Buying guideBaking Equipment section

Best cooling rack for baking cookies and cakes: Amazon picks

Cooling rack wire gauge, grid spacing for supporting small cookies without falling through, rack dimensions relative to half-sheet pans, whether the rack is oven-safe for roasting, stacking design for small kitchens and whether the rack is dishwasher safe determine which cooling rack suits home bakers.

By Pickspry EditorialUpdated September 28, 20264 picks

The short answer

Checkered Chef Cooling Rack Set (2 Half-Sheet Racks) at $15 is the best cooling rack for most home bakers: the two included 17x12 racks fit standard half-sheet pans, the tightly spaced 0.5-inch wire grid prevents small cookies from falling through and the oven-safe construction to 575F allows the rack to be used for roasting meat and vegetables as well as cooling baked goods.

Product buttons open Amazon search results. As an Amazon Associate, Pickspry earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more

Quick picks

01
Best cooling rack for most home bakers
Checkered Chef Cooling Rack Set
Home bakers who want two cooling racks that match standard half-sheet pan dimensions and are oven-safe for roasting, where Checkered Chef uses thick stainless steel wire in a 0.5-inch grid pattern sized to fit inside an 18x13 Nordic Ware or Chicago Metallic half-sheet pan for oven roasting as well as standalone cooling.
02
Best non-stick cooling rack
USA Pan Wire Cooling Rack
Home bakers and roasters who want a non-stick coated rack that releases food residue more easily than uncoated steel, where USA Pan Wire Cooling Rack uses the same AMERICOAT silicone non-stick coating applied to their baking pans on a 17x12 rack that fits standard half-sheet pans.
03
Best cooling rack for small kitchens
Wilton Excelle Elite 3-Tier Cooling Rack
Home bakers with limited counter space who need to cool multiple baking sheets of cookies simultaneously, where Wilton Excelle Elite 3-Tier stacks three cooling shelves vertically using a folding stand that collapses when not in use, allowing three batches of cookies to cool simultaneously in the footprint of one rack.
04
Best cooling rack with handles
KitchenAid Nonstick Baking and Cooling Rack
Home bakers who want a cooling rack with fold-out handles that allow carrying the rack out of the oven without separate oven mitts gripping the rack wire, where KitchenAid Nonstick uses carbon steel wire with non-stick coating and fold-out handles on each short end that stay cool enough to handle briefly during removal.

How we chose

Cooling racks are evaluated by wire gauge, grid spacing, rack dimensions relative to half-sheet pan sizes, oven-safe temperature rating, non-stick coating if present, whether the design stacks and price. Specs from manufacturer product pages. We did not test these products.

The picks, in detail

4 picks reviewed

Best cooling rack for most home bakers

Checkered Chef Cooling Rack Set

Brand: Checkered Chef

Best for

Home bakers who want two cooling racks that match standard half-sheet pan dimensions and are oven-safe for roasting, where Checkered Chef uses thick stainless steel wire in a 0.5-inch grid pattern sized to fit inside an 18x13 Nordic Ware or Chicago Metallic half-sheet pan for oven roasting as well as standalone cooling.

Skip if

A non-stick coating is required for easy cleanup after roasting. Checkered Chef racks use uncoated stainless steel that requires soaking and scrubbing after roasting fatty meats. For oven use primarily with meats or vegetables, a non-stick coated rack (USA Pan or KitchenAid) provides easier cleanup. For pure baking cooling use without oven roasting, any of the racks in this guide perform equivalently.

Check price on Amazon

Checkered Chef Cooling Rack uses heavy-gauge stainless steel wire in a crosshatch grid pattern with 0.5-inch spacing between wires. The rack stands approximately 1 inch off the counter on four wire legs, allowing air circulation beneath the baked goods. The stainless steel construction does not rust and tolerates repeated dishwasher cycles. The set includes two racks that store nested together for space efficiency.

Checkered Chef is an Amazon-native kitchenware brand that produces baking tools including sheet pans, cooling racks and pastry cutters. Their products are sold exclusively through Amazon.

At $15, Checkered Chef set of 2 is the best value cooling rack set in this guide.

Specifications

Specifications for Checkered Chef Cooling Rack Set
Dimensions	17 x 12 inches (half-sheet fit)
Quantity	2 racks included
Material	Stainless steel
Oven safe	575F
Price	$15

Specs from Checkered Chef cooling rack set 2 half sheet 17x12 oven safe stainless steel, wire Amazon search

Best non-stick cooling rack

USA Pan Wire Cooling Rack

Brand: USA Pan

Best for

Home bakers and roasters who want a non-stick coated rack that releases food residue more easily than uncoated steel, where USA Pan Wire Cooling Rack uses the same AMERICOAT silicone non-stick coating applied to their baking pans on a 17x12 rack that fits standard half-sheet pans.

Skip if

Maximum oven temperature above 450F is needed. USA Pan AMERICOAT is rated to 450F. For roasting at higher temperatures (some pizza stones and high-heat roasting methods use 500F to 575F), an uncoated stainless rack (Checkered Chef) rated to 575F is appropriate. For standard baking and cooling at 350F to 450F, the AMERICOAT coating is fully rated.

Check price on Amazon

USA Pan Wire Cooling Rack uses the same aluminized steel wire construction and AMERICOAT silicone coating as their baking pans. The non-stick surface releases glazed pastry drips, icing run-off and roasting fat residue more easily than bare metal. The AMERICOAT coating is PTFE-free and PFOA-free. The rack legs hold the rack approximately 0.875 inches above the surface.

USA Pan is a Pittsburgh bakeware brand established in 1959. They are a subsidiary of Bundy Baking Solutions, using commercial coating and steel processes for their consumer bakeware line.

At $18, USA Pan Wire Cooling Rack is the best value non-stick cooling rack in this guide.

Specifications

Specifications for USA Pan Wire Cooling Rack
Dimensions	17 x 12 inches
Coating	AMERICOAT silicone (PTFE-free)
Oven safe	450F
Dishwasher safe	Yes
Price	$18

Specs from USA Pan wire cooling rack non-stick AMERICOAT 17x12 half sheet oven safe, baking Amazon search

Best cooling rack for small kitchens

Wilton Excelle Elite 3-Tier Cooling Rack

Brand: Wilton

Best for

Home bakers with limited counter space who need to cool multiple baking sheets of cookies simultaneously, where Wilton Excelle Elite 3-Tier stacks three cooling shelves vertically using a folding stand that collapses when not in use, allowing three batches of cookies to cool simultaneously in the footprint of one rack.

Skip if

Oven-safe use for roasting is required. Wilton Excelle Elite 3-Tier is designed for cooling baked goods at room temperature, not for oven use. The stacking stand mechanism is not rated for oven temperatures. For a rack that doubles as an oven roasting rack, the Checkered Chef or USA Pan single racks are oven-safe alternatives. The 3-Tier is purely a countertop cooling accessory.

Check price on Amazon

Wilton Excelle Elite 3-Tier uses a folding metal stand that extends to support three wire cooling rack levels stacked 3 inches apart vertically. Each tier is an independent 15x10 inch wire rack. When the stand is collapsed, the three racks fold flat for storage. The non-stick chrome coating releases icing and sticky glazes. The 15x10 inch tier dimensions accommodate one standard 13x9 inch baking sheet's worth of cookies per tier.

Wilton is an American baking brand established in 1929 in Chicago, producing baking pans, decorating supplies and cooling racks sold in grocery stores and craft supply retailers.

At $25, Wilton Excelle Elite 3-Tier is the best space-saving cooling rack set in this guide.

Specifications

Specifications for Wilton Excelle Elite 3-Tier Cooling Rack
Tiers	3 tiers
Per-tier dimensions	15 x 10 inches
Coating	Non-stick chrome
Oven safe	No
Price	$25

Specs from Wilton Excelle Elite 3 tier cooling rack stackable non-stick 15x10 small, kitchen Amazon search

Best cooling rack with handles

KitchenAid Nonstick Baking and Cooling Rack

Brand: KitchenAid

Best for

Home bakers who want a cooling rack with fold-out handles that allow carrying the rack out of the oven without separate oven mitts gripping the rack wire, where KitchenAid Nonstick uses carbon steel wire with non-stick coating and fold-out handles on each short end that stay cool enough to handle briefly during removal.

Skip if

A set of two or more racks is needed at minimum cost. KitchenAid Nonstick is sold as a single rack at $20. For the same $20, Checkered Chef provides two racks. The KitchenAid's advantage (fold-out handles) is only valuable if the rack is used regularly for oven roasting as well as cooling. For pure cooling use, any rack in this guide provides equivalent function at lower or equal cost per rack.

Check price on Amazon

KitchenAid Nonstick Cooling Rack uses carbon steel wire with a non-stick coating. The fold-out handles on each short end unfold outward during oven use and fold flat against the rack frame for storage. The 17x11 inch dimensions accommodate a Nordic Ware half-sheet pan width. The non-stick coating simplifies cleaning of glazed icing or honey drips that cool and harden on uncoated wire racks.

KitchenAid is an American kitchen appliance and bakeware brand and a division of Whirlpool Corporation, producing stand mixers, bakeware and kitchen tools.

At $20, KitchenAid Nonstick is the best value cooling rack with integrated handles in this guide.

Specifications

Specifications for KitchenAid Nonstick Baking and Cooling Rack
Dimensions	17 x 11 inches
Coating	Non-stick (carbon steel wire)
Handles	Fold-out on short ends
Oven safe	450F
Price	$20

Specs from KitchenAid nonstick baking cooling rack handles 17x11 oven safe 450F, carbon steel Amazon search

Cooling rack comparison

Product	Dimensions	Tiers	Coating	Oven Safe	Price
Checkered Chef (set of 2)	17 x 12 in	1	None (stainless)	575F	$15
USA Pan	17 x 12 in	1	AMERICOAT silicone	450F	$18
KitchenAid Nonstick	17 x 11 in	1	Non-stick	450F	$20
Wilton 3-Tier	15 x 10 in	3	Non-stick chrome	No	$25

Compare the picks

Side by side comparison of every pick
Specification	Checkered Chef Cooling Rack Set	USA Pan Wire Cooling Rack	Wilton Excelle Elite 3-Tier Cooling Rack	KitchenAid Nonstick Baking and Cooling Rack
Our verdict	Best cooling rack for most home bakers	Best non-stick cooling rack	Best cooling rack for small kitchens	Best cooling rack with handles
Dimensions	17 x 12 inches (half-sheet fit)	17 x 12 inches	Not listed	17 x 11 inches
Quantity	2 racks included	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed
Material	Stainless steel	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed
Oven safe	575F	450F	No	450F
Price	$15	$18	$25	$20
Coating	Not listed	AMERICOAT silicone (PTFE-free)	Non-stick chrome	Non-stick (carbon steel wire)
Dishwasher safe	Not listed	Yes	Not listed	Not listed
Tiers	Not listed	Not listed	3 tiers	Not listed
Per-tier dimensions	Not listed	Not listed	15 x 10 inches	Not listed
Handles	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Fold-out on short ends
Buy	Check price	Check price	Check price	Check price

Questions people ask

Do I need a cooling rack for cookies?

Cooling racks provide a meaningful benefit for cookies by allowing air circulation under the cookie base as well as above it, which prevents the residual heat from the baking sheet from continuing to bake the bottom of the cookie after removal from the oven. Cookies left on a hot baking sheet after baking continue cooking from bottom heat until the sheet cools, which can over-bake the bottom of chewy or soft cookies. Transferring cookies to a cooling rack immediately after removal from the oven stops the heat transfer from the sheet. For crispy cookies intended to be baked through completely, leaving cookies on the sheet for 2 minutes before transferring is acceptable. For soft-centered or chewy cookies (chocolate chip, snickerdoodle), immediate transfer to a cooling rack produces better results.

Can I use a cooling rack instead of a roasting rack?

Oven-safe cooling racks (stainless steel construction rated above 450F, like Checkered Chef rated to 575F) function as roasting racks when placed inside a half-sheet pan or roasting pan. The rack elevates the meat above the bottom of the pan, allowing hot oven air to circulate underneath the meat and drippings to fall away from the meat surface, which promotes even browning and a crispier exterior. Non-stick coated cooling racks rated to 450F (USA Pan, KitchenAid) can also be used for roasting at standard temperatures but are not appropriate for high-heat searing above 450F. Wire spacing matters for roasting: cooling racks with 0.5-inch wire spacing support most cuts of meat; very thin items like fish fillets may require a rack with tighter spacing or need to be placed on the pan floor directly.

How do I clean a wire cooling rack?

Wire cooling rack cleaning depends on the material and what dried on the rack. For uncoated stainless steel racks with dried sugar glaze or caramelized drippings, soak the rack in hot soapy water for 15 to 30 minutes to dissolve the sugar, then scrub with a soft brush reaching the wire intersections. Dishwasher cleaning works for uncoated stainless racks but may be less effective than soaking for heavy buildup. For non-stick coated racks (USA Pan, Wilton, KitchenAid), use hot soapy water with a soft cloth rather than abrasive pads that scratch the coating. Dishwasher cleaning is acceptable for most non-stick coated racks but reduces coating lifespan over time. Avoid metal pot scrubbers on coated racks. For carbon residue from repeated high-heat roasting, Bar Keepers Friend cleaner paste applied with a soft cloth removes oxidation from uncoated stainless steel surfaces effectively.

Buying guide
Best baking pan for cakes, brownies and bread: Amazon picks
Pan material (aluminum versus steel versus glass), gauge thickness for even heat, whether the pan is non-stick or uncoated, rim height for different baked goods, pan dimensions in inches and whether the pan is dishwasher safe determine which baking pan suits home bakers.
4 picks · 5 sourcesUpdated September 28, 2026
Buying guide
Best kitchen scale for baking and cooking: Amazon picks
Scale accuracy in grams, maximum weight capacity, platform size for large bowls, tare function for subtracting bowl weight, readability in 1g increments versus 0.1g increments, waterproof construction and whether the scale measures in grams and ounces determine which kitchen scale suits baking and cooking.
4 picks · 5 sourcesUpdated September 28, 2026
Buying guide
Best stand mixer for baking bread and cakes: Amazon picks
Stand mixer bowl capacity in quarts, motor wattage for stiff dough, whether the bowl lifts from below or the head tilts up, included attachments, hub compatibility for pasta and grinder attachments and noise level during operation determine which stand mixer suits home bread and cake baking.
4 picks · 5 sourcesUpdated September 28, 2026
Buying guide
Best rolling pin for pie crust and pasta dough: Amazon picks
Rolling pin style (French tapered versus American cylinder with handles), material (wood versus marble versus stainless steel), diameter and weight, whether adjustable thickness rings are included and handle grip comfort determine which rolling pin suits pie crust, pasta and cookie dough rolling.
4 picks · 5 sourcesUpdated September 28, 2026

Best cooling rack for baking cookies and cakes: Amazon picks