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The Best Cooling Racks

Last updated on April 30, 2023

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Cooking is a science. Getting tasty results boils down to combining the right ingredients, choosing the perfect baking time and knowing exactly how to cool each item before eating.

This is especially true for baked goods like cookies. With cookies, personal preferences can vary dramatically. Some prefer a crispy exterior with a soft interior, while others like cookies crispy inside and out. Still others like gooey cake-like cookies that puff up during baking.

Generally speaking, the following cookie-baking rules apply to achieving the desired results:

  • Tan: Baking at 356° or higher will give you the caramelization necessary to get that tan outer skin.
  • Crispy with soft center: Adding ¼ tsp. baking powder and ¼ tsp. baking soda will help crisp up the outside without sacrificing that soft interior.
  • Chewy: Use all-purpose flour instead of bread flour to get a chewy cookie.
  • Thicker, softer cookies: To achieve this result, freeze the batter for a half hour to an hour before you bake it. This will help solidify the butter in the mix.
  • Cakey: If you like your cookies with a cake-like consistency, increase the baking soda in the recipe. Baking soda releases carbon dioxide when heat is applied to it, giving you that puffier result you prefer.

But the cooling process also plays a role in how your baked goods come out. If you allow your cookies to cool on the pan, the bottom may become a little too well done. Moving it to a platter or waxed paper will help, but the bottom of your baked goods will still be stifled during cooling. A cooling rack keeps air moving all around the cookie, giving you an even exterior on both the top and bottom.

Cooling racks aren’t just for cookies, though. You can use them for all your baked goods, but they’re also great for draining grease from meats and vegetables. If you’ve fried a batch of chicken, for instance, you can set it on a cooling rack with a tray beneath to catch drippings.

Another great use for cooling racks is during the baking process itself. Items like potatoes that need a crispy exterior can be placed on a cooling rack with a baking sheet beneath. During the cooking process, oils will drip down and airflow is allowed to circulate freely, helping the food cook evenly all around.

Our Picks For The Top Cooling Racks

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Product Overview
Our Take
 Top Pick

Ultra Cuisine Dishwasher Safe Easy Clean Cooling Racks, 2-Piece

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

Ultra Cuisine

Dishwasher Safe Easy Clean Cooling Racks, 2-Piece

You’ll get two cooling racks in this set, each made from heavy-duty stainless steel. Each rack is dishwasher safe without rusting and is safe for use in temperatures up to 575° F. The 1-inch high design encourages airflow to create crispier exteriors for your baked goods.

Overall Take

For Serious BakersMade from heavy duty stainless steel, these cooling racks are raised an inch to encourage airflow.

 Runner Up

Tebery Non-Stick Coating Cooling Racks, 4-Piece

Tebery

Non-Stick Coating Cooling Racks, 4-Piece

You’ll get four 16” x 10” x ¾“ cooling racks in this set, each in a classy black color. Durable steel construction and a nonstick coating keep these racks both easy to clean and easy to use. It has four stable feet to elevate baked goods for better air circulation during cooling.

Overall Take

Heavy Duty OptionEach of these four cooling racks is made from durable steel to give you a long-lasting option.

 We Also Like

Checkered Chef Warp-Resistant Stainless Steel Cooling Racks, 2-Piece

Checkered Chef

Warp-Resistant Stainless Steel Cooling Racks, 2-Piece

The two wire racks in this set are sized 8” x 11¾“ to make them easy to rest inside baking sheets. Each rack is made of stainless steel, providing a sturdy cooking solution. The grid is evenly spaced with enough room to promote airflow while also holding smaller items.

Overall Take

Versatile OptionThe design of this cooling rack allows you to also use it with cookware sheets for fat and grease drain off while baking.

 Strong Contender

Hiware Rust-Resistant Stainless Steel Cooling Racks, 2-Piece

Hiware

Rust-Resistant Stainless Steel Cooling Racks, 2-Piece

Made from food-grade stainless steel, this 2-piece set of cooling racks resists rust to hold up even with regular trips through the dishwasher. It features three cross bars along with six support feet to ensure it stays in place, whether it’s in the oven or on your countertop. It sits 0.6 inches off the countertop and has ⅜” x ⅜” grid spa...

Overall Take

Great for Small SpacesThose who are limited on kitchen space might like this 2-piece set of cooling racks that are easy to store.

What to Look For

  • Cooling racks are typically sold in sets. Most often you’ll see them in pairs, but there are some that are sold singly or with three or more racks.
  • The construction of a cooling rack is important. You’ll want one that’s sturdy enough to hold your baked goods without tipping, but it also needs to endure over time. Stainless steel is both sturdy and rust-resistant, allowing it to be exposed to moisture and detergents without breaking down.
  • One key feature of a cooling rack is that it lifts cookies above the countertop. Pay attention to the height of the legs that provide this lift. A higher raised surface can increase the airflow beneath the cookies for a quicker cooldown.
  • Make sure the legs of any cooling rack you choose are sturdy enough to hold heavier baked goods without tipping. This is especially true if you’ll be cooling bread loaves or jelly rolls on your cooling rack. You’ll also want to make sure the legs feature padding that will prevent them from scratching your countertops.
  • Some cooling racks come with cross bars to provide extra support and prevent tipping.
  • The size of the grids is an important feature, as well. The gaps need to be wide enough to keep air moving without being so big that smaller baked goods fall through.
  • If you plan to set your cooling rack inside a baking sheet for roasting vegetables and other items, make sure the one you choose is sized to fit.
  • Most stainless-steel cooling racks are silver, but you can find more colorful options. This can be especially useful if you’ll be hanging it on a display rack in your kitchen. Black or oil-rubbed bronze might better match for your décor.

More to Explore

In order to invent the cookie recipe as we know it today, someone first had to discover sugar. That originated in Southeast Asia and eventually spread to Persia, which later became Iran. Persian civilizations were the first to make cakes and pastries from their newly discovered cooking ingredient and soon, sugar spread to the Eastern Mediterranean and later to Europe.

Historians believe cookies got their start as test cakes. Persians needed a way to test cake recipes, and these smaller versions made that easy. By the 14th century, filled wafers were being sold on the streets of Paris and cookbooks featuring cookie recipes became prevalent. A product called hardtack became popular for explorers, and tough crackers called biscuits were found on ships due to their ability to last for months without going bad.

More to explore