The Pasta Drying Rack for Every Pasta Lover’s Kitchen, According to Our Testing

Our Favorite

We loved the CucinaPro Drying Rack for its ease of use, quality construction, and drying performance. For small spaces and small budgets, we love the value of the Ourokhome Collapsible Pasta Drying Rack. 

How We Tested Pasta Drying Racks

The first step in testing past racks is to make a few batches of pasta dough. We assembled 14 pasta racks, before making an egg-enriched pasta dough. We then used the manufacturer’s instructions (when available) to dry the pasta. On the spindle-style racks with arms, this included carefully draping the pasta over the arms and rotating them to ensure the noodles weren’t touching each other. For racks with drying bars, we removed a bar at a time before draping it with pasta and replacing it before repeating that step with the other bars. Lastly, for the tiered shelf-style rack, we laid the pasta gently on each shelf, ensuring no strand was touching. 

We allowed the pasta to dry and then carefully removed it from the drying rack, following the manufacturer’s instructions. We noted any difficulty adding or removing pasta and examined its texture. We then boiled the pasta until al dente and tasted it, paying attention to the doneness and texture.

Finally, we followed the manufacturer's instructions to wash and dry the pasta drying rack. For applicable models, we folded or collapsed them to determine how well they collapsed for storage. 

After completing each testing stage, we evaluated the quality of each rack, noting any awkward or cumbersome parts, problems with pasta slipping, or if the orientation of the drying rack arms allowed for the noodles to dry without coming into contact with other pieces of pasta. After testing was complete, we ranked each rack on performance, ease of use, design, and value. 

Factors to Consider

Pasta Rack Shape

The spindle-style drying rack is best if you’ll only make long pasta types or don’t mind drying your short pasta using a different rack. We found two styles we like, one with a central spoke and rotating arms and the other with horizontal rods arranged side-by-side and nested into a frame. Both are effective and do the job. But if you’re more likely to make ravioli, tortellini, orecchiette, and other small, flat pasta shapes, a rack with horizontal, ventilated shelves is a more versatile option.

Pasta Rack Material 

Natural unfinished wood is the tried-and-true route for pasta drying racks. Plenty of other options are available, including plastic, aluminum, and silicone; while these won't ruin your pasta, unfinished wood is our first choice since it absorbs moisture. Plastic and other slippery surfaces do have the advantage of reduced friction, so pasta will slide off more readily. This is good if your dough is a bit wetter, or for pasta that isn't as heavily dusted with flour.

Pasta Rack Size

There are many things to consider when selecting a pasta drying rack. How much pasta do you make at one time? How much counter space do you have? Are you using a pasta maker, or will you mostly shape pasta by hand? What kind of storage space do you have for a drying rack? All of these things may inform not just the style of rack you purchase but also its size. More, longer arms (or more, larger layers of horizontal racks) can hold more pasta, but they also take up more space in the kitchen. Be sure to take a look at your rack's size, both collapsed and fully assembled.

Ease of Cleaning

Most of the drying racks we tested were simple to clean. Dried strands slipped off leaving no residue, and the parts needed little more than a quick wipe with a dry towel to store away for next time. Over time, buildup can occur on tools that come in contact with flour and dough, so a rack that comes apart easily and doesn't have many nooks and crannies for gunk to hide is best to keep your drying rack clean throughout its lifetime.

Other Pasta Drying Racks We Tested

Strong Contenders

Bisetti Beechwood Collapsible Pasta Drying Rack ($24 on Amazon)

This beechwood model wasn’t as sturdy as other racks, which was no surprise as we felt the materials were flimsier than other racks we tried. Designed to fold closed, the Bisetti feels like its base is unstable and subject to shifting from even slight movements.

Marcato Pasta Rack ($60 on Amazon)
This costly aluminum pasta dryer sports a spindle design like the other racks we tested. Though it did its job effectively, its legs don’t lock so it was wobbly, and the arms located at the base of the spindle are so low we’re not sure they’re beneficial.

What Didn’t Make the List

While a good handful of pasta racks impressed us, a few fell short. We tested racks from brands like Norpro, Bellemain, Imperia, Crate & Barrel, and more that didn’t land a spot on our list of recommendations. In some models, we felt construction was cheap and unstable. Others experienced issues with sticking or were too small to be useful. Instead, we opted for models that were easy to assemble, had a wide surface area, and offered a low-hassle experience. 

Our Expertise

• Christa Glennie has been a freelance writer and food editor for nearly 20 years. She is also the author of two cookbooks and specializes in food and drink trends, agriculture, the regional foodways of Western New York, and the restaurant business.
• Nick DeSimone also worked on this piece. Nick is a food writer and spent nearly a decade working in restaurants. They have been making pasta since before they could see over the counter and have spent years behind the line in many restaurants known for their fresh pasta. You can read more of Nick's work in Allrecipes, EatingWell, Eater, USA Today, Mashed, The Kitchn, VegNews, and local Philadelphia publications