Wire Racks for Baking

A wire baking rack is a rack made of closely spaced wires, usually arranged in a grid-like pattern. Wire backing racks are designed to sit on a flat surface like a counter top or table. A wire baking rack has small wire feet that elevate the flat rack slightly above the surface that it is placed on.

Function: Wire baking racks are also called cooling racks because they are designed to help baked goods cool quickly and evenly. When freshly baked items are placed on a cooling rack, the items are allowed to cool evenly because the steam and heat are able to escape from all areas of the item, unlike when items are left to cool in the pan they were baked in.

Significance: When baked items are left to cool inside the pan they were baked in, they tend to become soggy since the steam can't readily escape from all areas of the item. When the steam can't escape, the moisture is absorbed into the baked item.

Types: Most wire baking racks are rectangular in shape but round baking racks are available. While traditional baking racks are made of metal, racks made of wood or other heat resistant materials like chrome plated steel can be purchased from specialty baking stores.