Dish racks are an integral part of almost every kitchen in the world, and the good ones can really make your life easier. Unfortunately, some low-quality racks tend to rust after a while, which, I don’t have to tell you, is a huge bummer. But as always, I’ve heard your cries, and have spent the last few weeks researching and testing the best rustproof dish racks on the market. Here’s what I can tell you.
Why You Need a Rustproof Dish Rack
A rustproof dish rack is one of the most important things you need in your kitchen, no matter if you have a dishwasher or not. When it comes to properly drying plates, cups, and kitchenware, there’s nothing in the world that could beat a solid dish rack.
There are, of course, a ton of different models you could buy, and they can all vary in shape, size, and material. But finding the perfect one for your home is crucial, especially if you wash all your dishes by hand.
Even though I am a huge advocate of dish racks, I have had some stinkers in the past. Some broke, others didn’t have a good flow, but the worst ones, by far, were the racks that went rusty. Whether it was due to the poor material or bad design, they’d just rust after a month or two, and I’d have to buy a new one.
Since then, I’ve put a lot of time and effort into trying to find the ideal rack for my home that wouldn’t rust or break. But in the research process, I found a ton of new racks that I think all of you would really enjoy. So here’s my choice of the top 13 rustproof dish racks out there.
The Best Rustproof Dish Racks Money Can Buy
1. Polder Dish Rack & Tray
Polder’s dish rack & tray is made from a combination of plastic and brushed stainless steel, which makes it rust-resistant. It’s also pretty sizable and can hold up to eight plates, and five glasses. What’s more, there’s even a standing tray where you can fit up to four cups at the same time.
But the reason I put Polder’s rack in the top slot is its adjustable drain spout. No matter which way your sink is facing, you can position the spout so that the water runoff goes straight to it.
Another cool thing about Polder’s rack is that you can clean most of it in a dishwasher. The top rack, drain tray, as well as cutlery holder, are all dishwasher-safe, which makes cleanup a total breeze.
2. Oyeye Kitchen Dish Drying Rack
If you have a big family and a ton of dirty dishes at any moment, I’d recommend the Oyeye drying rack. It’s made of 304 stainless steel, which is not only rustproof but also easy to sanitize. Oyeye’s dish rack is incredibly durable, and if you take proper care of it, it’ll be in your life for a really long time.
As far as dish capacity goes, Oyeye has Polder beat in more ways than one. On it, you can fit 18 plates, 30 bowls, and just as many forks and knives. Also, there’s extra space for wine glasses and cups, which makes it the perfect choice for a large household.
The overall design of Oyeye’s rack is pretty customizable, and you can set it up to work with your kitchen. The knife, cup, and utensil holders are all detachable, and the microfiber and drainboard can also be moved.
3. Rubbermaid AntiMicrobial In-Sink Dish Drainer
The Rubbermaid In-Sink Dish Drainer has a pretty simple design, but one that’s extremely effective nonetheless. Thanks to its size and shape, you can easily fit the Rubbermaid drainer in almost any sink. Currently, you can buy the drainer in three colors, which include Chrome, Black, and Bisque.
Rubbermaid’s drainer is somewhat smaller than the one from Oyeye, and it can hold a total of 13 plates and 6 glasses. But the plate holders are angled to ensure that your dishes dry fast.
The dish drain from Rubbermaid has a sturdy construction, and it’s essentially a one-piece wire construction with a plastic coating. It also has built-in Microban antimicrobial protection that helps the rack stay odor and stain-free.
4. Neat-O Deluxe Chrome-Plated Steel Small Dish Drainers
Neat-O’s Deluxe Dish Drainer is one of Amazon’s bestsellers, and it’s easy to see why. It’s small, simple in design, and would look incredible in any kitchen. What’s more, Neat-O’s rack has a chrome finish, as well as a color-coated base wire that keeps your dishes safe and sound.
The Dish Drainer is pretty lightweight and compact. It weighs only 1.3 lbs, it’s 14 inches wide and 12 inches long. It also features a detachable cutlery cup that’s easy to drain and clean.
If you have a large household but still love the Neat-O design, I’d recommend the two-tier rack. It features the same unique qualities and materials, and it’s incredibly sturdy. But there are two separate spaces for your dishes and kitchenware.
5. Zojila Rohan Dish Rack
Zojila makes a super stylish dish rack, which is sturdy and spacious. The rustproof stainless steel rack can accommodate 8 tumblers, 13 plates, and 50 cutlery pieces. Also, thanks to its size, you can easily fit pots and pans on the Zojila rack.
The dish rack has little steel legs that help it overhang all kitchen sinks. But most importantly, it’s entirely self-draining, which means that it doesn’t collect water. That not only helps with the rust problem but also keeps the rack clean and sanitary.
Zojila is so confident in its product that the rack comes with a lifetime warranty. So if you ever have any sort of issue with it, you can send it back for a refund, or ask for a new one.
6. Simplehuman Kitchen Compact Steel Frame Dish Rack
The Compact dish rack from Simplehuman is one of the finest, most high-quality pieces of kitchen equipment that you’ll ever see. It is made of stainless steel and features a soft coated steel wire. The combination of materials means that the dish rack is 100% rustproof, but also gentle on your dishes.
The unique and innovative design features a drainage system that will direct water to your sink. Also, it has an extendable drip tray, as well as a utensil holder that’ll keep all your things neatly organized.
Simplehuman also added an anti-residue hydrophilic coating to its dish rack that prevents residue buildup. You’ll also receive a 5-year warranty for your Compact dish rack, and you can get it with a towel holder or a sink caddy.
7. KitchenAid Full-Size Dish Rack
KitchenAid is famous for its high-quality dish racks that feature innovative designs, but today I want to talk about one of the bigger models. The large-capacity, multi-functional dish rack from KitchenAid is big enough to accommodate plates, pots, pans, cups, glasses, and more.
It is a stainless steel rack with a satin coating that won’t scratch your dishes or your countertops. Also, those elements make KitchenAid’s dish rack really sturdy. But if something goes wrong, you’ll have a full year to replace any parts, or take advantage of the limited lifetime warranty and ask for a refund.
The dish rack features a built-in handle, adjustable cutlery holders, as well as removable flatware caddy. You can also get it in a few different designs and colors, and you’re sure to find something that perfectly fits your kitchen and style.
8. Ahyuan Roll-Up Dish Drying Rack
Ahyuan’s Roll-Up Dish Rack is not the most innovative or coolest thing you’ll see on this list, but it’s still awesome. It’s essentially a stainless steel drying rack that has these bars or grids that can hold your dishes. You simply place it over the sink while you’re doing the dishes, and stack them up one by one.
What’s cool about it is that it’s super versatile, and it’s not just for plates and pans. You can also leave your fruits or veggies to dry there, or even your wet kitchen cloths or towels.
Ahyuan’s Roll-Up rack comes in a few different sizes, which is great. So no matter how big or small your sink is, you can still have the drying rack over it, and it doesn’t have to take up a lot of space at all.
9. PremiumRacks Professional Dish Rack
Like the Oyeye drying rack, the one from PremiumRack is definitely for larger households. It’s made of high-grade 304 stainless steel, which means that it’s rust-resistant and easy to sanitize. Also, PremiumRack really made its dish rack super durable, and there’s absolutely no way that you could break it.
While that’s all fine and well, the reason I fell in love with PremiumRack’s model is that it’s totally customizable. You can adjust the cup holders, as well as the cutting board attachment. You can also choose where you want to put the drainboards and the complimentary microfiber mat.
Since the rack has two tiers, you’ll have a ton of space to fit all your plates, pots, and cups. What’s more, there are even separate holders for knives and utensils, which is super practical.
10. Chef’n DishGarden Dish Rack
The Chef’n DishGarden Dish Rack was unlike anything I’d ever seen before, which is why I knew that I had to get it. It’s a really creative and unique type of drying rack, entirely made out of plastic. The sort of crown design allows air to pass freely through the rack, drying your dishes faster than ever.
You’d think that a crown design might not be the best idea since it couldn’t fit all your kitchenware and utensils, but you’d be wrong. It’s sort of open-ended on both sides, which means that you can fit plates, baking sheets, cutting boards, and so much more! There are also two separate holders for your utensils so that you can neatly pack everything away.
The Chef’n dish rack also has a silicone water spout, which you can open and close. What’s more, the soft materials ensure that this rack never scratches your dishes or your countertops.
11. Sabatier Expandable Stainless Steel Dish Rack
In its outer design, the Sabatier Expandable Dish Rack kind of reminds me of the one from KitchenAid. But the layout on the inside is totally different, which is exactly why I wanted to include it on my list.
The Sabatier dish rack’s most striking feature is the expandable board, which makes its overall length from 18.5 inches to 29.4 inches. You can make it bigger or smaller depending on how many dishes you’ve got or the size of your sink.
There’s also a removable stemware rack that has three separate components for your utensils. The Sabatier rack has a bi-directional spout, which you can, once again, move to fit your kitchen and sink.
12. Umbra Sinkin Drying Rack
Umbra’s drying rack design is as simple as it is brilliant. It’s small and quaint, and you can tuck it into your kitchen where it wouldn’t look like a total eyesore. However, even though it looks compact, Umbra’s rack can still pack quite a punch, and fit loads of dishes.
You can buy Umbra’s drying rack in a few different colors, ranging from smoky black to charcoal nickel, vibrant red, and pure white. It’s also made of polypropylene and has a coated wire, which is really durable. With the Umbra, you’ll also have a detachable utensil holder that you can position anywhere you want.
To ensure that it never scratches your countertop, Umbra also put rubber-coated feet on its drying rack. The coating not only protects your kitchen but also keeps the rack from moving and sliding.
13. Shanik Expandable Draining Dish Rack
Thanks to an adjustable handlebar, the Shanik Dish Rack can go from 14 inches in length all the way to 20 inches. You can easily adjust it to fit your kitchen, and use it on the counter or in the sink.
Like Umbra, Shanik put two detachable utensil holders on its drying rack, which you can move around anywhere you want. That also means that they’re really easy to clean, and you can pop them in the dishwasher if you want.
Of course, Shanik’s dish rack is made of 100% rustproof materials. However, if you’re not happy with your purchase, you can return it to Shanik for a full refund.
What You Need to Consider Before Buying a Dish Rack
Now that you know my top 13, I wanted to take a moment and talk about the things that make or break a drying rack. Here’s my advice on how to choose the best one for your kitchen.
Material
The first thing you need to look at is the material because it’s the most important aspect by far. Some of the most common materials used for drying racks are stainless steel, plastic, and wood.
As you’ve probably seen, I prefer stainless steel over other types because I find them the most durable. Also, stainless steel racks don’t rust or break, and are generally easy to clean.
Then, you have plastic racks, which are not a bad choice by any means. They also don’t rust and come in a wide variety of different colors. With that said, they’re much flimsier than stainless steel, and they can break or bend over time.
Lastly, there are also wooden drying racks, which can look quite beautiful. But I’m generally not a big fan because you can never really know the wood quality. So if it’s not up to par, the wood can splinter because it’s in constant contact with water.
Size
The size of your household is probably going to determine how big of a dish rack you need to get. If it’s just you and another person, you can probably get away with something smaller, like the Umbra or Shanik. You might also want to opt for something smaller if you have a dishwasher but still need to wash a few things by hand.
However, if you’ve got a full house, and the pile of dishes is neverending, buy something bigger. My favorite dish racks for a large household are definitely the Oyeye and the PremiumRacks models.
Maintenance and Ease of Cleaning
If you want your expensive dish rack to still look amazing after a while, you need to take proper care of it. The more durable models allow you to throw them in the dishwasher and clean them that way. But keep in mind that a lot of dish racks might not be dishwasher-safe, so make sure to double-check before putting them in.
You also need to sanitize your dish racks from time to time to avoid bacteria buildup. I recommend using white vinegar because it’ll get rid of any odors, but also keep your dish racks sparkling clean.
Related: How to Get Rust Off a Dishwasher Rack
Final Thoughts
Honestly, I can not say enough good things about the 13 rustproof dish racks on my list. They are all incredibly durable, sturdy, and stylish. Also, all of them are countertop-safe and easy to maintain.
If you’re not sure which one to get, my best advice is just to look at the sizes and styles. But since they’re all high-quality, you can’t go wrong with any of them, so just follow your heart.