Rack | 3-Tier Collapsible Cooling Rack | Cooling Racks | Stainless Steel Cooling Rack |
Features | A Set of Versatile and Solid Racks | Convenient Handles for Easy Carrying | Sturdy Rack That's Great for Cookies | A Small Grid That Prevents Sagging | Three Racks Ideal for Heavy Goods and Oven Use | Small Grid and Easy to Clean | Racks Best for Larger Baked Goods | A Unique Space-Saving Rack | Good for High Temperatures and Heavy Cakes | A Simple Rack Perfect for Oven Use |
Price | $29.99 | $14.99 | $15.99 | $14.98 | $14.99 | $19.98 | $12.49 | $20.79 | $17.95 | $11.96 |
Size | 15.8 x 9.8 x 14.5 in. | 11.5 x 18.5 x 1.5 in. | 11.8 x 16.5 in. | 10 x 15 x 1 in. | 10.5, 9, 7.5 in. diameters | 11.5 x 16.5 x 1 in. | 16.25 x 10.25 x 2.25 in. each | 10 x 16 in. (standing) | 16 x 10 x 0.75 in. | 16.93 x 11.42 x 0.6 in. |
Oven-safe | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
No. of racks | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
Dishwasher-safe | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
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Here are our 10 best choices for cooling racks. We made our choices based on the points listed in the buying guide below, as well as reviewer comments when available.
*Please note that these products were chosen after extensive research by mybest writers. The choices are not necessarily affiliated with or recommended by Jim Quast.
$29.99
Size | 15.8 x 9.8 x 14.5 in. |
---|---|
Oven-safe | Yes |
No. of racks | 5 |
Dishwasher-safe | Yes |
$14.99
Size | 11.5 x 18.5 x 1.5 in. |
---|---|
Oven-safe | Yes |
No. of racks | 1 |
Dishwasher-safe | Yes |
$15.99
Size | 11.8 x 16.5 in. |
---|---|
Oven-safe | Yes |
No. of racks | 2 |
Dishwasher-safe | Yes |
$14.98
Size | 10 x 15 x 1 in. |
---|---|
Oven-safe | Yes |
No. of racks | 1 |
Dishwasher-safe | Yes |
$14.99
Size | 10.5, 9, 7.5 in. diameters |
---|---|
Oven-safe | Yes |
No. of racks | 3 |
Dishwasher-safe | Yes |
$19.98
Size | 11.5 x 16.5 x 1 in. |
---|---|
Oven-safe | Yes |
No. of racks | 1 |
Dishwasher-safe | Yes |
$12.49
Size | 16.25 x 10.25 x 2.25 in. each |
---|---|
Oven-safe | No |
No. of racks | 3 |
Dishwasher-safe | No |
$20.79
Size | 10 x 16 in. (standing) |
---|---|
Oven-safe | No |
No. of racks | 3 |
Dishwasher-safe | No |
$17.95
Size | 16 x 10 x 0.75 in. |
---|---|
Oven-safe | Yes |
No. of racks | 4 |
Dishwasher-safe | Yes |
$11.96
Size | 16.93 x 11.42 x 0.6 in. |
---|---|
Oven-safe | Yes |
No. of racks | 1 |
Dishwasher-safe | Yes |
Before buying a cooling rack, there are a few points you should take into consideration. To assist you with this, we've put together this helpful buying guide!
The most common material for a cooling rack is stainless steel. These are typically the best option as they are less likely to rust, and they are strong without the need for a coating. Racks made of metals like aluminum don't need to be coated to make them non-stick, but these metals are often less durable and may bend or rust.
You can also find racks with a ceramic non-stick coating. These are also rust-proof and come in different colors. The coating makes your baked goods slide right off the rack with ease! They’re also durable but aren’t as common as stainless steel racks.
It’s also possible to get wooden cooling racks. They’re also tough and safe to use with all types of food, but the wood may absorb food odors or stain over time.
Most cooling racks are non-stick. After all, the last thing you want is a perfect cake or cookies to stick to the rack! High-quality stainless steel racks are usually naturally non-stick.
Other materials are usually coated with a non-stick material, which is typically Teflon. However, Teflon has come under fire in the past for being potentially harmful. While most Teflon nowadays is safe, some may still be concerned about it eventually rubbing off.
Some other racks may be coated or plated with chrome, or something similar, to give it a different color or finish. It’s possible for these coatings to eventually wear-off and be get transferred to your food. If you share these concerns, look for racks that specify that they’re uncoated.
Cooling racks are an important part of baking. Your food cools evenly and cakes don’t get soggy thanks to the rack's grid design and legs; these features allow air to circulate well. So, it’s important to have the right size for the amount of baking you’re doing. If some of your baking is cooled correctly, but other parts aren't, it will be noticeable.
However, if you don’t have enough kitchen space for all of the racks you need, look at multi-tiered cooking racks. These come with three or more stacked shelves, so they give you maximum cooling space while only taking up a little kitchen space.
Another size consideration to look for is the size of the gaps between the crosswires that make up the rack. The more crosswires and the smaller the gaps, the less likely it will be that your food will sag as it cools!
Unless specifically stated, cooling racks can’t be used as oven racks. The coating often used on cooling racks can’t always cope with the high heat of an oven. You can, however, get racks that are suitable for the oven if you wish!
Some cooling racks are dishwasher safe, but others are best washed by hand. If you’re looking for something you can put in the dishwasher, check the product description to ensure it can be. If you're concerned about rust, we recommend handwashing the rack and drying it immediately.
Cooling racks can make your baked goods tastier as they allow hot food items to cool down evenly. Check out these other products that will also improve your baking and make your cookies and cakes look and taste even better!
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