Best Baker's Racks

Buying guide for Best baker’s racks

Somehow, most of us never seem to have enough storage space in the kitchen. If you don’t have the cabinet room you’d like, consider adding a baker’s rack. This attractive piece of kitchen furniture can instantly increase your storage and display space without breaking the bank.

Traditionally, baker’s racks were made of heat-conductive materials that helped baked goods cool down. While you can still use a baker’s rack for that purpose, you can also use them for other reasons. In fact, a baker’s rack needn’t be relegated to the kitchen: you might find a home for yours in the living room, dining room, laundry room, or another space.

Some baker’s racks feature shelves wide enough to place a microwave or toaster oven on them.

Key considerations

Type

Traditional or kitchen baker’s rack: This is the most common type of baker’s rack. It’s relatively large and features multiple shelves ideal for storing pots, pans, and other cooking tools and equipment. Most feature a solid tabletop surface that you can use for kitchen tasks. Basic versions tend to have wire shelves, but higher-end racks feature thicker metal and wood components.

Corner baker’s racks: If your space is limited, this option may be ideal because you can fit it neatly in the corner of a room and take advantage of its shelves. Many corner racks have three shelves, but some have as many as five.

Cabinet baker’s racks: These pieces have cabinets rather than shelves on the top or bottom of the rack. There is usually a tabletop surface in the center that can hold additional items or serve as a workspace.

Material

Metal: This is the most traditional baker’s rack material. It conducts heat well, which allows baked goods to cool quickly. Metal is also extremely durable.

Chrome: This material is a less expensive alternative to heavier metal. It isn’t as durable or strong as metal, but it’s usually lighter in weight, making it easier to move.

Wood: Wood is a durable, sturdy material with an elegant, classic look. You’ll typically pay more for a wooden baker’s rack than one made of other materials. However, some racks feature a combination of wood and metal, and some use an engineered wood product like MDF to reduce the cost.

Plastic: Extremely lightweight and affordable, plastic isn’t as durable as metal, wood, or chrome, and it typically can’t hold as much weight. However, if you’re on a tight budget and really want to have a baker’s rack, it might be the best choice for you.

Function

When selecting a baker’s rack, it’s helpful to know how you plan to use it. Some common uses for a baker’s rack include the following:

• Baking: You can certainly use a baker’s rack for its traditional purpose of cooling goodies that have just exited the oven. It also makes an excellent storage place for baking supplies like flour and sugar or baking tools like measuring cups, rolling pins, and wooden spoons.
• Cooking: Even if you’re not a frequent baker, you can use a baker’s rack to store pots, pans, and other cooking supplies.
• Bar or beverage station: A baker’s rack can be an ideal spot to store wine, liquor, and mixers as well as beverage glasses. You can also make it a coffee center and use it to hold your coffee maker, beans, and other accessories.
• Plant and garden storage: The shelves on a baker’s rack can be the perfect place to showcase your favorite plants. Some people use their baker’s rack to store gardening supplies like gloves, fertilizer, and clippers.
• Laundry storage: Place your baker’s rack next to your washer and dryer and use it to hold detergent, fabric softener, stain remover, and other laundry essentials.
• Art display: You can always use your baker’s rack for purely decorative purposes such as the display of framed photos, artwork, and other collectibles.

Features

Size

Baker’s racks come in sizes to fit nearly any space. Measure the spot you plan to put the rack and check the dimensions of the model you’re considering to make sure it would fit.

In many cases, you’ll save more space with a single large rack than you would with two smaller racks. For this reason, it may be better to choose the largest rack you can fit in your space.

Style

Traditional baker’s racks are usually medium or dark in color and feature elegant, curved lines. Some have delicate scrollwork, including leaf and floral details reminiscent of the Victorian era.

Modern baker’s racks typically have a polished finish with clean lines or geometric shapes. Some have asymmetrical designs and metal or glass accents.

Country-style baker’s racks usually feature muted colors and distressed finishes. They may include details such as stenciling or hand carving and tend to have a curvy shape.

Storage options

All baker’s racks have shelves, but some offer other storage options as well. Cabinets or drawers provide concealed storage space. Some baker’s racks have bottle storage (think wine rack), enabling you to create a bar area.
 

Baker’s rack prices

Inexpensive

The most affordable baker’s racks are usually small traditional or kitchen baker’s racks. They typically have three shelves or less and don’t have tabletop space. Expect to pay between $30 and $70 for something like this.

Mid-range

Between $70 and $140, you will find many large, traditional baker’s racks with at least three shelves and a solid work surface. Some have other storage features as well, such as hooks or mesh drawers. Corner racks and smaller cabinet racks also exist in this range.

Expensive

The priciest baker’s racks are usually large cabinet racks or traditional racks with extra storage. Some have drawers or wine bottle racks, while others feature hooks or mesh baskets. These typically cost between $140 and $325.

Tips

• Place the heaviest items near the bottom of your baker’s rack. If it’s too top-heavy, it could topple over.
• Combine functionalities. To get the most out of your baker’s rack, consider using it as a combination storage/display piece. Keep items you're storing like pots, pans, and napkins in the bottom, and use the top area to display decorative plates, artwork, or pottery.
• Keep an open mind when finding a spot for your new piece of furniture. Sure, a baker’s rack is great in the kitchen, but it can also work well in a living room, bedroom, foyer, or even a bathroom.
• Use your corners. Using a corner baker’s rack is the perfect way to add function to a space that would otherwise go unused, which is particularly helpful in a small room.

You don’t have to use a baker’s rack for baked goods. Many people use them to display decorative plates, framed photos, and other artwork. Some have plate rails specifically for this purpose.

FAQ

Q. How large is a baker’s rack?

A. Most baker’s racks stretch between 24 and 36 inches wide and stand 60 to 72 inches tall. You obviously want to select a rack that’s large enough for your needs, but in addition to dimensions, look at the number of shelves a potential choice contains.

Q. Can I use a baker’s rack outdoors?

A. Some baker’s racks are made of materials that can withstand outdoor elements, but not all are suitable for outdoor use. If you place a wooden baker’s rack on a patio, for example, the wood could get warped by rain and other inclement weather.

Q. What is the difference between a baker’s rack and a microwave cart?

A. Both of these pieces are handy, inexpensive additions to a kitchen that can help you maximize space. However, microwave carts are usually on wheels, whereas baker’s racks are stationary pieces of furniture. Although both types of furniture may give you shelving storage, a microwave cart is built specifically to hold one heavy appliance at arm’s level. It may be possible to store a microwave on a baker’s rack, but you should check its weight capacity first because some baker’s racks are not built to withstand that kind of weight.