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Many of us rely on a dish rack to dry all of our dishes or perhaps a select few that won’t fare well in the dishwasher. For shoppers looking for the best dish-drying rack for their kitchen, it’s important to find one that will comfortably fit in the available space and is large and sturdy enough to accommodate regular dish loads, however big and heavy they may be. The KitchenAid full-size dish rack is a spacious model that holds both large and small dishes and is well-built to withstand years of regular use.
I tested this product in my New York City apartment, where I treasure every inch of counter space. I loaded it up with my everyday dinnerware, as well as larger, bulkier, and heavier items like cast-iron skillets and mixing bowls, to ensure my dishes stayed in place and weren’t at risk of breaking.
I assembled, de-assembled, and cleaned the dish rack to see how difficult it was to manage. I also noted how well my dishes dried and how easily the rack drained. Ultimately, after testing eight popular dish racks from well-respected brands, I determined that the KitchenAid full-size dish rack was the best-performing option for most home kitchens.
KitchenAid Full-Size Dish Rack: At a Glance
Rating: 9/10
Product Specs
- Dimensions: 7 inches high by 20 inches wide by 14.96 inches deep
- Materials: Stainless steel, metal wire, plastic
- Style: Countertop
PROS
- Design makes efficient use of space to accommodate up to 4 place settings
- Sturdy frame safely holds heavy and awkward dishes upright
- Satin-coated and rust-resistant stainless steel dividers prevent scratches on dishes
- Sloping plastic drainboard keeps countertop drip-free
- Coated feet protect countertops and keep rack in place
- Includes a removable utensil caddy
CONS
- Difficult to move when full of dishes
- Drainage lip does not rotate, which is not ideal for every kitchen design
Get the KitchenAid full-size dish rack at:
What is the KitchenAid dish rack?
This KitchenAid dish rack is designed to hold dishware like plates, bowls, cookware, and serveware upright for efficient drainage and drying. As clean dishes in the rack dry, they drip water onto a sloping drainboard that users can orient toward the sink to avoid a mess on the countertop.
The dish rack features a removable utensil caddy on one end, which holds regular cutlery as well as sharp kitchen knives and cooking utensils that are best not run through the dishwasher. It also offers narrow wire loops on the other end of the rack that hang over the sink to hold cups and glasses upside down for quick drying.
Simple Setup
While several of the other dish racks I tested had multiple parts to fit together and were made with flimsier materials, the KitchenAid dish rack was very straightforward to set up. I didn’t need tools or any special instructions to assemble the rack, though a simple guide is included.
Easy to Use
I found the KitchenAid dish rack to be very well designed and user-friendly. The center of the rack features loops that keep small and large dinner plates apart. The utensil caddy has three slots to separate sharp, delicate blades from everyday forks and knives, and it clips firmly to the side of the rack so I didn’t need to balance it out with equally weighted items. Both the caddy and the drainboard were easy for me to remove and then put right back into place.
Because this dish rack is large, it did get quite heavy when full of dishes. The rack also does not have a rotating drainage lip. Though it will work on either side of the sink, shoppers with an unusual kitchen design could find that this rack doesn’t work with their setup.
Sturdy Construction
The frame of the KitchenAid dish rack is constructed of strong, rust-resistant stainless steel, and the drainboard and utensil caddy are made of durable plastic. The dividers are sturdy enough to hold heavy cast-iron cookware, and the plastic won’t bend or warp under high heat (such as in the dishwasher) or pressure.
The rack’s rubber feet kept it in place, so my dishes didn’t crash together if the rack was lightly jostled on the counter or I accidentally bumped into it. I like the stainless steel sides on this dish rack because they look stylish and also match the other appliances in my kitchen.
Is the KitchenAid dish rack worth the money?
This dish rack is not the cheapest model I tested, but it’s still reasonably priced. Particularly because it’s made from durable materials and accommodates a wide variety of dishes, it offers a great value at under $50.
Should you buy the KitchenAid dish rack?
Shoppers who are in the market for a new dish rack that is sturdy, offers ample drying space, and is well priced will be very satisfied with the KitchenAid full-size dish rack. My testing showed this product to be made of durable materials and built to safely hold even heavy and awkwardly shaped cookware and serveware with ease. The dishwasher-safe removable parts make cleaning the rack easy. Finally, it comes at a reasonable price from a trusted manufacturer in the kitchen space.
Of course, for shoppers with limited countertop space or who think a smaller dish rack is better suited to their needs, there are more compact options in our full buyer’s guide for dish racks, including one that rolls out and sits over the sink. Or, for those who need even more space for drying dishes, options bigger than the KitchenAid model are also available, including one with a rack that expands to accommodate larger loads.
Where to Buy the KitchenAid Full-Size Dish Rack
Get the KitchenAid full-size dish rack at:
Meet the Tester
Lizzy Briskin is a trained chef, recipe developer, food writer, and avid home cook. She has over 7 years of experience in the food industry, including as a food editor at Real Simple, Food Network, and Pioneer Woman Magazines. She contributes to Wirecutter, The Kitchn, Apartment Therapy, and Simply Recipes. Living in NYC, she treasures every inch of counter space, so having an efficient dish-drying rack is essential.