What is a cooling rack?
Matthew Perez
Updated on February 27, 2026
What is a cooling rack?
A kitchen utensil that is used for placing cooked foods onto a surface that will enable the food to be cooled on all sides after being baked, either food still in a hot pan or food removed from a baking sheet or pan and placed directly onto the rack.
Is a cooling rack a kitchen tool?
Why Your Cooling Rack Is the Hottest Kitchen Tool. When you cook meat or vegetables on a cooling rack, it effectively functions as an oversized roasting rack, allowing the hot air to circulate evenly around the food. (To do this, of course, your cooling rack must be oven-safe.
What is the point of a cooling rack?
A cooling rack elevates your food off of a solid surface, so air circulates and the bottom doesn’t get soggy from absorbing residual steam. It’s a vital step in textural perfection.
Do you need a cooling rack for cookies?
A rack allows air to circulate under the cookies, cooling them quickly. If you do not have a cooling rack, you may remove cookies from the baking sheet and allow them to cool on paper towels on the countertop. Also they cool slower than cookies on a rack.
What can I use instead of a cooling rack for cookies?
Muffin tins and (cardboard) egg trays can both be turned upside down and used to hold fresh-from-the-oven cookie sheets or hot pies or cakes. Alternatively, you can place a group of canning rings, like the lid of a mason jar, on the counter, then place the hot confection on top.
What can I use if I don’t have a cooling rack for cookies?
Pull an extra rack out of the oven, toaster oven, or roasting pan. Set it on the counter and set a hot baking sheet or pan on it to cool or transfer the baked goods directly to the baking rack to cool them even faster.
Can you bake on a cookie cooling rack?
Can I use a cooling rack in the oven, you ask? The short answer is yes! As long as it’s made with high-quality stainless steel. Most cooling racks in the market are made of iron with a thin layer of chrome coating.
Which is the best cooling rack for cookies?
Cooling racks are the easiest way to offer your cookies, cakes, and more the relaxation they require. Their sturdy construction and open design offer support and ventilation to eliminate excess moisture. To ensure you have enough space to accommodate your tastiest creations, we recommend the Wilton 3-tier cooling rack.
What kind of cooling rack do I Need?
To ensure you have enough space to accommodate your tastiest creations, we recommend the Wilton 3-tier cooling rack. This stacked rack has several roomy layers and a non-stick coating to prevent unwanted messes. If one option isn’t enough, we’ve collected more stellar products so you can weigh your options.
What to use to keep cookies from sticking?
Hint: Use it for ice cream, too. And to keep those cookies from sticking, stock up on parchment paper. “I much prefer parchment to silicone baking mats for ensuring cookies don’t stick to the pan,” Arias says.
What’s the best way to chill cookies before baking?
For thicker cookies, it’s all about chilling things out. “Try freezing the balls of cookie dough while the oven heats before baking,” she says. And if softer cookies are your jam, Arias suggests adding in 1 to 2 teaspoons of cornstarch along with the other dry ingredients.