Keep Your Countertops and Dishes Tidy With the Best Dish Drying Racks
Cooking is definitely one of the most enjoyable and entertaining household tasks. But cleaning your dishes and the kitchen afterwards is not exciting at all. Busy households, especially ones with several family members, often find it difficult to find a place to dry and store heaps of washed plates, bowls, and utensils. Leaving them on the countertop can result in dirty and wet surfaces as well as stained crockery. This is why you should get one of the greatest dish drying racks of 2023. They allow you to keep the utensils, cookware, and cutlery on the rack to dry away from the dishes that are still dirty. In addition, you no longer have to spend hours drying your dripping utensils with rags that accumulate germs and dirt. Instead, you can stack them up and let gravity do its work while the drainboard catches all the drained water.
Buying Guide for the Best Dish Drying Racks
Dish drying racks are gaining immense popularity due to their convenience. This has led to the explosion of choices available on the market. Since most of them might look similar to each other, you must be very careful while selecting one for your home. From the size of the rack to its material, you have to consider several factors to get your hands on the perfect product.
What Are the Factors To Consider Before Buying a Dish Drying Rack?
Material
The material of the rack is one of the most important things you must consider before making a purchase because it will determine how long your rack will last. As plastic racks will break under a bit of pressure, stainless steel and aluminum are better and sturdier options. They are durable and are often resistant to rust. Check whether the drying rack has an anti-rust coating for better longevity.
Storage capacity
Dish drying racks are found in a variety of size options. If you have a large family, you should consider buying a rack with two tiers so that all the dishware items can be stored easily. However, compact drying racks with one tier and multiple hooks and cutlery holders will save a ton of space if you have a small kitchen.
Detachable parts
As the drying rack will stay wet most of the time, it is important to clean it properly from time to time. With detachable parts, you can conveniently clean and dry the racks. Also, you can store them separately when not in use so as to make sure that they do not occupy unnecessary space.
Feet
The feet of the dish drying rack must also be taken into consideration. Racks with rubber feet make it safer for you to keep on expensive countertops, as metal feet are likely to scratch the counter. Plus, rubber offers stability to the rack and prevents wobbling. In some products, you can find H-shaped feet frames that can handle a huge amount of weight from multiple dishware units.
Draining board
The board that catches the dripping water from utensils is called the draining board. Most come with an opening at one side or a channel to drain water and make your work easier as it drains automatically. In the absence of such channels, you have to remove the board and then drain the accumulated water yourself.
How Do You Prevent Rust on Your Dish Drying Rack?
Dish drying racks usually have a special coating on them that resists rust and corrosion. To further add to their longevity, you can clean them weekly or monthly depending on how frequently you use them or how quickly water stains build up. Here are the steps to take to clean the dish drying rack:
- Fill a bathtub or a container big enough to submerge the rack with hot water.
- Pour some vinegar into the water.
- Soak the rack for a while and then scrub the spots that attract the most dirt.
- Now rinse the rack and let it air dry.
- If the rack is made of metal, you should clean it with an absorbent cloth to reduce the chances of rusting.
Most dish drying racks nowadays come with powder coating that will prevent the formation of rust for years. But if you want to slow down the rusting process further, you can apply these tricks to make sure that the rack can last up to a long time.
How To Store Utensils in Dish Drying Racks
In most dish drying racks, the draining board that comes with it is usually detachable. This gives you the option to store the dried crockery in the rack until you make space for new dishes. In addition, features such as detachable cutlery holders with compartments to organize different cutlery pieces and hooks for holding mugs make it easier for you to store your utensils with ease. However, make sure that you drain the water accumulated in the draining board after the dishes have dried. Otherwise, the pooled water will attract germs and bacteria that will further contaminate your kitchenware.
How Frequently Should the Draining Board Be Cleaned?
The draining board catches all the dripping water and either trickle it down to the sink or stores it unless you empty it. In draining boards with no opening or channels to drain the water, mold and mildew can grow when they are not cleaned properly. The sides of the board become slimy with a buildup of mold, and it makes the whole dish drying rack unsanitary and unhygienic to use. To prevent such mold and dirt buildup, you have to spot clean the draining board at least once every two or three weeks. As most draining boards are made of plastic, it is recommended not to submerge them into scalding hot water as you can with metal racks. Instead, you should use normal water with one-fourth cup bleach and a bit of detergent to clean the board and eliminate all the mold and buildup.
Here Are the Best Dish Drying Racks of 2023
JOEY’Z Dish Drying Rack
– Best Overall
The JOEY’Z Dish Drying Rack makes for a great choice to keep your kitchen organized and clutter-free. Made of heavy-duty hard plastic, this highly durable and sturdy dish rack can accommodate a variety of plates, small plates or bowls, and cups, making it ideal for family use. Along with providing extra storage space thanks to its perimeter cup holders, its unique system of channeled grooves keeps dishes in place. Plus, it features an inclined drain board that drains excess water into the sink, keeping your utensils dry and ready to go.
The JOEY’Z Dish Drying Rack is perfect for all types of household kitchen countertops. The two-piece set also comes with a flatware holder that has drain holes to prevent water from pooling. Easy to assemble and easy to clean, this best overall dish drying rack from JOEY’Z is the perfect addition to any kitchen.
- Fits well in small sinks
- Flatter surface for soaking dishes
- Snaps onto pegs on the drain board
- Smaller than expected
Simple Houseware 2-Tier Dish Rack
– Best for Traveling
This utensil drying rack has two tiers, a cutlery bucket, and a translucent, detachable draining board. The top tier can be used to dry dinner plates of all sizes, while the bottom one can dry other items such as bowls, tumblers, and so on. The rack also comes with mug holders to maximize usage of space. Furthermore, the detachable cutlery bucket is divided into two sections to help you separate your spoons from your forks to knives. It also has a drainage hole, so the water does not accumulate inside the bucket.
The draining board is designed smartly so that the accumulated water can easily be drained. It is opened from one side to let the water trickle out of it gently. Thus, you should place this rack next to your sink and keep the open side of the drainboard facing the sink. This way, the drained water can directly fall into the sink, and you do not have to clean it separately. This sturdy dish drying rack is constructed out of stainless steel, so you do not have to worry about it rusting.
- Has mug holders for optimal space use
- Cutlery buckets can be detached for easy cleaning
- Opening in the drainage board prevents accumulation of water
- Side cup holders drip on the counter
ROTTOGOON Aluminum Dish Drying Rack
– Best Construction
Made with a strong aluminum frame, this rack is protected from rust and is quite durable and lightweight. It is perfect for small kitchens. One side of the rack is specifically designed to hold plates upright, while the other side can store all sorts of bowls and other crockery. It also comes with a detachable cutlery holder that has special compartments to store knives and spoons. Additionally, you can conveniently keep your tumblers, cups, and mugs on the four side holders, which are scratch-resistant.
To avoid water accumulation in the draining board, it has an adjustable drainage channel that can rotate 360 degrees. Therefore, you can adjust the angle according to the location of your sink and let the water drain directly into it. This feature gives you several placement options around your kitchen. In addition, this dish drying rack comes with four rubber-covered feet that make it stable. Also, the feet will prevent scratch marks on the sink and kitchen countertop.
- Removable parts for easy cleaning
- Occupies very minimal counter space
- Has a special anti-scratch mug holder
- The cutlery holder is quite shallow.
GSlife Small Dish Rack
– Honorable Mention
If you have limited space in your kitchen, this is the best dish drying rack you can get on the market. It has the capacity to hold nine plates along with other things like medium-sized bowls, mugs, and cutlery. The two cutlery holders can be detached from the main frame and cleaned separately. It also comes with a drainboard that will prevent water accumulation on your countertop.
In addition, the wireframe of the dish drying rack is coated with black paint so that water and other factors cannot corrode the material. The package also includes a sink grid that allows you to protect the surface from heat damage from hot pots and pans.
- Has detachable cutlery holders for easy cleaning
- Prevents water from damaging the countertops
- Non-slip rubber feet prevent scratches to the countertop
- Cannot accommodate larger bowls, casseroles dishes, and other dishware items
iSPECLE 2-Tier Dish Rack
– Contender
This drying rack is made especially for bigger families because it has a large capacity. Its top tier can hold up to 17 plates and pans, while the bottom tier can hold 18 bowls. It also comes with a side cutlery rack for storing knives and spoons. On the other side of the product, you can store cutting boards easily. Each tier and the cutlery rack have separate drainboards to avoid any spillage. Thus, you get a total of three drainboards with this rack.
Moreover, it is made of 304 stainless steel which prevents rust and corrosion from damaging the frame. The thickened square feet and the H-shaped design of the rack enable it to withstand up to 110 pounds. It also allows you to adjust its height to make it more stable if you find it wobbling after installation.
- Separate drainboards for each tier
- Comes with instructions to install
- H-shaped feet to make the dish drying rack more stable
- No separate hooks to store cups and mugs
KitchenAid Full Size Dish Rack
– Also Great Option
The rack is designed to easily drain over your sink, since the draining board has one side open. The self-draining board avoids water pooling and prevents unhygienic conditions in your kitchen. The rack has just one layer, which is intelligently divided to fit an assortment of utensils and cutlery. You can store up to seven plates plus some bowls. Additionally, it has separate hooks to hang cups and mugs. It also comes with a detachable cutlery bucket divided into three sections to help you better organize your cutlery. Since this heavy-duty rack is satin-coated, it is highly resistant to rust. The feet design also ensures that it lays softly on the countertop and will not cause any scratches.
- Cutlery compartment drains into the draining board
- Satin-coated body makes the rack suitable for all kitchen styles
- Soft feet to prevent scratches on the countertop
- Hooks for mugs are placed too closely
People Also Asked
A: Yes, you can use the drying rack you already have. However, if you have more utensils than your dishwasher can fit at a time, you can get a small, compact drying rack as well.
A: Drying your dishes with the same towel every day is not at all hygienic as it can accumulate germs and bacteria with each swipe. A much safer and hygienic alternative is to use a dish rack to let the utensils dry.
A: Sanitize a toothbrush that you no longer use and dip it into white vinegar. Scrub the slats vigorously with it to get rid of water stains and limescale.
A: If your dish drying rack comes with a board having no pipe or hole for water drainage, it will be a bit problematic. That’s why make sure to remove the tray and pour the water accumulated into the sink.
