What Is a Cooling Rack Used for in Cooking?

On this page (9 sections)

1. What is a cooling rack used for after baking?
2. Can you use a cooling rack in the oven?
3. How is a cooling rack used for roasting and reheating?
4. Can a cooling rack drain oil, juice, or glaze?
5. Can a cooling rack work with baking sheets and mats?
6. What other cooking jobs can a cooling rack handle?
7. How should you choose a cooling rack?
8. How do you use and clean a cooling rack safely?
9. What is a cooling rack used for in cooking?

A cooling rack is used to lift hot food above a surface so air can circulate underneath it. This helps cookies, cakes, bread, and pastries cool more evenly while reducing trapped steam and soggy bottoms.

An oven-safe cooling rack can do more than cool baked goods. Depending on its design, it can support roasting, reheating, draining, grilling, smoking, steaming, and drying.

What is a cooling rack used for after baking?

A cooling rack is mainly used to cool baked goods without trapping steam underneath them. The open wire grid lets air reach the bottom and sides of the food.

Move cookies, muffins, or pastries from the hot baking sheet to the rack when they are firm enough to transfer. Cakes and quick breads may need to rest briefly in their pans first, since very hot or delicate food can break during the move.

A rack also keeps food away from a damp countertop. That matters for items with soft bottoms, thick centers, or crisp edges that need to stay firm as they cool.

For more equipment ideas, see this guide to bakeware sets.

How does a cooling rack prevent soggy bottoms?

A cooling rack helps prevent soggy bottoms by creating a gap between the food and the counter. Steam can escape through the wire grid instead of collecting beneath the baked item.

Do not crowd hot food tightly together. Leave space between cookies and pastries so air can move around each piece.

A rack with a tight grid gives smaller cookies and delicate pastries more support. Wide openings may allow narrow pieces of food to sag or fall through.

Can you use a cooling rack in the oven?

You can use a cooling rack in the oven only when it is made for oven cooking and has a suitable heat limit. Stainless steel racks made for roasting or baking are generally more useful for high-heat cooking than racks with unknown materials or coatings.

The can cooling racks go in the oven guide explains what to check before using one for cooking. Look for the rack's material, construction, stated heat rating, and fit inside your pan.

An oven-safe rack should sit securely in a rimmed baking sheet. The pan catches drips and gives you a safer way to move the hot rack and food together.

The Checkered Chef Cooling Racks for Cooking set includes 2 stainless steel cooling racks with a tight crosshatch grid. The 3 size options cover quarter, jelly, and half sheet pan tasks, with dimensions of 8 x 11 3/4 in, 10 x 15 in, and 11 3/4 x 17 in.

Choose this set if you want different rack sizes for small trays and standard half-sheet pans. Its stainless steel construction is oven safe and dishwasher safe, so it fits readers who want one rack type for both cooling and cooking.

How is a cooling rack used for roasting and reheating?

A cooling rack is used for roasting and reheating by lifting food above a sheet pan so hot air can reach more of its surface. This can help keep the underside from sitting directly in drippings or steam.

Place the rack inside a rimmed pan, then arrange food in a single layer. The pan catches juices and grease, while the raised food has space beneath it.

A rack can support proteins, vegetables, or foods that you want to reheat with airflow around them. Check the rack's heat rating and make sure the pan and rack fit together before turning on the oven.

The Ultra Cuisine Cooling and Baking Rack Set includes 2 stainless steel racks measuring 16.5 x 11.5 x 1 in. Each rack fits inside a standard 13 x 18 in half-sheet pan, while the 1 in height leaves room for airflow below food.

This set suits cooks who use half-sheet pans and want a pair of racks for separate batches. It is also designed for roasting, baking, grilling, smoking, drying, and barbecue use up to 575°F.

The racks are dishwasher safe and made from 304 stainless steel with smooth, no-snag edges. They are not stackable for storage, so check your cabinet space before choosing them.

Can a cooling rack drain oil, juice, or glaze?

A cooling rack can drain food by holding it above a tray while liquid falls through the grid. This works for glazed pastries, roasted foods, fried foods, and items that need to release water or oil.

Use a rimmed baking sheet below the rack when liquid may run freely. A flat counter cannot catch drips, and a shallow tray may overflow if the food releases a lot of juice.

A tight grid is useful for small foods because it gives them more support. Raised feet also help keep food above the liquid rather than letting it sit in the drippings.

Keep the rack stable before adding hot food. If the rack rocks inside the pan, choose a better-matched size or use the rack on a flat heat-safe surface for cooling only.

Can a cooling rack work with baking sheets and mats?

A cooling rack works well with a baking sheet when the rack sits inside the pan with enough room for stable support. A matched set can also make it easier to bake, drain, and cool in the same group of pieces.

Measure the inside length and width of your pan before buying a rack. The outside size of a rack does not always tell you whether it will sit securely inside your particular sheet.

The M MCIRCO Baking Sheet with Cooling Rack set includes 3 rimmed stainless steel baking sheets, 3 stainless steel cooling racks, and 3 silicone baking mats. The sizes are 15.9 x 12 x 1 in, 12.4 x 9.6 x 1 in, and 10.4 x 8.1 x 1 in.

Choose this set if you want matched pans, racks, and mats for different baking tasks. The racks have tight grids and raised feet, while the pans have deep full sides to help contain juices.

The silicone mats handle temperatures from -40°F to 500°F. That makes the set useful for baking and cooling, but check the temperature limit before using the mats in a hotter oven.

What other cooking jobs can a cooling rack handle?

An oven-safe cooling rack can handle steaming, grilling, smoking, drying, and resting meat, depending on its construction and the available pan or appliance space.

A rack can act as a steam rack when it stays above the water and supports the food securely. It can also hold food above a drip pan during grilling or smoking, but measure the cooking chamber first.

For grilled or roasted meat, use the rack as a resting surface after cooking. The open grid keeps the food above collected juices, although you should place it over a tray if you need to save those juices.

A rack is not a replacement for every specialty tool. A Dutch oven is better for enclosed braising, as explained in What Is a Dutch Oven Used For?, while a steam oven uses controlled moisture in a different way.

See What Is A Steam Oven Used For? for that cooking method.

How should you choose a cooling rack?

Choose a cooling rack based on the food you make, the pans you own, the material, and whether you need oven use. A rack for cookies may only need a stable grid, while roasting requires an oven-safe design that fits inside a pan.

Check these details before choosing:

• Size: Match the rack to your baking sheet, toaster oven, or storage space.
• Grid spacing: Tight wires support cookies, pastries, and smaller foods.
• Height: Raised feet leave room for airflow and collected drips.
• Material: Stainless steel suits readers who want a rack for cooking and cooling.
• Heat rating: Confirm the rack can handle the temperature you plan to use.
• Cleaning: Dishwasher-safe construction can shorten cleanup after baking or roasting.

A single flat rack works for basic cooling. A set of different sizes suits kitchens that use small trays, jelly roll pans, and half-sheet pans.

If vertical storage matters, compare options in the guide to the best tiered cooling rack.

For a long-lasting cooking rack, stainless steel is a practical material to compare. The guide to best stainless steel cooling racks focuses on racks designed around that material.

How do you use and clean a cooling rack safely?

Use a cooling rack by placing it on a stable heat-safe surface, checking its fit, and giving hot food room for airflow. For oven use, set it inside a rimmed pan and use heat protection when moving the pan.

Let baked goods cool until they are firm enough to transfer. Avoid sliding a heavy or wet item onto a rack if the grid cannot support it.

Clean the rack after food residue has cooled. Dishwasher-safe stainless steel racks can go in the dishwasher, while any rack with unknown coatings should follow its care instructions.

Dry the rack after washing if water collects around welds or edges. Inspect it occasionally for bent wires, sharp points, or instability before using it with hot food.

What is a cooling rack used for in cooking?

A cooling rack is used for cooling baked goods, draining liquids, and improving airflow around food. Oven-safe stainless steel models can also support roasting, reheating, grilling, smoking, steaming, and drying.

Pick a basic rack if your main goal is cooling cookies and cakes. Pick a cooking-rated rack if you want to use it inside a sheet pan, and choose a matched pan-and-rack set if you need several sizes for baking, draining, and cleanup.

Frequently asked questions

What is a cooling rack used for in cooking?

A cooling rack is mainly used to cool cookies, cakes, bread, and pastries by lifting them above the counter so air can move underneath. An oven-safe rack can also support roasting, reheating, draining, grilling, smoking, or steaming when its material and heat rating suit the task.

Can you put a cooling rack in the oven?

Only use a cooling rack in the oven when it is specifically oven safe. Stainless steel racks designed for cooking can support roasting and reheating, but racks with unknown coatings, plastic parts, or unclear heat limits should stay out of the oven.

Why do baked goods need a cooling rack?

Baked goods need a cooling rack so steam can escape from the bottom as they cool. Leaving cookies, cakes, or pastries on a hot baking sheet can keep the base warm and allow condensation to soften it.

Can a cooling rack be used as a draining rack?

Yes, a cooling rack can drain excess oil, juice, glaze, or water when food sits above a tray or pan. Use a rack with a tight grid and stable feet, and place it over a rimmed pan when you need to catch liquid.