Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website.
Cooling racks are arguably one of the most versatile–and underrated—tools in the kitchen. Since they allow for quicker, more even cooling, cooling racks are the final touch to prevent baked goods from getting soggy and they can all but guarantee a crispier fry. The best cooling racks easily fit in your preferred baking trays are simple to clean, and are easy to store.
Table of Contents
There are a lot of great cooling racks on the market, so to curate this list of the best cooling racks, Blair and I extensively researched leading brands, emphasizing sturdy construction, optimal air circulation, and other convenient features. Because Blair prefers cooling racks that also fit inside a rimmed baking sheet, she always reaches for the Goldtouch Pro Nonstick Half Sheet with Cooling Rack when she makes oven-fried fish, crispy roasted chicken thighs, or keeps Bisquick waffles warm inside the oven.
Our Top Picks:
- What’s in Blair’s Kitchen: Goldtouch Pro Nonstick Half Sheet with Cooling Rack – $44.95 at Williams Sonoma
- Best Cooling Rack for Cookies: KITCHENATICS Heavy Duty Half Sheet Cooling Rack – $29.98 at Amazon
- Best Stainless Steel Cooling Rack: Ultra Cuisine Cooling & Baking Rack – $16.99 at Amazon
- Best Round Cooling Rack: Nordic Ware Round Cooling Grid – $21.01 at Amazon
- Best Multi-Tier Cooling Rack: Wilton 3-Tier Folding Cooling Grid – $21.49 at Amazon
Reviews of The Best Cooling Racks
1. What’s in Blair’s Kitchen: Goldtouch Pro Nonstick Half Sheet and Cooling Rack
One of Blair’s all-time favorite brands is Williams-Sonoma, so it’s no surprise that she loves this gorgeous gold half-sheet cookie tray plus cooling rack combo.
They are made of lightweight aluminized steel with a non-stick coating that bakes evenly and prevents cookies from sticking to the pan, so cleaning them is simple and quick. “The coating on the racks seems to last the longest if you wash them by hand,” says Blair. “A gentle scrub with a sponge, soap, and hot water seems to get them clean pretty easily.”
Since they are light in color, they won’t absorb as much heat, which means your cookies will bake evenly and they won’t come out overly browned. She also loves how the edges extend slightly to provide a secure grip, so it’s easier to transport from the oven to the counter with less risk of burning yourself.
Williams-Sonoma also sells a smaller quarter-sized option for roasting veggies or small batches of cookies and an extra-large three-quarter-sized option for bigger meals, or more cookies at once.
The Specs:
- Material: Aluminized steel
- Dimensions: 17 1/4″ x 12 1/4″ x 1″ (pan); 16 3/4″ x 11 1/2″ x 1/2″ (cooling rack)
- Design: Grid
- Dishwasher safe: Yes
- Oven safe: Yes, up to 450° F
The Pros:
- Non-stick
- Durable
- Light color
- Quick release
The Cons:
- Hand washing recommended
- Coating can scratch
Buy the Goldtouch Pro Nonstick Half Sheet with Cooling Rack:
2. Best for Cookies: KITCHENATICS Heavy Duty Half Sheet Cooling Rack
What makes this cooling rack a true gem is that it has smaller-than-average gridlines, so smaller cookies don’t slip through the cracks and delicate cookies feel like they are better supported and easier to lift up in one piece.
The cooling rack fits snugly in a 13×18 baking pan and is twice as tall as other cooling racks, which lets more air get under the cookies to cool them faster–which means you’ll be eating cookies faster! The welded legs and braces can support up to 45 pounds which is a lot of cookies.
This cooling rack can also be used outdoors on the grill. Safe to use up to 575°F, it can be used for baking, smoking, grilling, and drying things like jerky or crisping bacon.
The Specs:
- Material: Stainless steel
- Dimensions: 16.9 by 11.8 by 1 inches
- Design: Grid
- Dishwasher safe: Yes
- Oven safe: Yes
The Pros:
- Small grid for small cookies
- Great circulation
- Cools quickly
- Safe for oven, grill, and dishwasher
- Durable
The Cons:
- Feet can make it difficult to store
What Others Are Saying
Serious Eats named The KITCHENATICS Heavy Duty Half Sheet Cooling Rack a runner-up for best overall cooling rack that they tested. It also has a 4.7-star rating from over 11,500 reviews on Amazon.
Buy the KITCHENATICS Heavy Duty Half Sheet Cooling Rack:
3. Best Stainless Steel: Ultra Cuisine Cooling & Baking Rack
Stainless steel is ideal for cookware because it’s rust-proof, dishwasher safe, and can be used in the oven up to high temperatures. The Ultra Cuisine Cooling & Baking Rack is a versatile rack that can be used for baking, roasting, and even grilling, and it’s oven-safe up to 575° F. The tight grid design prevents smaller foods like carrots from slipping through and the ever-so-slightly longer legs let air circulate better so bacon and homemade fries come out golden and crispy.
There’s something about it that just feels good in your hand, most likely because the edges are smooth, the welds of the feet are secure, and its crossbar supports keep it stable so it won’t warp on the sides. We love that you can bake on it, remove it from the oven to cool, and then toss it in the dishwasher to clean. How easy is that?!
The Specs:
- Material: Stainless steel
- Dimensions: 8.5 by 12 by 2 inches
- Design: Grid
- Dishwasher safe: Yes
- Oven safe: Yes, up to 575° F
The Pros:
- Affordable
- Rust-resistant
- Dishwasher and oven-safe
- Quality build
- Lifetime warranty
The Cons:
- None
What Others Are Saying
The Ultra Cuisine Cooling & Baking Rack has a 4.8-star rating from over 14,000 reviews on Amazon. Insider named it the best overall cooling rack.
Buy the Ultra Cuisine Cooling & Baking Rack:
4. Best Round Cooling Rack: Nordic Ware Round Cooling Grid
This round cooling rack is one of those things you try once and wonder where it’s been all your life! Its copper-plated circular metal grid is specifically designed to cool round things like Bundt cakes, layer cakes, and even pizza!
If you are making a Bundt cake with a drizzle, you can lay a piece of parchment paper under it to catch all the drips, which makes it the easiest cleanup on the planet. Plus, the copper plating is so pretty you could serve right on it, which makes for even fewer dishes. It is rust-proof, but should still be washed by hand in order to keep it looking newer longer.
The Specs:
- Material: Copper-plated steel
- Dimensions: 13 inches
- Design: Grid
- Dishwasher safe: No
- Oven safe: No
The Pros:
- Perfect for round baked goods
- Doubles as serve ware
- Durable
- Affordable
The Cons:
- Hand wash only
- Round shape could be difficult to store
What Others Are Saying
The Nordic Ware Round Cooling Grid has a 4.8-star rating from over 2,500 reviews on Amazon. The Spruce Eats also named it the best round cooling rack.
Buy the Nordic Ware Round Cooling Grid:
5. Best Multi-Tier Cooling Rack: Wilton 3-Tier Folding Cooling Grid
It’s amazing how much counter space a double batch of cookies can take up! This accordion-style, 3-tired option is great for bakers with limited counter space or if your kitchen turns into a veritable cookie factory around the holidays. It’s a serious game-changer for cooling dozens of cookies at once because it only takes up the space of a single cooling rack but can cool up to 36 cookies at a time. We love that it can be used individually or as a 3-tier rack, so you don’t feel like you’re always needing to have a massive setup.
The distance between the levels is large enough to fit other baked goods like cupcakes and pies and locking racks and rubber feet afford outstanding stability. The non-stick coating provides easy release and easy cleanup, but you have to wash it by hand and make sure it’s completely dry before folding it up to store so no rust develops.
The Specs:
- Material: Metal
- Dimensions: 16 by 10 x 1.85 inches
- Design: Parallel lines
- Dishwasher safe: No
- Oven safe: No
The Pros:
- Expandable
- Space-saving
- Compact when folded
- Quick release
The Cons:
- Hand wash only
- Could rust over time
- Not a grid design
What Others Are Saying
The Wilton 3-Tier Folding Cooling Grid was named the best multi-tier cooling rack by The Spruce Eats and the best budget by Insider. On Amazon, it has a 4.8-star rating from over 10,000 reviews.
Buy the Wilton 3-Tier Folding Cooling Grid:
Other Cooling Racks to Consider
Whenever we find a product that will up the quality of our baked goods, we take the value seriously and are okay with making a little larger investment. We wanted to love this product for its larger capacity 3-tier design and the optional vertical brace that can be put in place to provide stability and support for heavier pies. But it’s cumbersome to store and quite expensive, so in the end, we preferred the Wilton 3-Tier Folding Cooling Grid. The Nifty 3-Tier Cooling Rack is available at Amazon for $20.99.
With a 4.7-star rating from more than 31,000 reviews on Amazon, we really wanted to love this one. However, numerous users report that the wires are not strong and bend up on the side, so contrary to its product description, it does warp. It’s also much too big to fit into a half-sheet pan. When we compared the benefits of the Checkered Chef to the other great cooling racks on our list, it just didn’t make the cut. The Checkered Chef Cooling Rack is available at Amazon for $15.77.
Spring Chef Heavy Duty Quarter Sheet
At first glance, the Spring Chef Heavy Duty Quarter Sheet seems to be a great budget buy! The stainless steel construction makes it both dishwasher-friendly and oven safe up to 575℉. But any of its kudos for its lightweight flexibility are just covering up a cheap product that bows and slopes toward the edges. We’d rather spend a few bucks more for something that will last. The Spring Chef Heavy Duty Quarter Sheet is available at Amazon for $9.99.
Why You Can Trust Us
I’m Belle DuChene, an award-winning digital content producer and professor of communications who has a passion for all things lifestyle including fashion, food, and French culture. (And wine, of course!) Over the course of 20 years, I’ve held almost every position imaginable in various restaurant and my writing and on-camera work can be seen on the Better Homes & Gardens website.
As a busy home cook and mother of three, Blair started The Seasoned Mom to help simplify meal time and focus on quick prep meals that bring families together. In addition to her signature one-pot meals, has dozens upon dozens of cookies, pastries, and more, so she utilizes cooling racks on a regular basis!
To make this list, I worked with Blair to leverage her personal experience with cooling racks for her recipes. I then deeply researched the market to pick the best cooling racks based on reviews pertaining to performance and overall value.
What to Know About Cooling Racks
Things to Consider When Choosing a Cooling Rack
Choosing the right cooling rack depends on your specific baking needs and preferences. Here are some factors to consider when deciding what type of cooling rack to buy:
Grid vs. Parallel Lines: The difference between a cooling rack with a grid design and one with parallel lines is actually a big deal. Blair and I prefer grid designs because they offer more support, are less likely to warp, and you never have to worry about cookies slipping through the cracks as they often do with cooling racks with parallel lines.
Size: Think about the size of your oven to make sure it will fit. You should also decide what sort of recipes you’ll be making to know whether you need something large enough to handle dozens of cookies at a time or if you just want a small cooling rack for small batches. For added convenience, make sure that the cooling rack fits comfortably inside any standard baking sheets you regularly use.
Material: Cooling racks are typically available in stainless steel and aluminum. We like stainless steel cooling racks because they are rust-resistant. But the go-to for many professional cooks and bakers are aluminum cooling racks because they conduct heat well and are often coated with nonstick materials for easy cleaning.
What is a Cooling Rack?
A cooling rack is a kitchen tool used for cooling baked goods after they come out of the oven. Its primary purpose is to allow air to circulate around the baked items, promoting even cooling, preventing condensation, and avoiding the formation of soggy bottoms or uneven textures.
Can Cooling Racks go in the Oven?
Oven-safe cooling racks are typically made from materials that can withstand higher temperatures, such as stainless steel or certain heat-resistant alloys. These racks are designed to be used in baking or roasting situations, allowing air to circulate around food in the oven for more even cooking.
Some cooling racks with non-stick coatings are not oven-safe up to high temperatures, which can cause warping or cracking. It’s crucial to verify the product’s specifications to ensure safe and proper usage. If in doubt, use the cooling rack as intended for cooling purposes only, and choose a separate oven-safe rack for baking or roasting.
How to Cool Cookies Without a Wire Rack
If you don’t have a wire rack, you can always lay a sheet of parchment paper or wax paper on your counter to cool or grab a cutting board to do the job. Of course, you won’t have the added benefit of allowing the air to circulate around them as they cool, which is a game changer for cookies that are crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside.
How to Clean a Cooling Rack
Most of the cooling racks on our list are safe to put in the dishwasher. If you choose one that needs to be washed by hand, it’s not the end of the world. Just allow the rack to cool, shake off any stuck bits of food, and scrub it clean with a sponge or soft-bristle brush with a little soap and water. It’s most important to prevent your cooling rack from rusting, so make sure to dry it completely before storing it.
More Great Cookie and Baking Recipes
Once you’ve added one of our top picks for the best cooling racks, try it out with one of these great recipes. You’ll be amazed by the finished product!
- Monster Cookies
- Snickerdoodle Cookies
- Oven Fried Fish
- Roasted Chicken Thighs with Garlic & Herbs
- Bisquick Waffles with a Secret Ingredient!
Prices were accurate at the time of publication.
