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Despite all of the good things about city living, there are a few downsides: pollution, traffic, crowds, and — of course — not having a dishwasher. Now, if you also have a small kitchen, having a compact dish rack is a must, but you can’t always fit all of your freshly washed dishes on the rack at once. So, instead of leaving them in the sink to, uh, “soak,” I usually whip out a dish cloth, lay it out on the counter, and use it as a makeshift drying mat for the pots and pans that don’t fit into my dish rack. Unfortunately, I then have to hang dry the dish cloth afterwards, and I can only use it a few times before it gets gross and needs to be tossed in the wash. Thankfully, I found the perfect solution to my dish-drying dilemma: the OXO Good Grips Large Silicone Drying Mat — and, it has a surprise extra feature that makes it a double-duty kitchen workhorse.
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Suffice to say, this isn’t your ordinary drying mat. It’s designed to fit large items including frying pans, serving platters, salad bowls, and more, and the ribbed bottom helps everything dry by increasing airflow underneath. It’s also made from soft, food-safe silicone, which prevents scratches and chips if a wet dish or wine glass slips when you’re putting it on the mat. You can also store it pretty much anywhere, since it has a removable hanging hook and can be rolled up and tucked away in a cabinet or drawer when not in use. (It’s roughly the size of an average placemat, so it’s not too intrusive on your storage space.) However, its best feature is that it also doubles as a heat-resistant trivet to hold hot dishes and pans fresh off the burner or out of the oven.
I love using the OXO Good Grips Large Silicone Drying Mat as an extension of my dish rack, since the little ridges on the bottom allow for solid airflow that actually gets the dishes, pots, and pans dry instead of just turning them into miniature, humid terrariums. And, though I have a little cork trivet on my dining table for serving, since this two-in-one beast is heat-safe up to 425 degrees Fahrenheit, I find myself constantly reaching for it to pop fresh-out-of-the-oven sheet pans on (it’s the perfect size) when my stovetop is crowded with skillets, or while I assemble weeknight meals and sheet-pan dinners. Plus, cleanup is a total breeze — I find that as long as I give it a good rinse with hot water after every other use, it really doesn’t get too dirty. (To be honest, if I didn’t live with my girlfriend, I’d probably never wash it, but since I’m trying to stay on the up-and-up these days, I just lay it on a cutting board in the sink and scrub it down with a sponge every so often.)
So, if you’re in need of a little more real estate while drying dishes, or an extra place to put hot pots and pans without scorching your countertops, snag the easy and affordable OXO Good Grips Large Silicone Drying Mat ASAP.
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
We saw, tested, and covered a lot of dish racks this year at AT. It seems like this is one product category that’s constantly evolving, with different brands churning out double-decker dish holders, racks with some unusual (but effective!) designs, and super slim plate caddies that can still hold a lot. Whether you have limited counter space or a big family that creates heaping sinkfuls of dishes after dinner, there’s something out there suited to your exact needs. One brand that always seems to know what we’re looking for is Umbra. Home to some of our favorite storage finds and space-saving home gadgets, they, too, have perfected the art of the perfect dish rack.
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Today, we want to bring attention to their holster dish rack. Although it sports quite a normal size, this product can hold a ton, plus it’s got some other key features that’ll make you wish you had one next to your kitchen sink.
As far as actual plates go, this rack can hold 15. If you live in a smaller household, that’s more than enough storage for post-meal cleanups. But even homeowners with lots of kids or roommates can rest assured that they won’t have to towel-dry their first round of dirty platters in order to make room for the second load. Additionally, the rack has a circular caddy for utensils, as well as a floating side shelf for up to four stemmed glasses. Now you no longer have to worry about your wine glasses and champagne flutes falling over or bumping into other dishes! Finally, a long, oval-shaped caddy lies level with rack and serves as a good spot for peelers, larger utensils, and other tools. You could also place it underneath the glass holder to catch water droplets.
Although you might initially look at this dish rack and think it appears kind of large, Umbra customers swear it’s the perfect size, even for tiny kitchens. “I live in a fairly small home, and making the most of my counter space has always been an issue for me,” one reviewer writes. “This dish rack has totally changed the way my kitchen works for the better. It takes up minimal space on my counter but does so much in such a small space.”
Shoppers also love the rack’s long drainage spout, which, like all the other parts, can be placed on whichever side is most convenient. Basically, you can assemble all the pieces to custom-create a tray most conducive to your kitchen. These features, coupled with the holster rack’s sturdy, stainless-steel frame and easy-to-clean plastic surface, make this the dishwashing must-have of every homeowner’s dreams.
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When I lived in an apartment that had approximately 13 inches of kitchen counter space, dishes were a three-dimensional puzzle. Cleaned pots and pans had to be stacked on my small dining table while a folding dish rack and catch tray took over the stovetop. I was shifting too many things around every day and I felt like nothing was the right size for my space. I also learned that I had to wait for the burners to cool completely before setting up the tray, or it could melt. (Spoiler: It melted.)
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Thankfully, a bevy of small space-friendly dish-drying solutions have popped up to help everyone who knows that counter space is a rare and precious commodity. One device that stands out above the rest is this three-tier model from Joseph Joseph — one of our all-time favorite source for organizers. It adjusts to hold a sink full of mugs, glasses, bowls, and silverware — but also slides down into a flat, 8-inch-wide mat that you can tuck behind your faucet or store completely out of sight under your sink. This drying mat is exactly what you want in a kitchen with limited counter space: a tool that’s there when you need it, and gone when you don’t.
Having the option to expand it to three different widths — 8 inches, 13 inches, and 18.5 inches — offers much-needed flexibility in the dish-drying category. One thing I really don’t like about the bulky, metal racks is that I have to find room for them in my kitchen (which is always at-capacity and often over-capacity). I appreciate any tools that fit into my kitchen as-is and don’t make me feel like I’ve just made the whole space even more cramped or cluttered.
If you don’t usually need a drying mat but want to keep one around — say, for when you run out of room in the dishwasher because somebody (not you, though) forgot to run it — this is the perfect tool. Like any worthy dish mat, the raised edges keep water from spilling over the sides, while built-in holes on the top two tiers guide water down to a spout that drains neatly into your sink. You also don’t have to worry about trying to shake the entire mat dry when it’s fully expanded. Just collapse it down and pour any water right out the front.
Joseph Joseph always impresses us with their smart designs and clever approaches to household challenges, and this adjustable mat makes the case for rethinking your dish drying setup. Whether you have your own counter space puzzle to solve or just want to make sure you have a drying mat when you need one, this is a wise choice. Any kitchen tool that is this versatile, compact, and affordable is a must-have!
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Everyone has a least-favorite chore, right? Maybe you can’t stand hauling clothes down to the basement on laundry day, or maybe cleaning the bathroom you share with your roommates gives you hives. For me, that dreaded chore is — and has always been — dishes. I’m not sure if it has something to do with living in New York City for over a decade without a dishwasher, but I will let those babies pile higher than the Empire State Building before you convince me the dishes actually need to be done. Did I fall in love with my now-husband because he used to be a dishwasher in high school and didn’t mind the task? I’m not saying yes… but I’m not saying no, either.
One of the many reasons I dread scrubbing dishes is just how chaotic the task feels. Suddenly there’s water everywhere, you’re trying to remember which glasses you’ve already washed, and you’re perilously stacking clean plates atop each other in the hopes that they dry before you need to use them again. Enter: these nine top-notch dish racks that Kitchn editors love for solving exactly these types of problems. Over the years, our team has vetted the best of the best when it comes to all sorts of kitchen gear, countertop drying racks included. While these picks range in perks, price points, and functionality, they’re all sure to make one of the least-favorite kitchen chores just a bit more bearable.
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
No matter how beautiful your kitchen may be, a cumbersome dish rack sitting atop the counter can be a bit of an eyesore. Not only is this one super functional (more to come on that), but it looks beautiful to boot. It has a smooth, modern finish and is available in two subtle shades, airy white or sleek black. We also appreciate the box-like shape, with high walls that hide your drying dishes and minimize visual clutter.
We love that this dish rack is versatile and can conform to a number of kitchen spaces. You can use it as an over-the-sink drying rack, nestle it behind the faucet, or keep it on the counter beside the sink. Wherever it’s stored, its slim design won’t take up too much precious space and the draining faucet rotates a full 360-degrees to accommodate your placement of choice. It also features a sloped design towards the drain to avoid dish water pooling and getting trapped in the bed of the rack. The utensil holder is even removable and adjustable, so it can be stored inside of the rack or hung along any of the outside edges to make more room for dishes.
Whether you’re looking for an instant upgrade or have just been putting off buying a dish rack for far too long, look no further than Yamakzi Home for the sleek and stylish solution. Who knows — dish duty just might become your new favorite chore!
