If you’re asking yourself whether you really need a cooling rack for baking bread, you should know you’re not alone! No matter if you’re an experienced chef or a beginner, you most likely have heard about the benefits of cooling racks.
And we can say from our experience that if you’re planning to bake bread at home, you’re going to need a well made rack. The main purpose of this item is to allow air to circulate under your baked bread.
So, since we’re here to help you, we shared next our top picks for the best cooling racks for baking bread. Let’s see which one suits your needs best!
Table of Contents
Why do I need a cooling rack?
A better question would probably be: why should’t you? The cooling racks have a lot of different and handy uses in the kitchen. Below we explain some of these benefits:
- Ensures your food does not continue to steam on the baking sheet
- Provide much-needed air circulation, which make sures your bread has a better structure.
Why is this air circulation important? It makes sure the cooking process is halted right away. Trust us, you might think you don’t need this, but it helps a lot with overdone pastries and loaves of bread.
Note: it’s possible to put the cooling rack in the oven, but before you do this, make sure you bought a product that is oven-safe.
Our Top 5 Picks of 2021
Most cool racks are dishwasher-safe and rust-tolerant (particularly if they are chrome-plated). Whenever buying cooling racks, it’s important to pay attention to their limitations.
If you want to use a rack in the oven, look for models that are oven-safe to at least 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
Below you find the best cooling racks for baking bread. Let’s start with our favorite one, the Nordic Ware Round Cooling Grid.
#1 Nordic Ware Round Cooling Grid, 13-inch diameter
For beginner bakers, but not only, a simple and efficient cooling rack is also a must. And the Nordic Ware Round Cooling Grid is exactly that! Designed with copper-plated steel, this cooling rack can help you achieve the best homemade bread. It won’t interfere with your bread’s taste and flavor! Besides, the materials used to create it are safe and chemical-free.
This is a sleek, versatile, and easy-to-store rack. It’s perfect for baking bread at home, but at the same time, you can use it for cakes, pies, and pizzas. It has a nice steel frame, which is why we encourage you to use it while serving your bread. However, this is a basic cooling rack, and it’s not suitable for use in the oven or the dishwasher. We recommend it for anyone who wants a sturdy and cost-efficient cooling rack.
#2 Silpat Cook N’ Cool Baking Tray, 13-1/2″ x 16-5/8″
If you love gadgets and their sleek design, this innovative cooling rack might be just what you need. And we say this because it is one of a kind. Only a few cooling racks for baking bread are so versatile. It is designed with durable and safe materials, suitable for use in the oven. The aluminum used in its design comes with a nonstick coating, allowing you to bake a perfect loaf of bread.
What we like most about the Silpat cooling rack is that it has a perforated bottom so that you can use it as both a baking sheet and cooling rack. Even though it might seem a little bit pricey, we can say it is extremely advantageous in any kitchen. Simple to use and clean, this resistant cooling rack will become your ally in baking bread at home!
#3 Checkered Chef Baking Sheet with Wire Rack Set
Baking bread at home it’s a fun and healthy choice. And we know that using the best kitchen appliances is a must. This user-friendly baking sheet and rack set can help you make your best bread recipe. It is oven-safe, and you can wash it in the dishwasher. It was designed from durable aluminum and stainless steel, being extremely resistant to frequent wear and tear.
The rack and tray fit perfectly together, so you won’t have to worry about damaging your bread. This cooling rack for baking bread has generous dimensions of 17.95 x 1 x 13 inches. We like that the rolled edges offer additional strength to prevent warping. Each set contains 1 x Aluminum Tray/Pan and 1 x Stainless Steel Baking/Cooling Rack, so you can start baking bread right away.
#4 Geesta 4-Tier Collapsible Cooling Rack
Maybe one of the most impressive cooling racks available in 2021, the Geesta 4-tier Collapsible cooling rack stands out as one of the most professional. It is a cool item to have in your kitchen, but at the same time, it has numerous benefits. First of all, it’s an elegant cooling rack for baking bread. It was designed with some of the best materials on the market with anticorrosion and antirust properties.
We recommend it because it’s perfect for amateurs and professional bakers. It features safe feet with anti-slip materials to protect your baked goods from falling. Besides, this 4-tier rack offers plenty of space to bake as much bread as you wish. It’s simple to carry and store, one of the best items in terms of excellent performance and versatility. This collapsible cooling rack offers you the best environment for cooling your baking bread.
#5 Wilton Excelle Elite 3-Tier Cooling Rack for Bread
One of our top choices for the best cooling rack that’s both useful and affordable is the Wilton Excelle Elite 3-tier cooling rack. This chrome-plated grid can be used in the oven up to 450 degrees.
It was designed with toxic-free materials and a nonstick coating. This cooling rack is an excellent choice for baking bread, but you can also bake other goods, including cakes.
We recommend this 3-tier cooling rack because it can help you bake multiple goods at the same time. If you have a large family, this is your top choice! And the best part about it is that it’s both affordable and durable. It comes with a parallel bar design and a limited 10-year warranty. You can wash it by hand or in the dishwasher with ease. Each rack measures 15.9 x 9.9 inches, making it easy to store no matter how small your kitchen is!
What to Look for in Cooling Racks?
Here are some of the things you need to be aware of before deciding which cooling rack to pick.
Material
The most popular racks are made from high-quality material. Stainless steel has an exceptionally good strength that will resist rusting. Aluminum is the main use for professional cooks and bakers for its even heat conductivity (but these are often Teflon-coated). Aluminum is a material that is used a lot in loaf pans as well. Some racks are coated with chrome iron or steel making them non-stick-friendly.
Check the manufacturer’s labels for heat resistant coatings. Most racks are strong enough to last a long time.
Size
For lovers of baking, ovens come in an wide range of sizes. This means that if you plan on using your new rack solely for this purpose be sure to measure your oven!
Also, if you have large batches of cookies or bread in mind for the rack, go with something bigger. If you only cook small batches, you could buy a smaller one and save precious counter space.
Coating
The coating is important if you want to use the cooling rack in an oven. Only the cooling racks that are not oven-safe, can use a nonstick coating. As the name suggests, this will make sure your bread doesn’t stick to the rack.
Don’t use a nonstick coating with most oven-proof racks, as the coating can melt very easy at high temperatures. It’s always a good idea to read the product description to see whether it’s oven-proof or not.
FAQs
Can you put a cooling rack in the oven?
The short answer is: it depends on the model. Some are specifically designed to be oven safe. If it is, the wire rack can double as your roasting rack. Just set it right in your sheet pan. Be sure to check your manufacturer’s packaging, as some models are only oven safe up until a certain temperature.
What makes a good cooling rack?
Probably the most important feature is a solid and sturdy construction. Also, if you have a small kitchen, you should opt for one that saves counter space.
Here are some important features you should look for:
- a solid metal construction (this is essential as it makes sure that it won’t get warped).
- Buy a cooling rack that is made out of steel.
- Alternatively, aluminum is another material that works.
- Large cooling rack with multipe tiers (if you have a habit of baking a lot of bread).
What can I use if I don’t have a cooling rack?
If you don’t have a cooling rack, you can always try to improvise. Things such as cardboard egg trays or muffin tins can both be turned upside down. That way you can use it to hold your freshly baked bread or cake.
Thanks to Tampa Bay Times for sharing these cool DIY hacks.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are plenty of choices when it comes to buying a cooling rack for baking bread. Some cooling racks are compact, while others offer plenty of space to bake several goods at once.
The 5 cooling racks for baking bread listed above are created with safe and durable materials. These are recommended for all bakers, no matter the level of experience! We encourage you to research and read product descriptions before purchasing one.
