Can a Cooling Rack Go in the Oven?

A cooling rack is one of those kitchen gadgets that can efficiently serve a purpose other than lowering the temperature of cookies fresh from the oven. Converting one of the most inventive cooling racks into a roasting rack allows you to cook meat or vegetables in your oven.

Can a cooling rack go in the oven?

The cooling racks are usually oven safe, as the standard rack is made of high-quality stainless steel that can easily handle high temperatures over 450 degrees F. However, the cooling racks coated to make them non-stick are not oven-safe.

In this guide, we’ll look in detail at the use of cooling racks in the oven, and how to know if a cooling rack is oven safe.

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What are Cooling Racks?

A cooling rack is a piece of culinary equipment used to place hot baked goods shortly after being prepared. It’s made to make air circulation under the delicacies easy so that they don’t condense and become soggy.

One of the reasons for the crispiness of your cookies and bread is the use of cooling racks. Some cooling racks are made of wood, which bread bakers commonly use, while others are made of robust metals that do not flex but provide appropriate support.

Cooling racks are also available in a variety of shapes and sizes. It can take the form of a square, a circle, or a rectangle. Typically, they are a grid of metal wires with stands on the edges to lift the rack off the surface.

How to Tell If a Cooling Rack Is Oven-Safe?

Metal cooling racks without any coating are safe to use in the oven. It is convenient to use these cooling racks in the oven for baking and roasting.

To know if your cooling rack is oven-safe, you can also check the tag indicating oven safe. If the cooling rack is made of metal and doesn’t contain coating, it’s a sign that it is safe to use in the oven.

Which Cooling Racks Are Oven-Safe?

There are various cooling racks available in the market, and knowing which one is oven-safe can be difficult. I am covering the cooling racks here by categorizing them into the material and some brands.

Stainless Steel Cooling Rack

The stainless steel rack is highly durable and can handle a high temperature of over 450 degrees F. These cooling racks are perfect for the oven for baking and roasting needs. However, these racks usually don’t contain any coating, and your food can stick on these racks due to high oven temperature.

Chrome Cooling Rack

Cooling racks plated with chrome and other materials are becoming increasingly popular. The coating prevents items from sticking to it, making it a favorite among bakers. These racks are unsafe to use in the oven due to the non-stick coating of cooling racks.

Teflon Coating Cooling Racks

Polytetrafluoroethylene, or PTFE, is a chemical that contributes to the non-stick properties of many of our kitchen appliances. Teflon is a well-known coating that is used in PTFE-based products. 

Teflon-coated items, including the cooling rack, should not be used in the oven. Due to the high temperatures, PTFE melts and warps, and if it gets into your food, it has pretty harmful side effects.

However, cooling racks for oven grilling are also available. They truly make an excellent oven grill due to their crisscross openings that allow air circulation. To catch the juices and residues while roasting, you can always find a sheet pan that matches your rack.

Mainstays Cooling Rack

I tried to find out whether Mainstays cooling racks are oven safe. As these cooling racks are made with heavy gauge stainless steel, also the brand claim to be non-stick and glazed to prevent food from sticking.

Due to the high quality of stainless steel, you can safely use the Mainstays cooling racks in the oven. You can also use these racks in the dishwasher without any worry.

Good Cook Cooling Rack

The Good Cook cooling racks (Click here to check the price on Amazon) are oven-proof and easily fit in the oven racks. I used these cooling racks to make the oil-free fries for abound 35 minutes at the temperature of 420 degrees F, and the result was perfect without sticking the fries to the rack.

OXO Cooling Rack

The OXO colling racks (Click here to check the price on Amazon) are aluminum and come with a non-stick finish. As per the brand, this rack can handle temperatures up to 450 degrees F. If you want to use these racks in the conventional oven, it’s safe to use them.

Choosing the Best Cooling Racks

The cooling racks come with their pros and cons, but that sets them apart. They are also available in various dimensions and sizes; anyone that best fits your oven use. Be sure to read the product information properly before making a payment to get one.

1. Hiware Cooling Rack

The Hiware Cooling & Baking Rack provides extra air circulation for an even bake, resulting in exquisite savory and sweet treats every time. This is available on Amazon and quite affordable.

You can find this set of Hiware Cooling Racks on Amazon by clicking here.

2. Checkered Chef Cooling Rack

The Checkered Chef Cooling Rack is ideal if you don’t have a lot of counter space because its four-tier design divides and stacks your sweet treats. This is made with heavy gauge stainless steel and is oven safe.

If you wish to purchase this Checkered Chef Cooling Rack, you can do so on Amazon here.

3. Wilton Ultra Bake Professional Cooling Racks

The Wilton Ultra Bake Professional 3-Tier Stackable Cooling Racks are efficient and straightforward, allowing you to cool dozens of delectable desserts.

You can check out the current prices on Amazon here.

Foods That You Can Prepare Using Cooling Racks

Whether beef or salmon, you can use your cooling racks to smoke any of them. Its numerous crisscross openings allow for improved air circulation, which is ideal for smoking. Enjoy your smoked meat without having to buy another piece of equipment!

Meat on the Grill

Who wouldn’t want some? No one can ever deny that grilled meats taste divine. Grilling extracts the best flavors from the core by breaking down its proteins and combining them with other natural compounds to produce such a distinct, unrivaled flavor.

Fruits and Vegetables Dried in the Oven

If you prefer your tomatoes or other foods to be dried, use those cooling racks to toss your favorite vegetables into the oven. Drying has a significant impact on the taste of the food because it concentrates all of the flavors into a thin, chewy food that your mouth will undoubtedly enjoy. Who needs packed dried whatever from the market shelf when you can make one from scratch in the comfort of your own home?

We’ve shown that grilling isn’t the only thing you can use for those racks. They also make excellent smoking and drying racks. Ingenuity truly allows you to do more with less while also saving money.

Conclusion

Cooling racks are kitchen gadgets that you can use for other purposes besides reducing the temperature of freshly baked cookies. However, it would be best if you first determined whether your cooling rack is suitable for use as an oven grill before proceeding.

Cooling racks made of metal without any coating are safe for an oven. You can use these cooling racks in the oven to bake or roast almost anything you like.