The Best Cooling Racks (Review) in 2020

Things to Consider Before Buying Cooling Rack

• Size

Your new bakers rack will need to be the right size for your needs, while also being able to comfortably fit in your oven (should you decide to use your rack for cooking as well). Too small and you’ll find yourself needing to return your tray multiple times, which would cause a build-up of burnt-on grease and lead you to spending more time cleaning up – or even buying new racks regularly.

Too large, and you’ll find yourself with no counter space, while simultaneously taking away your ability to place the rack in the oven. There’s also the potential of not being able to store your cooling rack away, when not in use, so you would end up with your cooling wire rack on show at all times on your countertop.

• Coating

PTFE, also known as Polytetrafluoroethylene or the brand name Teflon, is one of the most common coatings you can find on kitchen pots and pans. It’s most commonly referred to in layman’s terms as a non-stick coating, which gives it a lovely non-chemical name. That said, it is a chemical and there have been no long-term studies that show whether or not regular use of PTFE is safe for consumption.

After all, you’ll find many hardcore bakers and cooks who adamantly refuse to use any items that have this coating, despite it making life a lot easier when it comes to lifting away baked and cooked goods from these surfaces. The studies that have been done into the effects or likelihood of toxins based on inhalation or consumption of PTFE suggest that this coating is completely safe until they are placed in environments above 350 ºC (662 ºF). Since this is unlikely during home cooking, it’s safe to say that the risk is very low – however, it all comes down to personal choice.

• Material

The majority of cooling racks are made from metal, although you can also find them in chrome-plated and even wooden varieties. You should always check that, whatever material you choose, your materials are high-quality and aren’t likely to rust or wear, risking contamination with your food.

Stainless steel options are the least likely to rust while being the easiest to clean. This is closely followed by chrome plated steel, which runs along a similar finish to stainless steel. The most difficult to care for and clean are wooden options, which are also unfit for multiple uses, such as cooking, as they aren’t suitable for the extreme temperatures - although wooden cooling racks are also the least likely to be treated with any chemicals.

• Cleanliness and convenience

Cooling racks are designed to make your life easier, as well as for providing adequate ventilation to your cooking. A baker’s rack that isn’t convenient isn’t much of a cookie cooling rack at all! Check to ensure that your wire rack won’t be more of a hindrance than a help by checking how easy they are to clean and store, when not in use, first.

The best cooling racks will be dishwasher-safe, although a good quality rack will be easy enough to clean with hot water and soap. You might also find multi-tiered options that are more complex to clean, thanks to their moving parts, but offer greater choice for those with little countertop space, while also being easily folded away and placed in the cupboard when finished.

Coatings also make cleaning and tidying a lot easier, although this can come with some negatives, which we’ve mentioned above.

• Features

The versatility of your cooking rack is the main feature that you should look for when buying a cooling rack. While many buyers are simply looking for a place to cool their baked goods after they’ve been cooked in the oven, others will be looking for a cooking rack that allows for meat that has been marinated to become crisp yet moist. Decide on what kind of cooking rack style you prefer for your needs and go from there.

Many of our options, above, are able to withstand extreme temperatures, while still acting brilliantly as a simple cooling tray – which is one of the reasons why we love them so much. These are also fantastic for placing hot saucepans and pots on, while cooking and therefore have even further use.  Others are more designed for the sole use as being a cooling tray alone and this is usually reflected in the budget, too.

• Reviews

We always recommend checking out the reviews of anything you’re looking at, before you buy and for good reason. Reviews are a great way of counteracting the level of the unknown when you buy online. Think of them as tried-and-tested case studies which give you fantastic insight as to how effective your new item is, as well as how much value they’ll bring to you.

You’re also likely to get a good idea of the level of customer service the manufacturer brings, alongside any hidden tips or tricks which can be handy to know, for your new item.

Why You Need the Best Cooling Rack in Your Kitchen

• For bakers

Not surprisingly, the cooling rack is the best way to quickly cool your food after baking. Without this, baked goods that stay on their cookie tray are more likely to remain in contact with a hot surface. In other words, they will continue to cook, long after they have reached their peak tastiness.

In order to avoid this, place your baked goods on a cooling rack. These will stop the cooking process almost entirely and allow cool air to circulate around your cookies or cakes, leading to a much more even texture and therefore a better overall taste.

• For cooks

When you first start getting into the world of cooking, you might miss some of the more science-based aspects which can result in a poor finish – even when you’ve done absolutely nothing wrong. One of the biggest culprits is struggling to keep your finished meals crispy and delicious after cooking – a big example of this is chicken with a marinade or finish.

Unfortunately, even when your “fried” chicken leaves the oven beautifully crisp, it’s likely that, without a cooling rack, the end result will be a soggy, sticky mess. This is because the steam that builds up during cooking is still around as the chicken cools to an edible temperature. Inadequate ventilation then leads to this steam turning into condensation… which sticks to your food. The excess water soaks in to your well-made creation and leave you with your hard work being completely ruined.

Having a cooling rack in place allows for the air to fully circulate around your cooked food, taking the steam with it. This means there’s less water in the air, meaning your perfectly cooked chicken (as in our example) will remain crispy and succulent.

• For general kitchen use

While it’s not their main purpose, cooling wire racks are also a great way of ensuring that hot pots and pans never touch (and therefore burn) your countertop. Dispersing the heat given off by your pans so that the hot temperatures never affect your worktops, means you’re less likely to damage your kitchen and require a quick refurb after only a few years. Finally, they’re also great for roasting, as a good wire rack on top of a baking tray can trap hot air and therefore cook your food much faster.

Our Top Pick

Being so flexible and suitable for such a wide range of uses, without any give in the longevity of this product, the Professional Grade Stainless Steel Cooling and Roasting Wire Rack from KITCHENATICS is easily the best cooling tray on the market. Made with a high-quality stainless steel, which is tightly woven to ensure no sagging, and suitable up to 575 degrees, this is a cooling tray which will meet any needs you may have.

There’s a one-inch height to this cooling tray, which provides ample room for air circulation, ensuring your goods stay evenly cooked, quickly and perfectly, every time. Finally, the lifetime guarantee gives great peace of mind.

Sources:

1. The Cooling Rack Is Crispy Food's Best Friend - Bon Appétit
2. Why Your Cooling Rack Is the Hottest Kitchen Tool - Epicurious