The 5 Best Pasta Drying Racks We Tested

How We Tested Pasta Drying Racks

After extensive online research, we chose a total of 14 pasta drying racks to purchase and test. We incorporated them into our testing of pasta makers, using each drying rack to hold and dry the spaghetti and other noodles the pasta makers cut. (We used the same egg-enriched dough recipe for all tests.)

We Observed

• How easy the racks were to assemble and set up: Following the included directions, we put together each rack, extended its legs, and set it on the table to prepare for the rest of testing. We noted any difficulties or complications we ran into.
• How easy they were to load: We laid a full batch of fresh spaghetti on the rack, spreading the noodles out across the arms as evenly as possible. We evaluated whether the layout of the arms made the process easier or harder, and if any rotating or folding arms made it easier to load pasta.
• How well they dried pasta: After setting out the noodles on each model, we let them sit at room temperature for 24 hours to dry fully. After that, we removed the noodles from the racks, noting whether any broke or stuck to the arms, and if they dried evenly.
  

We Rated

• Design: We considered the stability of each rack on the table and whether it felt wobbly if loaded unevenly. We also noted whether the arms were spaced apart in a way that made them all easy to access, and if any rotating or removable arms worked as expected.
• Performance: We took a close look at the texture of the dried pasta to see if it became brittle and crumbly or stayed smooth, and if any pieces broke during the drying period.
• Ease of cleaning: At the end of testing, we disassembled each rack and cleaned it according to the user manual. We noted how simple the cleaning process was, along with how much flour and dough stuck to the racks in the first place.
• Value: When all other tests we complete, we revealed the retail prices of each rack and considered its cost compared to its ratings in the other categories.
  

About Our Testers

• Our Lab team has spent collective decades working in professional kitchens, developing recipes, and testing kitchen gear.
  

Others We Tested

• Marcato Atlas Tacapasta Pasta Drying Rack: This luxury drying rack is easy to assemble and adjust, with 16 rotating arms that can hold a lot of pasta. We didn't love that its legs don't lock in place, which makes moving it around awkward, but the big issue is its astronomical price.
• Bellemain Large Wood Pasta Drying Rack: With a very similar design to the Sänger above, this rack appeared in a previous version of this roundup. It's quite inexpensive, but it also offers just eight arms and less space for pasta than its competitor.
• Navaris Beechwood Pasta Drying Rack: This folding rack offers lots of room to hang pasta, but it was pretty awkward to use in testing. The dowels aren't removable, so it's awkward to drape noodles over the middle sections and to remove them when they're dry. The wood was also inconsistently sanded, and pasta stuck to the rough surface in places.
  

What to Look for in a Pasta Drying Rack

Material

Most pasta drying racks are made of wood, plastic, metal, or some combination of the three. There's not a heck of a lot of difference between them in terms of performance, but what matters most is the material of the arms that the pasta rests on: We found that it was easier to slide noodles off of a smooth plastic arm than rough, unfinished wood.

Material also makes some difference in terms of cleaning, as wooden racks generally can't go in the dishwasher while some plastic ones can. On the other hand, we didn't need much more than a dry cloth to wipe flour and dough residue off the racks we tested.

Design

Most pasta drying racks have a fairly similar design, with a series of arms over which you drape pasta. The height of the arms is one important thing to keep in mind. The dough should not touch the counter or tabletop as it dries, which means that taller arms can dry longer noodles. Some dryers have rotating or adjustable arms, which can make them easier to access. Another design consideration is the base of the rack. A larger base—or more legs—makes the whole thing more stable and less likely to tip over if you load pasta onto it unevenly.

With a flat rack like the Eppicotispai, you don't have to worry about stability as much, but you do have to worry about size; more surface area means more space for noodles.

Capacity

If you're going to make a batch of homemade pasta, you might as well make a big one—especially if you have a rack that can dry the noodles for future use. The amount of pasta a given rack can hold is largely based on the number of arms it has and their length: Each inch of arm can only hold so many noodles. With that said, even the smallest racks we tested were able to hold well more than two servings at a time—you might not need an enormous one unless you have a large household to feed (or if you're running a fresh-pasta business out of your kitchen).

FAQs

How long should pasta dry on a rack?

For fresh noodles that you're going to use within a week, you only need about 15 minutes of drying. This will prevent the pasta from sticking or squishing but keep it pliable. You can cook partially dried pasta immediately or store it in the fridge for up to a week.

Fully dried pasta takes several hours, but once all the moisture has evaporated, you can store it in a room-temperature pantry for months, just like store-bought dried pasta.

Is a pasta drying rack necessary?

Strictly speaking, no. You can cook pasta immediately after rolling and cutting it. However, a few minutes of drying will help sticky pasta hold its shape in the boiling water, and longer drying can preserve it for future use.

What else can you use as a pasta drying rack?

In theory, anything that will let noodles dangle in midair can be used to dry them: One traditional Italian method is to drape pasta across a broom handle suspended between two chairs. You can also lay the pasta on a floured towel or baking sheet, but you'll need to turn it carefully and frequently to ensure even drying. A dedicated drying rack is more sanitary and can potentially hold bigger batches in a smaller space.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

This article was written by Danette St. Onge, formerly the Italian Food Expert for The Spruce Eats and a features editor at Cook’s Illustrated magazine (part of America’s Test Kitchen). An avid kitchen appliance junkie, she spends hours combing the internet, comparing options, reading reviews, and testing devices to find the best tool for every job.

The roundup was updated with Lab testing data by Jason Horn, Commerce Writer for The Spruce Eats. After receiving a master's degree in journalism, he jumped into food writing and has been covering topics related to eating, drinking, and cooking ever since. He's written about everything from the bars of Antarctica for Playboy, to his favorite flavor chemical for Serious Eats.