Dishes need to be washed and dried every day, whether you cook at home or order takeout frequently. The least attractive item you can have in the kitchen is undoubtedly a dish drying rack, but it’s also one of the most useful and important. Because you already put in the effort to clean the dishes, dish racks encourage the best airflow to help dry dishes effectively and fast. Although not all dish racks are made equal, the best one for you will depend on a number of factors, including how much room you have to give and the amount of dishes you choose to wash at once.
It’s important to consider whether portability is important in addition to storage. A larger or non-collapsible variant is ideal if you intend to have your dish rack set up constantly. When not in use, certain dish racks can, however, be folded or rolled up and stored in a small area. It depends on your own preferences what kind of material is used to make your dish rack. Harder materials, such as stainless steel, are more durable than plastic but if not properly maintained, they may corrode with time. However, silicone is portable and simple to store. Lastly, check to see that the dish rack is made just for your requirements.
Quick Overview Of Best Dish Drying Racks
Best Overall: KitchenAid Full Size Dish Rack
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Best Stainless Steel: Simplehuman Kitchen Dish Drying Rack
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Best Budget: TOOLF Expandable Dish Drying Rack
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Best Bamboo: Totally Bamboo Collapsible Dish Drying Rack
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Most Expandable: Sabatier Expandable Dish Rack
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Best Compact: Chef’n DishGarden Dish Rack
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Best two tier: iSPECLE Dish Drying Rack
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Best for Counter Cabinet: GSlife Small Dish Rack
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Best With Drain Board: Naturous Dish Rack
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Contents
The 9 Best Dish Drying Racks In 2022
Best Overall: KitchenAid Full Size Dish Rack
It measures 20 x 14.96 x 7 inches and weighs 6.74 pounds, making it large enough to hold all your dishes and glasses. The dish rack also features a removable cutlery tray that can be used for storing knives, forks, and spoons. With a large capacity, it can handle assorted dinnerware such as plates, bowls, and cups and full-sized pots and pans.
The satin-coated, rust-resistant wires are perfect for securing items, and the soft feet keep the dish rack from scratching countertops. It is designed with the perfect pitch to avoid water pooling in the rack, and the flatware caddy is dishwasher-inspired and has adjustable compartments for cutlery and specialty items. Additionally, the sleek design is sure to complement any décor. Whether you are hosting a large party or simply want to make cleanup easier.
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Best Stainless Steel: Simplehuman Kitchen Dish Drying Rack
The dimensions of the dish rack are 22.3 x 20.2 x 11.5 inches, and it weighs 7 pounds. The dish rack is made from high-quality materials, and it is very easy to assemble. The dish rack has a large capacity, and it can accommodate a lot of dishes.
It features a plastic drip tray with a hydrophilic coating. This coating causes water to spread out so that it dries more quickly. The dish rack also features a swivel spout that allows water to drain directly into the sink. This system prevents residue buildup and makes it easy to keep your dishes clean.
The silicon-capped wired rack protects dishes from scratches. The dish rack also has an integrated knife block and a utensil holder, so you can keep all of your kitchen essentials organized in one place. Plus, the compact design takes up minimal counter space, making it the perfect solution for small kitchens. The fingerprint-proof finish resists smudges and smears, making it easy to keep clean.
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Best Budget: TOOLF Expandable Dish Drying Rack
It measures 13.7 x 11.4 x 4.1 inches in dimensions and 1.82 pounds in weight, making it small enough to fit on most countertops. The high-quality metal construction is durable and rust-resistant, and the surface is pre-coated to eliminate corrosion, acids, and alkali damage.
The expandable design allows you to customize the rack to fit your specific needs, and the 9 slots hold dinner plates upright while the 8 slots for side glasses holder keep your glasses safe and secure. The removable utensil holder is perfect for holding silverware, and the dish rack also includes a drainboard to catch any drips or water.
With its 3-in-1 design, it can be used on the counter, in the sink, or expandable over the sink. The nonslip extendable rubber arms and feet protect the counter and sink from scratches.
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Best Bamboo: Totally Bamboo Collapsible Dish Drying Rack
Measuring 19 x 18.5 x 10 inches, it’s large enough to accommodate all your dishes, yet collapses flat for easy storage when not in use. It’s also lightweight, at just 2.5 pounds, so it can be easily moved from one counter to another.
Made of bamboo, a renewable resource, it’s an eco-friendly choice for the environmentally conscious consumer. This functional piece is designed to fold up flat for easy storage. The top tier is perfect for glasses and cups, while the bottom tier has ample space for plates and bowls.
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Most Expandable: Sabatier Expandable Dish Rack
It includes an expandable drain board for extra capacity, and the dimensions are 18.5 x 13.1 x 14.2 inches. The weight is 4.74 pounds. The rack also features rubber feet to protect your countertop and keep the rack in place. Additionally, the dish rack is made of durable stainless steel that is rust-resistant and easy to clean.
The rack features soft-touch coated wires that are rust-resistant for long-lasting use. The bi-directional spout allows you to drain water into the sink from both sides, and the expandable design means that you can adjust the size of the rack to fit your needs. It has a built-in handle that makes it easy to carry from the sink to the countertop.
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Best Compact: Chef’n DishGarden Dish Rack
It has dimensions of 13.25 x 6.5 x 14 inches and a weight of 2.2 pounds, yet it can hold a surprisingly large number of dishes. It has two included utensil holders that move to fit wherever you need them, and the contemporary style and colors add a splash of personality to your counter.
The rack also fits perfectly in the sink, making it easy to keep your dishes clean and organized. The dish rack is made of durable, dishwasher-safe plastic, and it features a draining spout that directs water into the sink, not onto your countertop.
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Best two tier: iSPECLE Dish Drying Rack
It has 16.6 x 10.2 x 16.1 inches dimensions and 3.9 pounds of weight. This two-tiered dish rack can hold up to 17 plates and pots, and the bottom layer can accommodate 18 bowls. The side cutlery rack is perfect for storing utensils, and the other side can keep cutting boards.
It is made of 304 stainless steel, which is rust-resistant and long-lasting. The square tube and “H” shaped frame are designed to ensure the stand is stable and balanced. It features 3 pull-out water trays at the bottom, which collect any extra drips from the dish holder. This not only keeps your countertop clean and dry, but it also prevents water damage to your cabinets.
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Best for Counter Cabinet: GSlife Small Dish Rack
It has 16.45 x 12.05 x 4.3 inches dimensions and 1.9 pounds weight and is designed for long-lasting durability. This dish rack can hold up to 8 plates and other mugs, offering ample storage space for your kitchen needs. The unique design of this dish rack allows easy access to all your utensils, while the compact size makes it perfect for small kitchens.
It comes with a water tray without a drain spout and a utensil holder with holes has 2 removable compartments, which is perfect for organizing spoons and knives. It is made of high-quality material that is rust-proof. It is also easy to assemble and disassemble for cleaning. The rack has legs with a rubber cover to prevent scratches on your countertop and to keep the dish dryer rack from sliding.
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Best With Drain Board: Naturous Dish Rack
The two-tier design means that it can accommodate a variety of dish sizes, and the 16.5 x 9.5 x 13.2-inch dimensions make it small enough to fit on most countertops. The 3.19-pound weight also makes it light enough to be easily moved around when necessary.
It can store up to 16 plates, 12 bowls, 1 cutting board, and lots of tableware. The thicker tube ensures plenty of storage and the black drainboard removes excess water. It has anti-slip foot cushions to keep your dishes in place.
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Factors To Look For In A Dish Drying Racks
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Material
Obtaining a dish rack that can withstand rust is important because there are many different materials that may be used, including plastic, stainless steel, metal, and even wood. Woods cannot corrode, yet it is vulnerable to cracking and splintering. Although plastic dish racks are portable, they won’t survive as long as ones made of metal or wood, especially if they are constantly filled with a lot of dishes. You may prevent rust by taking care of your dish rack, such as by washing it frequently (because even your dish rack has to be cleaned).
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Size
What type of dish drying rack works best for you will depend on the size of your home and your dishwashing routine. Additionally, you should think about how many dishes you do at once. A modest dish rack will do if you’re only doing your own cleaning. However, you’ll need a larger dish rack, such as a two-tier dish rack, to handle more dishes if you share a home with others or frequently host large dinner parties. You should be aware of the kinds of dishes you use the drying rack for most frequently. For instance, a smaller dish rack should be adequate for plates, bowls, cups, and utensils if you seldom use pots and pans. If you cook a lot, though, you might want a bigger dish rack that can dry dishes, pots, and pans simultaneously.
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Features
Depending on what you prepare and clean, how your kitchen is organized, and whether you use a dishwasher or do the dishes yourself, you will determine what is most important to you. If your kitchen is little, a foldable or over-the-sink rack is ideal. You’ll need an extended rack or, at the very least, one that lets you pile several plates into its tall sides if you prepare for a big gathering. Placing the dishes away and cleaning your rack in between uses work just as well as antimicrobial coatings like Microban at preventing bacteria and odors.
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Placement
Most dish racks feature a structure that is placed on top of a mat or tray on your table to capture any water that may be sitting. To further protect your surface, place this type of dish rack on a dish towel or rag. Dish racks that hang over the sink don’t take up any counter space, but they do prevent you from using part of the sink. Racks that fold or roll up are simple to store when not in use, although they are usually smaller.
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Cleaning
The fact that these drying racks are made to get wet makes them susceptible to accumulation, which may seem unusual to contemplate for a product intended to store clean dishes. Think about the drying rack’s component ease of disassembly and whether any are dishwasher safe. Maintaining a clean dish drying rack can help to ensure that the effort you put into handwashing wasn’t in vain.
FAQs
It won’t rust if the stainless steel is of high quality. However, prolonged continual exposure to water might lead it to corrode. Stainless steel appliances have a chromium oxide coating for protection. When the film deteriorates, your appliances become susceptible to rust. The protective layer could be damaged by negligence. Remove the dishes and dry wipe the stainless-steel rack in between uses to prevent corrosion. Oxygen and moisture attack the exposed material.
There isn’t a set standard. A sturdy dish rack that doesn’t have any rust, mold, or damaged pieces can be utilized indefinitely. Consider replacing your dish rack once it becomes unstable or exhibits aging symptoms like corrosion or loose joints.
Just simply put your dish rack in any available storage space under your sink. By doing so, you may keep the mess out of sight and give your dishes time to finish drying.Your dish drying rack can be kept out of sight by using sliding doors.You may keep your dish drying rack successfully out of sight and provide a sense of organization to your kitchen by building separate cabinets or closets for it or by just using empty ones.
Take apart the rack as much as possible. The tray and silverware container may occasionally separate from the rack. Then, use some dish soap in the sink. Make sure to thoroughly clean each component. To get into all of the grooves, you can use a scrub brush or a cloth to do that. Next, clean the dish rack thoroughly. To further clean the dish rack components, you may also add 1 cup of white vinegar and just enough water to fill one side of the sink. To clean the rack, submerge it in water. With a fresh kitchen towel, dry the rack. Paper towels should also be avoided because they could leave lint on the rack.
When metal is exposed to water, rust develops, so you want to maintain the vinyl covering to stop this from happening. On dishwasher racks, rusting almost often results from a scratch in the vinyl coating. Fill your sink or a big bucket with water and one cup of vinegar to stop rust on your dish drying racks.Your dish rack should be fully submerged in the water. To make a paste, combine equal parts of lemon juice and baking soda. The vinegar should have sufficiently broken down the collection on your rack to make it simple to remove. After using your scrub brush to clean, you can notice that your rack is now tidy. The rust can also be removed using lemon juice.To make a paste, combine equal parts of lemon juice and baking soda. Cover the rusted area with this mixture and allow it for 30 minutes to work before washing and drying.
Conclusion
Regardless of what you do in the kitchen, you will always require a spot to dry your dishes, even if you have a dishwasher. While using a dishcloth to dry dishes may be tempting, the most hygienic method is to let them air dry on a rack. Dishes need to be washed and dried every day, whether you cook at home or order takeout frequently. Dishes can accumulate even in residences with dishwashers if you don’t have a strong, spatial dish rack that can store a lot without leaving any fragile items stacked awkwardly, making it difficult to clean and dry them all. Therefore, these dish drying racks are useful for keeping your kitchen organized and making it appear clean.
