Product Review: Baker's Mate Cooling Rack

As I have mentioned before, space is at a premium in my kitchen. There is little counter space and when I am in the throws of baking - there is even less counter space, since heaven forbid I clean as I go. This sometimes leaves me with multiple hot trays coming out of the oven, and not enough space to put them. I have accumulated enough burns to decide that I need some help in this area. I saw this cooling stand by Baker's Mate in a cooking catalog and immediately made note of it. My sister was kind enough to get it for my birthday, and I was able to put it right to work on the Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate chunk cookies.



The stand is great and works well - with one major pain in the neck. It is exceedingly difficult to close the last tier on the bottom for storage. Unless I am just missing something, it is very hard to release it from the raised metal areas that keep it locked in place. Aside from that, it is wonderful... sits on my counter and all my cookie trays - whether fresh out of the oven or patiently waiting their turn - are neatly stacked.


Ultimately, I love the space saving ability to handle multiple (hot) trays at once, but I hate the folding-it-up for storage process.

Which is why it is still sitting, all set up, on the dining room table. ;-)

**Update** 09/23/09
I figured out how to close up the bottom tier of the rack.... just push the ends towards each other, and they clear the metal piece that locks them in the open position. I knew I was missing something!