Baking Hacks: 5 BEST Substitutes for Cooling Rack

Ever found yourself in a baking frenzy, only to realize you’re missing something crucial? Yep, the cooling rack.

Sounds familiar, right? We’ve all been there. Suddenly, those cookies you lovingly crafted threaten to turn soggy. Oh, the horror!

Who needs a cooling rack, though? Not us! We’re here to tell you about the lifesavers hiding in your kitchen. From chopping boards to the oven itself, we’ve unearthed some ingenious swaps. Trust me, some of these might just blow your mind.

I remember using a stack of books once. Desperate times call for desperate measures, huh? The cookies survived. The books? Not so much. Lesson learned.

Ready to discover these baking hacks? These substitutes won’t just save your cookies; they’ll save the day.

What is Cooling Rack?

A cooling rack is a must-have for most bakers.

It allows the air to circulate freshly baked goodies and cools them down faster to be stored after they’ve finished cooking.

Cooling racks come in various sizes and styles, so you can choose one that works best for your individual needs.

Some cooling racks collapse to take up less space; some have two layers of wire grates, while others can adjust to fit any size pan or platter.

You may think that cooling racks are unnecessary if you’re only baking a small batch of cookies or cupcakes, but using one prevents the baked goods from sitting in their own steam and getting soggy.

The 5 Best Substitutes for Cooling Rack

A cooling rack is an essential tool in the kitchen for allowing baked goods to cool evenly and prevent them from becoming soggy.

However, if you don’t have a cooling rack on hand or need a substitute, there are several alternatives that can provide similar results.

In this guide, we will explore the top 5 substitutes for a cooling rack, comparing their key characteristics and providing suggestions on how to use them effectively.

Substitute	Key Characteristics	Usage
Cooking Pan and Parchment Paper	Elevates and allows air circulation around the baked goods	Place a piece of parchment paper on a cooking pan to cool the items
DIY Cooling Rack	Homemade option using wire racks or oven-safe grids	Create a makeshift rack using wire racks or oven-safe grids
Crumpled-Foil Rack	Provides airflow and elevates baked goods	Crumple aluminum foil and shape it into a rack-like structure
Wood Slats	Natural material that allows air circulation	Place wood slats on a flat surface to cool the baked goods
Larger Plates	Uses the surface area of large plates to cool items	Place the baked goods on larger plates to allow for even cooling

Now let’s dive into each substitute in more detail:

1 – Cooking Pan and Parchment Paper

Using a cooking pan and parchment paper is easy to essentially “bake” off any baked goods.

You can also use the sides of the baking pan as a cooling rack by placing it on top of your counter or cutting board, but make sure that there’s enough room for air to circulate underneath as well.

Then, layer your baked goods on top of the parchment paper.

There’s no need to turn the oven back on and let it heat up again.

Ensure enough breathing room around your items so they do not get soggy with steam.

If you don’t have parchment paper handy, use a regular cutting board.

The lines on the board help with cutting your goodies evenly after they’ve cooled off.

• Key Characteristics: This substitute elevates the baked goods and allows air circulation, similar to a cooling rack. It is a simple and convenient option.
• Usage: Place a piece of parchment paper on a cooking pan, then transfer the baked goods onto the parchment paper to cool. The elevated position helps promote airflow and prevents the items from becoming too moist on the bottom.

2 – DIY Cooling Rack

Making a DIY cooling rack is a great way to save money and still have something that will work for your needs.

All you have to do is find a metal grate that’s sturdy enough not to warp when exposed to high heat.

Then, you’ll need a wooden or plastic cutting board that can sit on top of it.

The board’s edges should be far enough apart, so there’s plenty of room for airflow underneath your items, but small enough so that the board doesn’t slide around on top of it.

As long as you have these two items, then you’ll be ready to get started.

Just place your cooked goods on top of the cutting board and allow them to cool in peace.

• Key Characteristics: The DIY cooling rack involves using wire racks or oven-safe grids to create a makeshift cooling rack.
• Usage: Place wire racks or oven-safe grids on a flat surface, such as a baking sheet or countertop. Transfer the baked goods onto the wire racks or grids to cool. This option allows for proper airflow and even cooling.

3 – Crumpled-Foil Rack

If you don’t have parchment paper handy, use a regular cutting board.

The lines on the board help with cutting your goodies evenly after they’ve cooled off.

You can also crumple up some aluminum foil and use it as a DIY cooling rack that’s easy to set up and take back down again when you’re done.

All you have to do is crumple up some aluminum foil and place it on top of a baking pan.

Make sure that you don’t cover the entire surface area, but just enough that the foil isn’t bunching together.

Then, place your items on top of the “rack” and wait for them to cool off.

• Key Characteristics: Crumpled aluminum foil can be shaped into a rack-like structure, providing airflow and elevation for the baked goods.
• Usage: Crumple aluminum foil into long strips and shape them into a rack by aligning the strips parallel to each other. Place the crumpled-foil rack on a flat surface, such as a baking sheet or countertop, and transfer the baked goods onto the foil rack for cooling.

4 – Wood Slats

Using wooden slats is another easy way to cool baked goods without a cooling rack.

You can use wooden slats as a DIY cooling rack by simply placing them on top of the counter or table you’ll be working on and placing your items on top of them.

Then, allow your goodies to sit and cool off in peace, so they aren’t exposed to too much steam and don’t get soggy.

It’s important to note that you should make sure you place your items far enough apart, so they have an even amount of breathing room and don’t get soggy with steam.

• Key Characteristics: Wood slats allow air circulation around the baked goods and provide a natural cooling surface.
• Usage: Place wood slats on a flat surface, such as a baking sheet or countertop. Transfer the baked goods onto the wood slats to cool. The slats elevate the items and allow for even cooling.

5 – Larger Plates

If you don’t have parchment paper handy, use a regular cutting board.

The lines on the board help with cutting your goodies evenly after they’ve cooled off.

Another alternative that works well is to place your items on an oven-friendly plate and allow them to sit and cool off there.

Make sure that you keep your plates close by to be used promptly.

If you aren’t in a hurry and want to let your items cool off slowly, then place the plate in an area where there’s no airflow, and it’ll take several minutes for them to cool off.

• Key Characteristics: Using larger plates utilizes the surface area to cool the baked goods evenly.
• Usage: Place the baked goods on larger plates, ensuring there is enough space between each item to allow for airflow. This method works well for smaller batches or single-layered items.

Conclusion

Cooling rack allows heat to escape so that the food baked does not get soggy.

However, there are other substitutes for cooling rack, which can be used instead of it.

These substitutes include a cooking pan and parchment paper, DIY cooling rack, crumpled-foil rack, wood slats, and larger plates.

We hope that this article was helpful.

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