A cooling rack is one of those quiet kitchen essentials that makes everything you bake turn out better. By lifting cakes, cookies, and breads off the counter, it lets air circulate underneath so they cool evenly instead of turning soggy on the bottom. The best cooling racks use sturdy stainless steel in a tight grid pattern with several support bars to resist sagging, and many double as roasting or broiling racks inside a sheet pan. Below are six of the best cooling racks for 2026, including the sturdy wire rack I rely on for my own baking.
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Quick verdict: For most bakers, a stainless steel grid rack with three or more support bars is the best choice, and the Checkered Chef rack is the standout, favored for its durability and airflow. Choose a stackable rack if counter space is tight, and stick with uncoated stainless if you also want to roast or broil, since nonstick coatings are not safe at broiler heat. Sturdy, level construction matters most.
How We Picked These Cooling Racks
We prioritized sturdy, level stainless steel construction with a tight grid and at least three support bars underneath, since those resist sagging under heavy loads. We also weighed oven safety, airflow, ease of cleaning, and value. America’s Test Kitchen names the Checkered Chef rack its favorite and stresses avoiding nonstick coatings if you plan to broil, as they can fume at high heat.1 Testing from TechGearLab informed our shortlist.2
1. Checkered Chef Stainless Steel Cooling Rack, Best Overall
The Checkered Chef rack is the all-around favorite, a food-grade stainless steel grid rack that is oven-safe, dishwasher-safe, and built to sit flat and stable. Its slightly wider grid promotes strong airflow, making it excellent for cooling and versatile enough for roasting and broiling inside a sheet pan.
Why It Stands Out
Durability, airflow, and versatility are the draw, and it is the rack America’s Test Kitchen recommends, with a grid that resists food falling through.1 It cleans up easily in the dishwasher. For most bakers, it is the best starting point.
Worth Knowing
Quality can vary between the single and multi-packs, so check the listing, and inspect for shipping damage. Pair it with a good pan from our baking sheets guide.
2. The Cooling Rack I Use, What I Use
The cooling rack I use has been a quiet workhorse in my baking. It is a sturdy wire rack, and it does exactly what I need: I set cakes, cookies, and other bakes on it straight out of the oven so air can circulate underneath and they cool evenly instead of going soggy on the bottom.
Why It Works for Me
What stands out to me is how sturdy it is. It does not sag or wobble when I load it up, it has held up through a lot of baking without warping, and it is easy to clean, which matters when you use it as often as I do. It is one of those simple tools that just works every time.
Worth Knowing
Because mine is unbranded here, the button points to sturdy stainless cooling racks so you can find a comparable one. If you want a rack that lasts like mine, look for a grid pattern with several support bars underneath, which resists sagging, and stainless steel for easy cleaning. Round out your kit with our bakeware sets guide.
3. Wilton Excelle Elite 3-Tier Cooling Rack, Best for Small Kitchens
The Wilton Excelle Elite is a three-tier, stackable rack that gives you a lot of cooling space from a small footprint, folding down for easy storage. For anyone who bakes big batches in a tight kitchen, it triples your cooling area without taking over the counter.
Why It Stands Out
Space-saving capacity is the appeal, stacking three tiers so you can cool many cookies or several layers at once, then collapse it flat. The tiers give tall bakes like muffins room. For small kitchens and big batches, it stands out.
Worth Knowing
It has a nonstick coating and is not oven-safe, so use it for cooling only, never broiling or roasting. The wires are thinner and can sag under heavy loads. Keep it to cookies and cakes rather than cookware duty.
4. Spring Chef Heavy Duty Cooling Rack, Best Budget
The Spring Chef rack delivers oven-safe stainless steel at a budget-friendly price, fitting a half sheet pan and holding up to cooling, baking, and roasting. It is a practical, low-cost option, especially if you want to buy more than one without spending much.
Why It Stands Out
Affordable stainless versatility is the draw, oven-safe and dishwasher-safe at a price that makes buying a pair easy. It handles everyday cooling well. For budget-minded bakers, it is the value pick.
Worth Knowing
It is lightweight and can bow slightly or slope toward the edges under weight, so it is less rock-solid than pricier racks. For heavy roasts, choose a sturdier model. Measure ingredients precisely with our measuring cups and spoons guide.
5. Hiware Cooling Rack Set, Best Oven-Safe Set
The Hiware set gives you multiple oven-safe stainless steel racks, ideal for bakers who cool several batches at once or want racks for both cooling and cooking. Each rack fits a half sheet pan and handles the oven, so you can bake, roast, and cool without running short.
Why It Stands Out
Multiple oven-safe racks in one purchase is the appeal, letting you cool a full baking session at once and use them inside sheet pans for bacon or roasts. The stainless build cleans easily. For high-volume bakers, it is a smart set.
Worth Knowing
As with any set, confirm the pack size and that the racks fit your pans. Storing several racks takes a little space. Crisp foods on it using our cookware guide for what to cook first.
6. KITCHENATICS Heavy-Duty Rack, Best for Roasting
The KITCHENATICS rack is the pick when you want to roast and broil as much as cool, with a heavy-duty, tight-wire stainless grid rated oven-safe to high temperatures. That sturdy build supports heavy cuts of meat and crisps bacon while dripping fat into the pan below, all without a nonstick coating to worry about.
Why It Stands Out
Rugged, high-heat versatility is the differentiator, with a tight grid that holds small foods and a build stout enough for heavy roasts. It is oven-safe well past broiler range. For cooks who roast often, it is the standout.
Worth Knowing
The heavy-duty build is a little pricier and heavier than basic racks. Clean sticky roasting messes soon after cooking before they set. See prep tools in our kitchen utensil sets guide.
Cooling Racks at a Glance
Prices shift with sales and seller, so treat cost as a rough tier and confirm current pricing before buying.
| Rack | Material | Oven-safe | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Checkered Chef | Stainless steel | Yes | Best overall |
| My rack (brand-free) | Stainless wire | Varies | Sturdy everyday cooling |
| Wilton 3-Tier | Nonstick steel | No | Small kitchens, batches |
| Spring Chef | Stainless steel | Yes | Budget |
| Hiware Set | Stainless steel | Yes | High-volume baking |
| KITCHENATICS | Stainless steel | Yes, high heat | Roasting and broiling |
How to Choose a Cooling Rack
Look for Sturdy Construction
The most important quality is a rack that stays flat and does not sag. Look for at least three support bars running underneath the grid, since these prevent bowing when you load heavy bakes or roasts. A rack that arrives warped or flexes under weight will frustrate you, so favor solid, level stainless steel construction that holds its shape over years of use.
Choose a Tight Grid Pattern
A tight, crosshatched grid supports small items like cookies and thin foods without letting them slip through, while still allowing airflow. Racks with only widely spaced parallel bars let small foods fall or roll off. The grid also matters if you roast or broil, since it keeps meats and vegetables from dropping into the pan below.
Decide If You Need Oven Safety
If you will only cool baked goods, almost any rack works, including nonstick and multi-tier models. But if you want to roast, broil, or crisp foods on the rack inside a sheet pan, choose uncoated stainless steel rated for high oven heat, since nonstick coatings can release fumes at broiler temperatures. Uncoated stainless is the more versatile, worry-free choice.
Match Size and Storage to Your Kitchen
Pick a rack that fits your sheet pans, most commonly a half-sheet size, so it nests neatly for roasting. If counter or storage space is tight, a collapsible multi-tier rack gives lots of cooling area in a small footprint. Buying a set or a stackable model helps when you bake big batches and need to cool many items at once.
Which Cooling Rack Fits You
| If this is you | Checkered Chef | Wilton 3-Tier | Spring Chef | KITCHENATICS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Want the best all-rounder | Best fit | Workable | Workable | Workable |
| Short on counter space | Workable | Best fit | Workable | Skip |
| On a budget | Workable | Workable | Best fit | Skip |
| Roast and broil often | Best fit | Skip | Workable | Best fit |
How to Use a Cooling Rack Effectively
Using a cooling rack well is simple but makes a real difference. Transfer baked goods onto the rack soon after they come out of the oven so air can circulate underneath and steam escapes, which keeps bottoms from turning soggy, and give cakes a few minutes in the pan first so they set before you turn them out. For roasting or broiling, set an uncoated stainless rack inside a rimmed sheet pan so fat drips below and heat surrounds the food for even, crisp results. Clean the rack promptly, especially after cooking meats, before residue hardens in the grid, and a dishwasher-safe stainless rack makes that easy. Used this way, a good rack improves cooling, cooking, and cleanup all at once.
cookie scoops.
wp-block-heading”>Frequently Asked Questions About Cooling Racks
What is the best material for a cooling rack?
Food-grade stainless steel is the best material, since it is durable, rust-resistant, dishwasher-safe, and, when uncoated, safe for high oven heat like broiling. Nonstick-coated racks are fine for cooling only but should not be used at broiler temperatures. For a rack that lasts and does double duty as a roasting rack, uncoated stainless steel with a sturdy grid is the top choice.
Can you put a cooling rack in the oven?
Uncoated stainless steel racks are oven-safe and are commonly used inside sheet pans for roasting, broiling, and crisping foods, often rated to high temperatures. Nonstick-coated and multi-tier plastic-footed racks are not oven-safe and can release fumes or melt. Always confirm your specific rack is oven-safe before using it for cooking rather than just cooling.
Why do baked goods need a cooling rack?
A cooling rack lifts baked goods off the surface so air circulates underneath, letting steam escape and preventing the bottoms from becoming soggy or soft. Cooling on a solid surface traps heat and moisture, which softens crusts and can make cookies and breads gummy. The rack also cools food faster and more evenly, which improves texture and makes it safe to handle sooner.
How do you clean a cooling rack?
For cooling duty, a gentle scrub with warm soapy water or a run through the dishwasher usually suffices. If you have roasted or broiled meats, clean the rack as soon as possible before residue hardens in the grid, soaking it first to loosen stuck-on bits. Stainless steel racks handle scrubbing and dishwashers well, which is a big reason they are the easiest to maintain.
What size cooling rack should I get?
A half-sheet-size rack is the most versatile, since it fits standard half-sheet pans for roasting and suits most ovens and counters. If you bake large batches, a set of racks or a stackable multi-tier model adds capacity. For toaster ovens or small kitchens, a quarter-sheet rack fits better. Match the rack to your sheet pans so it nests for cooking.
Can you use a cooling rack for roasting?
Yes, and it is one of the most useful things a rack does. Setting an uncoated stainless steel rack inside a rimmed sheet pan elevates meat or vegetables so fat drips below and hot air surrounds the food, giving crisp, even results, great for bacon, wings, and roasts. Just make sure the rack is uncoated stainless and rated for high oven heat.
Do cookies really cool better on a rack?
Yes. Leaving cookies on a hot pan continues to cook them and traps steam, which can make the bottoms soft or soggy. Moving them to a cooling rack after a minute on the pan lets air reach the undersides so they firm up and cool evenly. It is a small step that noticeably improves cookie texture, especially for crisp varieties.
Recommended Reading
Build out your baking kit with our guides to baking sheets, bakeware sets, and mixing bowl sets. Prep with our silicone spatulas and measuring cups and spoons guides, and troubleshoot bakes with our how to measure flour and meringue guides, or slice cooled bakes on one of our cutting boards. See also our guides to shoe racks and storage.
Sources
- America’s Test Kitchen, “The Best Wire Racks.” https://www.americastestkitchen.com/equipment_reviews/1724-wire-racks
- TechGearLab, “The Best Cooling Rack, Ranked.” https://www.techgearlab.com/topics/kitchen/best-cooling-rack
