What Can I Use Instead Of A Wire Rack?

You must have been using a wire rack for cooling your cakes and other baked items. But there are many alternates of these wire racks that you can use if you don’t have a wire rack.

What can I use instead of a wire rack?

If you don’t have a wire rack, you can use one of the following cooling rack alternative.

Cooling Rack
Sushi Mat
Oven Rack
Barbeque Grill
Muffin Tin
Egg Tray
Chopping Board

The wire racks are also used in commercial environments for cooling baked items. If you are interested in finding out more about these wire racks and whether or not we need them, then continue reading.

In this guide, we’ll look in detail at what you can use instead of a wire rack, is it necessary and different types of wire racks.

What Are the Substitutes for Wire Racks?

To find a cooling rack substitute, you can find similar items to that of a cooling rack. Following are some of the alternatives to cooling wire racks:

1. Find Something Similar:

You can find many things inside your kitchen that can help you replace a cooling wire rack. You can use a toaster oven rack, oven rack, barbecue grill, or even a bamboo sushi mat.

Also, you can use a roasting rack for large baked items. Always cover your wire rack substitute with a paper towel so that residue from the replacement does not stick to your freshly baked items.

2. Make an Elevated Surface for Better Airflow:

If you do not find any of the above substitutes, you can improvise an elevated surface to cool your cakes and cookies. You can use foil from your kitchen and roll several of them to create a grid from these cylinders. Make sure they are sturdy enough to carry the weight of your food.

You can also place several metal open-style cookie cutters at some distance to form an elevated surface. Another excellent option for a high surface is a cool burner on your stove.

3. Granite Chopping Boards:

You can transfer your freshly baked cakes to a flat, cool, non-stick surface. Granite chopping boards are also ideal for cool and flat surfaces. Paper towels help cover these surfaces so that any extra oil or residue from your baking goods falls on the towel rather than damaging it.

4. Create a DIY Rack for Yourself at Home:

You can make a DIY cooling rack for yourself at home. One of the ideas is to use muffin pans and cardboard egg trays. You can place them upside down and cover them with parchment paper to make your handmade cooling rack at home.

This can only carry small and light baking goods, so do not attempt to place a large cake on this cooling rack.

Is a Wire Rack Necessary?

A wire rack baking, also known as a cooling rack is necessary to cool down freshly baked items by circulating air and preventing them from getting soggy.

Suppose you make cookies or wings where crispness matters, then you will have to use a wire rack to cool them down. Baked items such as cookies, cakes, and pastries can become soggy with condensation if not placed on a cooling rack after taking them out of the oven.

What Is the Purpose of a Wire Rack in the Oven?

You can use wire racks inside the oven for grilling and roasting. Some wire racks come with your range, and you can insert them inside them for grilling and roasting food items.

You can insert the wire rack inside your oven and place your food on the wire rack, and this can also include any baking utensils like a baking pan for cakes. These also lie on top of the wire rack for baking.

What Is the Substitute for Wire Rack in Oven?

If you are thinking what can I use instead of a wire rack in the oven, here are the 5 alternatives:

Foil-lined baking sheet
Parchment paper
Silicone baking mat
Inverted baking sheet
Oven-safe cooling rack placed on baking sheet.

How Many Types of Wire Racks Are There?

Most wire baking racks are rectangular, but they come in other shapes; some are circular. When you buy a wire rack, you will find a considerable variety from different manufacturers.

You have to find one that is non-stick and dishwasher safe. It will make your cleaning easy and not mess up more than expected. You can also find single as well as multi-tiered racks. Single-tier shelves are most commonly available.

What Material Is Used to Make a Wire Rack?

Most wire racks are made up of metal, which helps cool the baking products quickly. You can also find wood or heat-resistant materials like chrome-plated steel in specialty baking stores.

What Are the Common Sizes of Wire Racks?

The most common size of wire racks is 10” x 16”, which can be used for most baking items. There are also larger racks available, as big as 14” x 20” in size. You can use these for larger goods.

If you have space constraints, your best bet is to look for a multi-tier rack. This rack will help you to cook multiple things at the same time without occupying more space.

Do You Need a Wire Rack for Steak?

You can use a wire rack for cooling down the steak after you have finished cooking it. Resting the steak for 5 to 7 minutes is essential so that the juices flow back through the steak to its outer edges; this will make every bite of the steak juicy.

If you immediately wrap your steak to keep it warm, then the chances are your steak will become hotter and will overcook; this will cause it to lose all of its juices and tenderness.

Therefore, rest a steak on a wire rack or on any substitute for wire rack for at least 5 minutes to save its tenderness and texture.

Do You Need a Wire Rack for Reverse Sear?

You will need a wire rack for reverse searing almost all the time. The process will not work well without a wire rack. Take a rimmed baking sheet and place a wire rack on it.

Then place your steak on top of the wire rack in a low oven between 93 and 135 degrees Celsius. Your final result will be a juicy and tender steak that you have always wanted.

Can You Reverse Sear Without Wire Rack?

Yes, a wire rack is not a necessary component in a reverse sear method, it is often used for elevating the meat for even heating and to allow the excess fat to drain, but the following can be used as substitute:

Foil-lined baking sheet
Parchment paper
Silicone baking mat
Inverted baking sheet
Aluminum foil balled up and shaped into a support.

The same can be used as wire rack substitute for wings.

Final Thoughts

The readily available cooling wire rack alternative is the rack from your toaster oven. You can also use bamboo sushi mats, an oven rack,s or a barbecue grill for the same purpose. Muffin tins and egg trays can also be placed upside down as a cooling wire rack.

You can replace your wire rack with several different things from your kitchen, and if you don’t have any of those, you can always make one for yourself.

FAQs

How to Cool Bread Without a Wire Rack?

There are other methods to cool bread without a wire rack. The objective is to prevent the bread’s bottom from becoming soggy, which can occur if it lies directly on a surface for a lengthy period of time.

Using a clean kitchen towel or parchment paper on a flat surface, such as a countertop, is one alternative. Allow the bread to cool completely on the towel or paper.

Alternatively, you can utilise the oven itself. Place the bread in the oven with the door slightly ajar after turning off the oven. The leftover heat will prevent the bread’s bottom from becoming mushy as it cools.

What to Use Instead of Cooling Rack?

If you do not have a wire rack, you can use a variety of other methods to cool bread.

Clean kitchen towel or parchment paper: On a flat surface, such as a countertop, place the bread on a clean kitchen towel or parchment paper.

Turn off the oven and place the bread inside while leaving the door slightly ajar.

If you have a bread board, set the bread on it so that it can cool. The board will permit air circulation, keeping the bottom from becoming wet.

What to Use Instead of Wire Rack?

If you do not have a wire rack, there are a number of options you can use to cool bread or for baking.

Clean kitchen towel or parchment paper: On a flat surface, such as a countertop, place the bread on a clean kitchen towel or parchment paper.

Turn off the oven and place the bread inside while leaving the door slightly ajar.

If you have a bread board, you can use it instead of a wire rack for baking bread.

Aluminum foil: Line a baking sheet with aluminium foil. Place the bread on the sheet lined with aluminium foil to cool.

What to Use If You Don’t Have a Wire Rack for Reverse Searing Steak?

A cast-iron skillet or a broiler pan can be used instead of a wire rack to reverse sear steak.

What is Wire Rack Cooking Alternative?

An oven-safe plate, a cast-iron skillet, or a broiler pan can be used instead of a wire rack for cooking.

What Are the Substitute for Wire Oven Rack?

An oven-safe plate, a cast-iron skillet, or a broiler pan can be used as a substitute for a wire oven rack.

What to Use Instead of a Cooling Rack?

A clean towel, parchment paper, or a plate can be used instead of a cooling rack.

What Are the Substitute for Wire Roasting Rack?

An oven-safe plate, a cast-iron skillet, or a broiler pan can be used as a substitute for a wire roasting rack.

What to Use If I Don’t Have a Wire Rack?

An oven-safe plate, a cast-iron skillet, or a broiler pan can be used instead of a wire rack for various cooking and baking tasks.

What to Use If I Don’t Have a Wire Rack for Baking?

A sheet of parchment paper or a silicone baking mat can be used instead of a wire rack for baking tasks.

What Are the Substitute for Cooling Rack?

A clean towel, parchment paper, or a plate can be used as a substitute for a cooling rack.

What Are the Alternative to Cooling Rack?

A sheet of parchment paper or a plate can be used as an alternative to a cooling rack.

What Are the Substitute for Wire Cooling Rack?

A clean towel, parchment paper, or a plate can be used as a substitute for a wire cooling rack.

What to Do If You Don’t Have a Wire Rack?

Use an oven-safe plate, a cast-iron skillet, or a broiler pan as an alternative to a wire rack for cooking and baking tasks.

What to Do If You Don’t Have a Cooling Rack?

Use a clean towel, parchment paper, or a plate as an alternative to a cooling rack for cooling baked goods.

What Are the Baking Wire Rack Substitute?