Your Cooling Rack Can Be Used As a Drying Rack
I don’t have a dishwasher, but even if I did, there are certain glass items that I would never entrust to such a crude machine. Delicate and vintage drinking vessels often need to be hand washed and then air dried to prevent streaks and scratches. If you don’t have a dedicated drying rack (or if yours is full), the cooling rack – the one you use for cookies – will work fine.
It is not enough to place glasses upside down on a drying mat or towel. Water drips downward away from the glass, but gets stuck inside causing condensation. It’s not a big deal if you remember to turn the glasses over after a few minutes, but – you know what? – I never do that. (One of my childhood concerns was the dishes, and if I forgot to turn the glasses over to let the last drop of water evaporate, my mom sighed and said, “I think someone doesn’t understand the basics of physics!” To be fair: I almost failed thermodynamics .)
Anyway. A cooling grill mounted on the towel allows water to drain and evaporate while offering a solid and safe place for your glasses to hang while drying. (We previously posted an ATK tip that suggested drying glasses with chopsticks , which seems a little unstable right now if I seriously think about it.)
In fact, you can use the cooling rack to dry any kind of crockery or cutlery. If you cook a lot of dishes but don’t have a dishwasher, it’s a good idea to have an overflow plan. Large pieces can be placed on the large wire rack inside the baking sheet, which is especially useful for collecting drips. ( Lattices are generally very helpful. Bacon ? Guac ? Dishes? What can’t they do?)