Best Cooling Racks To Crisp Things Up

Here’s a comprehensive buying guide for cooling and baking racks.

Features to look out for

You will need to keep the following considerations in mind:

Coating

Cooking racks come with non-stick coatings that can either be PTFE or Teflon. Both of these coating materials are super durable and make sure that the food doesn’t stick to the bars. From the two coating materials, Teflon may get a little toxic at high temperatures. It is a safe choice if you’re getting the rack just for cooling food items or low-heat cooking.

Some cooling racks may also be covered in ceramic coatings that can withstand heat better and prevent food from getting stuck. You can also find racks with silicone coatings that are not generally oven safe but really easy to lift food off of.

Material

Cooking racks are made from a variety of materials including chrome coated wood, aluminum, and stainless steel. The most durable and safe materials for these racks are commercial-grade materials that make sure the rack doesn’t warp or bend over time. Stainless steel cooling racks need more maintenance than other kinds as they are prone to rust.

While on the other hand, aluminum is a professional baker’s choice due to its efficient and even heat conductivity. Wooden cooling racks come plated with iron, chrome, or steel to make them more non-stick.

Size

Another important consideration is the size of the rack. Since ovens nowadays are not one-size-fits-all, the standard size is a little less relevant. Measure the interior of your oven if you plan to use it for baking and roasting so you know what size racks to look for. Also, consider the kind and sizes of pans and dishes you’d be using with it.

Choosing the size also involves considering the number of people you cook for. If you make small batches usually, a smaller model might be preferred instead of a larger one that hogs up storage space unnecessarily.

Design

Cooling racks come in two kinds of styles: ladder or grid. Ladder cooling racks have bars running horizontally only while grid cooling racks have bars in both directions. Grid style creates a hatch-style look overall.

Both these designs offer sufficient air circulation to prevent soggy food items placed on them. But from the two, grid-style racks are the clear winners as it prevents food from falling through or losing shape and form.

What can I use a cooling rack for?

Here are a few things you can do with a cooling rack besides cooling cookies on it:

Basting

When roasting juicy meat like chicken thighs or steaks, you can toss in vegetables under the cooling tray so they can soak up drippings and get a nice flavor. You can put vegetables like sliced zucchini, eggplant, cannellini beans. and greens there.

Smoking fish or meat

As smoking meat requires a lot of air circulation, a cooling rack is the perfect tool for this job. You can simply place the meat on it without a pan or pot and put the rack on the smoker.

Crisping

Cooling racks can be used to crisp up breaded food. You can place any kind of food on this rack and put it in the oven for a few minutes to give it a nice crunch factor.

Dehydrating

You can use a cooling rack to make oven-dried tomatoes or dehydrated apple rings. The heat diffusing properties will prevent scorching by keeping food items above the bottom of the pan.

Oven bacon

Another use of a cooling rack is to make crispy bacon. The racks allow fat to drip off as the fat renders and gives you more plentiful, crispier bacon than you would make in a pan.

What makes a good quality cooling rack?

Here are a few factors:

• Solid and durable construction offers good support for weight endurance.
• It should prop the grid by at least 1.5 or 2-inches off the countertop for good air circulation.
• The appropriate size that will fit the oven (if it is oven-safe) or your baking and cooking needs.
• Comes with multiple layers or tiers for large batches and multiple uses.
• Prefer metal cooling racks if you will be using them in the oven.
• It should have a design that can accommodate all pans and plates you will be using.
• The construction material should not be prone to rust, wear, or warping.

Tips to Clean Cooling Racks

A few tips are:

• Clean the rack after every use.
• Always spray the rack before you use it to prevent food from sticking.
• Use a soft brush to scrub off any stubborn food particles.
• Use baking soda and vinegar to get rid of stains and residue.
• Soak the rack in soapy water overnight if there’s a lot of thick food residue stuck to it.