Best Dish Racks
There are those few who enjoy washing dishes by hand, or they want to make sure the dishes are properly done, and don’t trust the dishwasher. There are others who love having a dishwasher but once in a while need to wash delicate or hard to clean items by hand. Either way, having a dish rack can help make this chore more convenient and easier. There are so many dish racks on the market today, in every different style and functionality. But basically, what you need is something that holds your dishes well and does not leave puddles all over your countertop.
Let’s find out about some of the best and most popular dish racks available on the market today:
Joseph Joseph Extend Dish Drying Rack 85071
The Joseph Joseph Extend Dish Drying Rack is a great choice for a little kitchen. It is a small rack with metal prongs for dishes and glasses, and a spot for utensils. But that’s not all – this little dish rack is actually very well designed, to accommodate both small and larger crowds.
Normally, this is a very compact model suitable for one or two people and it takes very little counter space. But what if you want to host a larger party once in a while? Well, this is where good design comes into play. The Joseph Joseph Drying Rack has an ‘extend rack’ feature where you can easily and smoothly lengthen the item to twice its normal size. This is great if you are hosting a dinner party. You can extend the rack whether or not there are dishes already on it.
This device has plated steel prongs which are sturdy yet flexible. They have non-scratch tips so they will not damage any of your dishware. The prongs can hold standard dishes in many different directions, and also weirdly shaped items that won’t fit with other types of racks.
Another interesting feature is the drain spout. You can lock it to keep the water draining from your dishes within the drying mat. Perhaps you just don’t want to deal with potential puddles on the countertop at that particular moment. You can drain the spout into the sink later.
It comes in a number of different colors, including gray plastic or the very attractive off-white and lime green plastic. The device is also available in a completely stainless steel version for a slightly higher price.
The cutlery holder on this device is handy because you can move it around on the dish rack to find the placement that works best for you.
Various components on this device, including the cutlery holder and steel rack, are removable for easy cleaning. However, the manufacturer does not recommend putting these or any parts of this dish rack in the dishwasher. Wash and dry the various components by hand instead. You should clean it once a week just to make sure it does not get dirty with food and water.
The device has non-slip feet to keep it secure and stable on your counter.
One drawback is users have found the drain spout, if removed for cleaning, is hard to put back on the rack securely, and it may fall off afterwards. This is probably an item that should not be removed for cleaning. Another challenge is the prongs are rather short and will not hold up very tall items like a thermos.
Pros
- Metal plated prongs with non-scratch tips accommodate many types of dishware safely
- ‘Extend rack’ feature allows you to lengthen dish rack to twice its size
- Drain spout means you can control when you drain the dish rack of water
- Cute, minimal-looking dish rack which comes in numerous trendy colors
- Cutlery holder can be moved around
- Non-slip feet
Cons
- Drain spout, if removed for cleaning, is hard to reinsert securely
- Prongs are short and will not hold up tall items well
KitchenAid Full Size Dish Rack KNS896BXGRA
The KitchenAid Full Size Dish Rack is what you might call full capacity. This is a large, sturdy dish rack, suitably sized for a family, and it is also versatile. You can place it over your sink or use it on the included drying mat on your countertop. It can handle all sorts of dishware, including plates, bowls, cups, and full size pots and pans. It even has an extra-tall and wide slot to hold large frying pans and cutting boards.
It has a premium look and comes in a sleek brushed stainless steel design, which will fit into any kitchen décor. It is also available in various colors, such as charcoal gray, light gray, satin gray, and satin white. When used on the countertop, you can use the slightly tilted, plastic drain tray that directs water into the sink. This avoids water pooling on the rack.
This heavy duty, high quality dish rack is rust resistant and has a special coating on the wires that hold your dishware, so they don’t get scratched. Likewise, it has soft feet to keep the device from scratching your countertop. It has a removable, stylish gray caddy to hold your flatware, with compartments you can adjust to better hold cutlery or other items.
Like the flatware caddy, the drain tray and all other components are easily removed for cleaning. The manufacturer recommends hand washing rather than putting any components in the dishwasher.
One drawback is the rack has difficulty holding up large plates. Also, it might be too big to fit in some sinks. Some users say the rust proofing on this device does not last long. Another issue is the drain tray is not wider than the dish rack, and thus some water can spill onto your counter.
Pros
- Large, suitable for a family
- Versatile, use in sink or on countertop
- Premium, sleek look – stainless steel – fits into any kitchen décor
- All components are removable for easy cleaning
- Wires are coated so they won’t scratch dishes
- Stylish caddy has easily adjustable compartments for utensils and other items
Cons
- Rack may have difficulty holding up large plates
- Rack may be too big to fit in some sinks
- Rust proofing does not last long
- Drain tray is same width of dish rack, which may lead to puddles on the counter
Polder 4-Piece Advantage Dish Rack KTH-615
The Polder 4-Piece Advantage Dish Rack is stable, durable, and low maintenance. It is a good choice for your average four-person family. It works well in a single, regular-sized sink. The four pieces are: the dish rack, drain tray, drying tray, and cutlery holder.
This very durable dish rack is made of brushed stainless steel which is rust resistant. Its European design gives it a sleek and elegant look. Despite its ability to hold a heavy load of dishes, glasses, pots, and pans, this dish rack is actually quite compact on your counter top. It takes up about as much room as a toaster oven.
This is a large size dish rack and it can be made even bigger! If you’re hosting a party, simply use the additional pull out plastic tray and you’ll have much more room to hold all those dishes.
This dish rack drains very effectively and will not spill water, regardless of which type of sink it is used with. The drain tray is angled so the water goes into the sink and not anywhere else.
Another nice feature is its large utensil holder. It is probably the largest of all dish rack utensil holders. This attachment will not topple over no matter how much you overload it with cutlery. It has split compartments so you can separate your utensils however you like.
The trays and cutlery holder are removable and dishwasher safe. They are best washed in the top rack of the dishwasher. Users find it very easy to clean, whether you are using the dishwasher or cleaning by hand.
One drawback is some users find the rack wires to be spaced too far apart which affects how well the dishes sit in the racks.
Pros
- European design, sleek and elegant
- Durable and rust resistant
- Large and can be extended to become even larger, for parties
- Drains effectively and doesn’t spill water
- Large, removable utensil holder with compartments
- Parts are dishwasher safe
Cons
- Some users think the rack wires are too far apart
Premium Racks Professional Dish Rack 8541992308
The Premium Racks Professional Dish Rack is one large dish holder! It holds twice as many dishes as other racks. It is two tier, meaning it has a lower large rack and an upper shelf rack.
Made of 304 stainless steel, it is resistant to rust and other elements that corrode, and it is easy to sanitize. This dish rack is sturdy, tough, and will not break. It is somewhat expensive but high quality and worth the splurge.
Another feature is it is customizable. All of its components – the cutting board attachment, three cup holder attachments, microfiber mat, wide utensil holder, knife holder, and two drainboards – can be placed wherever you like on the device. The removable top shelf can also be moved around. Although it may be difficult at first to decide how to put all the attachments into an arrangement you like, when you’re done you will really enjoy having everything exactly where you wanted it.
It also has a new side drainage system which is pretty handy.
One drawback is it does not have rubber stoppers on the feet and so it may slide more easily on countertops and cause scratches. Also, although it is large capacity, it may be too big for a compact kitchen. It takes up a lot of height space on your countertop.
Pros
- Large, holds twice as many dishes as other racks
- Two tier, has a second shelf rack
- Made of 304 stainless steel which is rust-proof and easily sanitized
- Many handy attachments including cup holders, knife holder, utensil holder
- Customizable, all components can be placed wherever you’d like on the device
- Side drainage system
Cons
- No rubber stoppers on feet
- May be too big for a compact kitchen
- Takes up a lot of height space on countertop
What to look for in a dish rack
Now that you have seen some of the best and most popular dish racks available on the market today, here are a few things to look for when shopping for your own device.
Versatility
Today’s dish racks hold more than a few utensils and plates. They have modular compartments and cool features and attachments that are sometimes removable for easy cleaning. Some features include hooks for hanging spoons, knife holders, cup holders, extra drying trays, and additional shelves.
Size and capacity
Make sure your dish rack suits the amount of space you have available for it in your kitchen. A large dish rack is great but not if you have a tiny space. Also keep in mind that some more compact dish racks actually have a larger capacity for dishes because they include double shelving and handy compartments for utensils and smaller items.
Materials
When it comes to materials, the easier to clean, the better. Also try to choose materials that do not chip easily. Plastic drying racks are lighter than stainless steel and they do not stain easily, however, they break easily and can have a tendency towards grime build up. Stainless steel materials are high quality, durable, easy to clean, sturdy, and do not break. However, they are more expensive than plastic.
Placement
There are two types of placements for dish racks: over the sink or to the side of the sink on your countertop. If you are choosing a countertop style, make sure the drain tray won’t pool water on your counter.
By reviewing the size, capacity, versatility, special features, and possible placement options, and checking out different models on the market and their reviews, you will be sure to find the dish rack that suits your needs perfectly.