Ever heard of the proverbial pasta that sneaked off the dinner table to live happily ever after as jewelry? No? Well, that’s most likely because we just made it up! But hey, that can almost happen with the right combination of a good
pasta maker and matching pasta drying rack to create stunningly dry, artistic noodles – so much so that they will look like pieces of jewelry as they hang from the rack's arms.
We know you love pasta (albeit not as much as we do!), and you always look forward to getting that neatly dried pasta for dinner or breakfast. When it comes to drying pasta, nothing does this better than a pasta drying rack. For a homemade pasta enthusiast, the worst thing that can happen in your pasta-making process is seeing all that hard work stick together in one humongous heap – not a pretty sight, we bet. With a pasta drying rack, you can easily dry all types of pasta, no matter the length or thickness. In fact, for those who are looking to lose weight, this is the perfect rack to dry your homemade
Shirataki noodles. So, out with the traditional table drying and in with the revolutionary drying rack, but what is at stake to consider?
Basically, an ideal design for a pasta drying rack involves one or several stems, through which various rods are anchored to help hold the pasta hanging in place. Considering the various designs available, a pasta drying rack, just like a
dish rack, comes in multiple types and styles. In fact, new styles keep cropping up every now and then, as manufacturers try to keep up with the demands for versatility in the products. This has seen the introduction of movable drying racks, featuring extensions that can continually move to make it possible for the pasta to be dried in turns. The material also varies, and includes wood, polycarbonate and plastic as the most common materials. While wood pasta drying racks are instrumental in holding the pasta in place due to their unfinished design, polycarbonate or plastic pasta drying racks come in handy if you are looking for durability and elegance.
When shopping for a pasta drying rack, consider your regular quantity of pasta. You do not want to go for a rack that may not accommodate all the pasta made in one go. To be on the safe side, choose one that can hold about four pounds at once. The pasta drying rack should also be able to collapse easily for convenient storage. This leaves you with enough space in your kitchen to do your cooking, or even make more pasta!
Price
When it comes to getting a good pasta drying rack, price does matter. Though this handy kitchen tool may seem simple, you don't want a cheap pasta drying rack that may result in the waste of all the hard work you have put into making these little tasty pieces. The price of a pasta drying rack is mainly determined by factors such as material, construction and size.
Plastic and polycarbonate versions cost more than wooden ones, due to their elegance, durability and ease of cleaning. On the other hand, there are advanced designs that may include additional features and, thus, cost a little more than the basic versions. Based on these tenets, therefore, you can expect to find a good pasta drying rack anywhere between $9 and $220, give or take a few dollars. Your choice will all boil down to how and where you expect to use it.
Features
As already established, pasta drying racks come in various forms, styles and designs. Here is our compilation of the common features you can expect to find in a pasta drying rack, though, due to the wide variety out there, they may not all be found on one single rack. Most of these features are geared toward improving the drying period, evenness and ease of storage.
The common features include:
- Material
- Rods
- Symmetry
- Base
- Size
- Capacity
- Assembly
We will describe each of these features in detail in the two sections below.
Construction and Design
When it comes to the construction and design of your pasta rack, there’s a few key things to consider.
Material:
Considering the fact that these handy tools are, in many cases, used outdoors, or at least in an open area, the material matters. This is especially so in terms of speeding the drying time of your pasta. Wooden pasta drying racks are common, due their simplicity both in use and storage. They usually feature an unfinished design that ensures the pasta does not slide off, either when still wet or after it dries. However, there are also plastic and polycarbonate materials that add style and elegance to your pasta drying process.
Rods:
Without the rods, a pasta drying rack would be useless, since this is where the pasta strands will be placed to dry. Depending on the design, rods come in various forms. While some come fully attached to the whole system, some are detachable and can be removed when cleaning or storing. Some styles feature single rods that pass through a hole in the main post to form double arms. Whatever the case, rods should leave enough space to ensure air circulates evenly for fast and natural drying of your pasta.
Symmetry:
A pasta drying rack has to be symmetrical to enable the pasta to hang from both ends. This keeps the whole rack in balance so it doesn’t tip in one direction. When it comes to symmetry in design, there is no limit and many of these racks feature designs that make them a masterpiece that stands out even when not in use.
Performance and Ease of Use
Pasta drying racks are made to offer simplicity, both in use and storage. The base is usually made either wider or heavier to help support the whole system, especially when loaded with the pasta. On the other hand, size also matters. While there are small-sized versions meant for small-scale, homemade pasta, there are also large designs that can be used for commercial purposes or for a large family. Go for a size that makes it convenient to dry enough pasta as needed at one go.
Capacity also matters in a pasta drying rack. This may not only depend on the size, but can also include the materials used and the overall strength of the rods or arms. Notably, pasta tends to be heavier when still wet, thus, it's important to go for a design that can hold the maximum weight of your pasta when still wet. On the other hand, a good pasta drying rack ought to offer ease in assembly. Most come fully assembled and ready for use, while others may have a few parts to be attached or assembled before use; these would most likely be the rods or arms. Alternatively, some versions feature a collapsible design to ease storage and setup.
Having read the vital tips on what to look for in a pasta drying rack, it is now time to check out each of these reviews. Keep your preferred features and tips in the back of your mind as you read through these five reviews, for better judgment at the end.
Features
How would you love a company that makes your world delicious, just as it does your dried pasta? Well, look no more, as Fante’s promises just that. This family-owned business has been in operation since 1906, and has lived up to its billing by providing a personal touch to each of its products. Over the years, it has improved, courtesy of its creative staff but, most importantly, the keen eye on the needs and demands of the market. With its broad focus on houseware, the quality is unmatched, and its innovation, exemplary.
Fante's Grandma Nadia's Pasta Drying Rack features a folding table design that makes it easy to use, especially with its broad hanging area that runs up to 12 feet. With stable, wooden cross feet, you can rest assured that your pasta is in safe hands. What’s more, storage is efficient, thanks to its design that folds down to two inches, not to mention the dowels that are easily removed for easer transportation. The dowels are evenly spaced to prevent the pasta from sticking together. Its length makes it possible to dry even extra-long noodles.
Features
Mention the kitchen and kitchen appliances, and immediately, VonShef comes to mind. This is a company that has proved its worth through its top-tier kitchen products that have revolutionized how modern chefs work in their fast-paced, hot offices. Whether it's food preparation, food storage, utensils, kitchen electrical or bakeware, VonShef has it all. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a simple culinary novice, VonShef promises products with quality that 'tastes so good.' With VonShef, it's time to let your eye feast on the awe that is its innovation and design. Boasting of products made for taste and built for durability, you can rest assured that it meets the pressures and demands of the modern-day kitchen.
This explains why the VonShef Collapsible 8-Arm Pasta Drying Rack stands out with a blend of functionality and quality to dry your pasta evenly and naturally. Its versatility means that you can dry a variety of pasta, including tagliatelle, spaghetti, vermicelli, fettuccine and lasagne. Standing firm with eight sturdy arms, this beech wood drying rack can also be easily collapsed to allow for convenient storage.
Features
The kitchen is a sacred sanctuary for any chef worth their salt, and Norpro understands this all too well. This is the fuel that drives the company to create high-caliber kitchenware. Nestled in the iconic Pacific Northwest, Norpro started its production in 1973 under the exemplary leadership of its CEO, Gunner Lie. Driven by the insatiable thirst to meet and exceed the expectations of its customers, Norpro has, over the years, made considerable progress in keeping the kitchen not only a mandatory but also a fun place to be. Product innovation forms the core of the company, with most of its staff frequently travelling the world to study new trends in the market and inspire themselves to come up with cutting-edge products.
The Norpro Rubberwood Pasta Drying Rack features a playful style and stands out with its petite but effective size that works perfect for those who may want to make a few batches of pasta at a time. Standing at 16.5 inches tall, with a 7/8-inch thick base, this pasta drying rack is made of rubberwood, an environmentally friendly material that also keeps the pasta in place through the drying period. The four, 18-inch dowels are long enough to slide through the post holes and create eight arms, perfectly angled to avoid them colliding when loaded with pasta. What's more, you can disassemble it in seconds for safe storage when not in use.
That’s it! We believe that this review has been comprehensive enough to cover all you needed to know about getting the best pasta drying rack. Take that step that will forever change how you dry your pasta. If you haven’t found a rack with the ideal features you were looking for, don’t worry; you can still check out other equally worthy options from the trusted brands that we reviewed above.
