What can I use instead of a wire rack to cool a cake?

You can create a rack out of rolled up pieces of tin foil, open-style cookie cutters, or even place a small over rack from something like a toaster oven inside of a roasting pan to improvise. You can transfer the cake to a cool, flat surface like a plate, cutting board, or cool baking sheet to let it cool down.

Why do you cool cakes on a wire rack?

A wire rack allows air to circulate completely around whatever is on it. This means that the pan or baked good will cool faster than if simply left on a countertop or a trivet. A hot pan will continue baking whatever is inside it, so faster cooling prevents over-baking.

Can you bake on a wire cooling rack?

On the other hand, metal cooling racks are perfectly safe to put in your oven, though they may not be as breezy to clean as non-stick. (But hey, they’re safe for your dishwasher too!) So, to answer your question — yes, you can put metal cooling racks in the oven, but don’t put a nonstick rack in the oven.

How can I cool down my wire without a rack?

You can cover it with a paper towel, so food residue won’t stick to your cookies or cakes. How to cool cookies without a wire rack? You can remove the cookies from the baking sheet and let them cool on paper towels on the countertop. The paper towels absorb any moisture.

Are cooling racks and baking racks the same?

When roasting juicy meats like steak or chicken thighs, put beans or vegetables under the cooling rack to soak up the drippings while they cook. Since cooling racks aren’t as high as traditional roasting racks—they usually sit less than an inch above a pan—you’ll have to get a little creative here.

Are all wire racks oven-safe?

Yes, metal and stainless steel cooling racks are oven-safe. However, avoid using non-stick cooling racks in the oven because the heat will damage the non-stick coating, causing it to flake off. This could leave particles of non-stick coating attached to the baked goods.

Are black wire racks oven-safe?

Yes, black metal cooling racks can go in the oven. As long as you put the heavy-duty ones but NEVER put a baking pan on them, it will mess up the pan. But you should be aware that not all of them are designed for that purpose. The interior coating is not as thick and may wear off quickly if put into a hot oven.

What can you substitute for a cooling rack?

Muffin tins and (cardboard) egg trays can both be turned upside down and used to hold fresh-from-the-oven cookie sheets or hot pies or cakes. Alternatively, you can place a group of canning rings, like the lid of a mason jar, on the counter, then place the hot confection on top.