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Which one should you buy?

A sturdy stainless steel grid rack that fits snugly inside a half-sheet pan. Buy that and you've got a cooling rack, a roasting rack and a draining rack in one. Here's what I'd point you to:

A cooling rack is one of those humble bits of kit that quietly makes everything better. It costs very little, takes up almost no room, and you'll use it far more than you'd expect.

Most people think of it for cookies and cakes. But set it inside a rimmed baking sheet and it becomes a roasting rack, a place to rest fried chicken, a spot to glaze doughnuts, and a way to dry-brine a chicken in the fridge. It's the best value thing in the bakeware cupboard.

Why air underneath matters

Anything hot from the oven is still giving off steam. Leave it on a plate or the hot tray and that steam has nowhere to go but back into the bottom, which turns soft and soggy. Lift it onto a rack and the air moves all round it. The steam escapes, and crisp things stay crisp.

The same idea works in the oven. Put meat or vegetables on a rack in a sheet pan and the hot air reaches the underside too, so it browns all over instead of sitting in its own juices. Fried food rested on a rack stays crunchy, because the oil drips away rather than soaking back in.

Checkered Chef rack at a glance

One honest note: its grid squares are a touch larger than some racks. It still holds small cookies fine, but if you bake tiny bits and bobs, keep that in mind.

What to look for in a cooling rack

• A grid, not parallel bars. Racks with bars running one way let small cookies, nuts and roast potatoes drop straight through.

• Plain stainless steel. It can go in a hot oven and under the broiler. Skip nonstick-coated racks for oven use; coatings aren't made for that kind of heat.

• Fits your sheet pan. A rack that sits neatly inside a half-sheet pan is twice as useful.

• Good feet. Enough height lets air flow underneath and gives drips somewhere to go.

• Support bars. More bars underneath means it won't sag under a heavy roast.

• Check it's flat. Racks occasionally arrive a bit bent. If yours wobbles, send it back.

The Checkered Chef is strong, stainless, sized for the pan and happy in the dishwasher, so it measures up well.

Who it suits, and who should skip it

Good for you if

• You bake, roast or fry, which is to say almost everyone

• You own a half-sheet pan, or plan to

• You want one rack that goes from oven to counter to dishwasher

Skip it if

• You mostly bake very small cookies; look for the finest grid you can find

• You cook in a toaster oven; get the quarter-sheet size instead

• You want to spend as little as possible: the Mrs. Anderson's is half the price

How to get the best from it

Cooling bakes

Move cookies to the rack after a few minutes on the sheet, once they're firm enough to lift. Cakes usually cool in the tin for a short while first, then get turned out onto the rack. Follow your recipe.

Roasting on a rack

Set the rack inside a rimmed baking sheet for bacon, chicken thighs, meatballs or a pork loin. Fat drips away, air reaches the bottom, and you skip the flipping. Line the pan underneath with foil and the washing up is easy.

Resting fried food

Straight from the oil onto the rack, not onto paper towels. The bottoms stay crisp.

Glazing and icing

Put a sheet of parchment under the rack and drizzle away. The drips land on the paper and the bottoms of your bakes stay clean.

Looking after it

• Soak first. After bacon or a roast, let it sit in hot soapy water before you scrub.

• Use a stiff brush. It gets into the grid far better than a sponge, which shreds on the wires.

• Dishwasher is fine for this rack. Check the label on any other.

• Use oven gloves. A rack straight from a hot oven is just as hot as the pan.

The one rule

If it's going in the oven, make sure it's plain stainless steel.

Questions people ask

Can a cooling rack go in the oven?

A stainless steel one, yes, and under the broiler too. Avoid putting nonstick or coated racks in a hot oven.

What size cooling rack should I buy?

One that fits inside your half-sheet pan, so you can use it for roasting as well as cooling. For a toaster oven, buy the quarter-sheet size.

Is a grid better than parallel bars?

Yes. A grid holds small cookies and pieces of food that would slip between parallel bars.

How do I clean baked-on grease off a cooling rack?

Soak it in hot soapy water for a good while, then scrub with a stiff brush. A paste of baking soda and water helps with stubborn spots.

Do I need more than one?

One will do. Two is handy if you bake cookies in batches or want to roast and cool at the same time.

Cook with it

Mum's Saturday Night Sausage Rolls. Let them cool on the rack so the pastry stays flaky.

Updated October 2026. Prices change often, so check before you buy.