Dish Drying Racks

Air dry your dishes

Dish drying racks are usually placed next to the kitchen sink and offer an alternative to dishwashers by allowing wet dishes, glasses, silverware and other items to air dry. Most dish drying racks have slots and spaces so dishes can stand and bowls and glasses can be placed upside down in order to allow gravity assist in the drying process.

Dish drying racks used to come in one standard model and material, rubber and wire. Like everything, they've evolved, and depending on the household, dish racks can range from the inexpensive variety found in dollar stores to the more sophisticated version found in specialty kitchen shops.

The right drying rack

You need to consider how much counter space is available for a dish drying rack. If you have a small kitchen with limited counter space, a small folding dish drying rack is your answer. Folding dish racks are made of wood or metal and come in a variety of sizes. Since these dish drying racks stand on legs instead of flat bottoms, they take up less counter space. In addition, they can be folded and stored in a cabinet when not in use. Folding dish drying racks tend to be more expensive.

Most folding dish drying racks don't come with any type of catch basin or rubber mat to place underneath. Essentially, this will allow water from the dishes to drain onto the counter top, which will then have to be wiped down. A catch basin or rubber mat can usually be purchased separately at a low price. Another down side to folding dish racks is that they don't come with a separate compartment for drying silverware and small items.

Those with more counter space might prefer a dish drying rack with a flat bottom. These dish drying racks come with a second piece (slightly concave) to be placed underneath to catch the draining water before it reaches the counter. This catch basin saves the owner from additional clean up after the dishes are finished draining. Some catch basins also have a sloped area for water to drain directly into the sink. These dish racks tend to hold more dishes than folding racks and, in most cases, come with a separate caddy for holding silverware and other smaller items.

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