A cooling rack lifts baked goods off the pan so air reaches the bottom. Many are also oven safe, so the same rack can sit inside a sheet pan for roasting or bacon. The details that differ are size, wire spacing, material and whether the rack stacks.
The six racks below cover single and multi-tier styles, plain stainless and nonstick steel. Sizes, materials and temperature limits come from each product’s listing page. We have not used these racks ourselves. Material and heat statements are the makers’ own.
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What to Look For
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Size | Match a half sheet pan, a jelly roll pan or a quarter sheet |
| Material | Stainless steel, carbon steel and coated steel care differ |
| Grid spacing | Tight wires hold small cookies |
| Tiers | Stackable racks cool more at once |
| Oven use | Check the listed temperature limit |
Specs at a Glance
| Rack | Size | Material | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra Cuisine | 11.5 x 16.5 x 1 in; 2-pack | Stainless steel | 1 inch height; dishwasher safe per maker |
| Spring Chef | 10.04 x 14.76 in | Stainless steel | Oven safe to 575 F per maker; 4 raised feet |
| P&P CHEF | 16.6 x 11.5 x 0.75 in; 2 pieces | Stainless steel | Seamless welding; dishwasher safe per listing |
| HIWARE 3-tier | 12 x 16.5 in each; 6.25 in tall stacked | Stainless steel | Three racks; two with stackable legs |
| KitchenAid | 12.72 x 17.72 x 0.63 in | Aluminized steel, nonstick | Dishwasher safe per maker |
| Calphalon Titan | 16.5 x 11.5 in | Carbon steel | Oven safe to 500 F per maker |
The 6 Best Cooling Racks
1. Ultra Cuisine Cooling Rack Set
Two stainless steel racks measuring 11.5 by 16.5 inches and 1 inch tall, sized for half sheet pans. The maker says the stainless is 304 (18/8) and that the racks are oven safe and dishwasher safe.
Suits: half sheet pans. Strengths: two racks and a 1 inch height. Weaknesses: a large footprint. Skip it if you only bake small batches.
View Ultra Cuisine Stainless Steel Cooling Rack Set, 11.5 x 16.5 in on Amazon
2. Spring Chef Cooling Rack
A single stainless steel rack measuring 10.04 by 14.76 inches to fit a 10.25 by 15.25 inch jelly roll pan. The maker lists an oven limit of 575 F, four raised feet and dishwasher care.
Suits: jelly roll pans. Strengths: a high stated oven limit. Weaknesses: one rack only. Skip it if you need two.
View Spring Chef Stainless Steel Cooling Rack, 10 x 15 in on Amazon
3. P&P CHEF Cooling Baking Rack, 2 Pieces
Two stainless steel racks of 16.6 by 11.5 inches and 0.75 inch height, made for 18 by 13 inch half sheet pans. The listing mentions seamless welding, thick feet and dishwasher and oven safe care.
Suits: a pair for half sheets. Strengths: welded joints and thick feet. Weaknesses: a low profile. Skip it if you want taller feet.
View P and P CHEF Stainless Steel Cooling Rack 16.6 x 11.5 in 2 pieces on Amazon
4. HIWARE Collapsible 3-Tier Cooling Rack
Three 12 by 16.5 inch stainless steel racks, two with stackable legs and one with support feet, standing 6.25 inches tall when stacked. The stackable legs fold down to 1 inch so each rack can sit alone in a half sheet pan.
Suits: cooling many cookies at once. Strengths: tiers that fold flat. Weaknesses: more parts to wash. Skip it if you want one flat rack.
View HIWARE Collapsible 3 Tier Cooling Rack, 12 x 16.5 in on Amazon
5. KitchenAid Nonstick Cooling Rack
A nonstick aluminized steel rack with a grid pattern, titled 13 by 18 inches though the detail section lists 12.72 by 17.72 inches. The maker calls it dishwasher safe and suited to cooling or roasting in a baking sheet.
Suits: a large nonstick rack. Strengths: a 0.63 inch profile and a coated grid. Weaknesses: size figures differ slightly. Skip it if you prefer uncoated stainless.
View KitchenAid Nonstick Aluminized Steel Cooling Rack, 13 x 18 in on Amazon
6. Calphalon Titan Cooling and Cooking Rack
A 16.5 by 11.5 inch rack with a geometric grid and a steel core, oven safe to 500 F per the maker. The title and specs say carbon steel, while the first bullet calls it a stainless steel rack, so check the material on the page.
Suits: half sheet pans. Strengths: a stated 500 F limit. Weaknesses: the material wording conflicts. Skip it if you need to know the metal for sure.
View Calphalon Titan Cooling and Cooking Rack, 16.5 x 11.5 in on Amazon
Care and Setup
- Match the rack to your pan size before you order.
- Follow the wash instructions on each listing.
- Let hot racks cool before washing.
- Store stacking racks folded flat.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying a rack that is wider than your oven.
- Putting a coated rack under the broiler without checking limits.
- Cooling very small cookies on wide wire gaps.
- Ignoring the stated oven temperature.
Cooling Rack FAQ
Can I use a cooling rack in the oven?
Several listings say yes, with limits from 500 F to 575 F. Check yours. For air fryer racks see our air fryer racks guide.
What size do I need?
Measure the inside of your pan. Half sheet pans take about 16.5 by 11.5 inches.
The Short Version
For a pair in half sheet size, the Ultra Cuisine. For jelly roll pans, the Spring Chef. For welded racks, the P&P CHEF. For tiers, the HIWARE. For nonstick, the KitchenAid. For a stated 500 F limit, the Calphalon.
