There are few barbecue treats that can compare with the smoky aroma and fine taste of freshly smoked ribs. The delightful taste of these foods is worth the extra wait, but, if you have a lot of people waiting in line for their meals or if you have a small smoker, you might want to consider investing in the best rib rack for smokers or grills.
With a rib rack, you can stack your ribs upright to help free up some space in your smoker or grill. This way, you can prepare a lot more food simultaneously and even cut your cooking time in half.
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Last update on 2024-11-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Rib Rack for Smoker
There are quite a few different rib racks available on the market today, so we did a lot of research in order to create the perfect list for you. Here’s a look at some of the best rib racks for smokers or barbecues.
1. The SOLIGT 18” Stainless Steel Rib Rack – The Best Rib Rack for Full Length Ribs
- PREMIUM MATERIALS - Cook or grill for years to come and never worry about rust or corrosion with an ultra-durable rib rack made out of stainless steel.
- OVER-SIZED DESIGN - Our rib rack for smoking and grilling is extra long and proper wide to hold up to 3 full racks of baby back ribs, spare ribs, or others and prevent them from flopping over onto...
- SAVE YOUR GRILL SPACE - The rib rack for smoker is designed to keep ribs upright and separate - maximize the use of space inside the smoker while at the same time allowing airflow around the ribs...
Last update on 2024-11-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Barbecuing or smoking full-sized ribs can be challenging because they take up a lot of space. In fact, cooking them in an average rib rack isn’t very functional since the ends always seem to either bend over or press together. Luckily, SOLIGT recognized these issues and developed the perfect grill rack for full-sized ribs.
Design
The SOLIGT Rib Rack has a very durable design. This rack is made from food grade metal with a chrome finish. The rust and stain-resistant materials can handle scorching temperatures without any risk of being damaged.
Barbecue enthusiasts love this large rack for its taller design. It can hold ribs that are over 16 inches tall as well as shorter cuts. Individual racks hold up to three cuts of meat and the slats are 1.8 inches apart for all-round airflow. However, it’s only compatible with a larger charcoal smoker.
Functionality
Being one of the largest rib racks available, it offers great functionality in larger cooking vessels. It’s compatible with any oven, grill, or smoker with a grid length of over 18 inches tall.
The 3-tier rack will free up a lot of space inside your smoker and make it very easy to move the ribs in and out of a smoker without dropping your food.
You can easily add sauces, marinades, and spices to your ribs since the slats are far enough for comfortable movement. Keep in mind, ribs do have a tendency to stick to the grid surface, especially if you’re cooking at extremely high temperatures.
Clean-up
Polished food grade steel materials are often preferable for grilling at high temperatures because food will always cling to surfaces no matter what coating the surface might have. Unlike other porcelain coated racks, this one won’t chip and is scratch resistant. You can soak it, scrub it, and use just about any type of cleaning product on it without having to worry about causing damage. Stainless steel products are also dishwasher safe.
Specifications
- Weight: 1.65 Pounds
- Dimensions: 3.46 x 9.57 x 15.75 Inches
- Material: Stainless steel
- Coating: None
- Capacity: 3 Full-length ribs
- Compatibility: Any smoker, grill, cooker, or oven with over 18 inches of grilling surface
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Durable stainless steel material
- Extra long design is ideal for longer ribs
- No coating that will peel off
- Rust and tarnish resistant
- Reduces your cooking surface
- Lots of space between ribs
- Can handle high temperatures
- Relatively easy to clean and dishwasher safe
Cons
- Can only hold 3 ribs
- Won’t fit on grills with a grid size smaller than 18 inches
- Charred food can stick to the surface
2. The LINELAX Rib Rack – The Best Stainless Steel Rib Rack for Short Ribs
- 🔥THE PERFECT RIB RACK – Our rib rack makes grilling for yourself and others simple & outstanding. Made with high-quality food-grade stainless steel and a unique design, this roasting rack...
- 🥩HOLDS 4 RIBS – This rib rack optimizes the space in your grill by holding 4 ribs upright while cooking. This allows you to cook other foods in your grill, maximizing the amount of food you can...
- 🔥FOOD-GRADE STAINLESS STEEL – Turn up tenderness and flavor by cooking your ribs on stainless steel known for quick heat absorption, even heat, and containing zero harmful components.
Last update on 2024-11-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Those that prefer having a smaller stainless steel rack should consider the LINELAX Rib Rack. This little grilling tool takes up less square inches which makes it practical for any type of grill or oven, including smaller cooking vessels.
Design
The grilling tool is made from quality stainless steel materials. It offers grill space for up to four pork chops or baby ribs. It also has a 1.8 inch space between the slats and offers all-around airflow so smoke can reach every surface of your meat. The compact size of this grill tool is practical for smaller ovens and allows you to easily handle your products while you’re cooking.
Functionality
While this steel rack isn’t suitable for larger beef ribs, it’s definitely ideal for short meat products. The wider slats are also ideal for perfect sauce application. This smoking rack is suitable for any style smoker since the stainless materials can’t be discolored by smoke and it can handle extremely high temperatures without the risk of chipping. Any type of food prepared on this stand is guaranteed to have a nice and smoky flavor.
Clean-up
While there is no non-stick coating on this roasting stand, it’s still relatively easy to keep clean due to its durable material not being easily damaged by chemical cleaning products. You can use tough cleaning products to loosen any charred foods from the rack surfaces and even soak it in hot water.
Specifications
- Weight: 15.2 Ounces
- Dimensions: 11.7 x 9.7 x 3.5 Inches
- Material: Stainless steel
- Coating: None
- Capacity: 4 Ribs
- Compatibility: Ovens, smokers, and all other grill types
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Durable material
- Rust and tarnish resistant
- Can hold up to 4 baby ribs
- Saves space on the grill
- Compatible with all grills, even oven safe
- Dishwasher safe and relatively easy to clean
- Practical for smaller grills
- Lots of room between ribs for a more even cooking
Cons
- Full ribs won’t stay upright in the short rack
- Charred foods can stick to the surface
- The space between the ribs can be a bit small
3. The Mountain Grillers Rib Rack – The Best Non-Stick Rib Rack for Short Ribs
- Cook more ribs and feed the crowd - perfect for parties, our mountain grillers rib racks for grilling hold 4 racks of ribs upright, doubling your grilling capacity, no-one is waiting to sink their...
- Cooks meat faster & more evenly - whether you're cooking baby back, St Louis cut spare ribs, or beef ribs, this rib holder will help you pack in the flavor. Designed to ensure all-round airflow...
- Versatile & portable for easy use at parties and family get-togethers - perfect for slow cooking, barbecuing, outdoor grilling, camping, picnics, and indoor oven. We made sure the size was right as...
Last update on 2024-11-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
A lot of barbecue lovers prefer grill racks with non-stick coatings because it’s both easier to turn the ribs over inside the stand and the clean-up can be quicker.
Design
This little grill stand has enough slats to keep five baby ribs upright. It’s compact 12 inch size is more suitable for smaller cooking vessels or for traveling. The entire metal surface is coated in non-stick porcelain to help reduce your chances of your food sticking to the surface.
This rack is made from a metal that’s tough and thick enough to handle a lot of weight. We also love the handle design because you can easily grab hold of your rack of ribs to move it out of the offset smoker.
Functionality
While this rib holder isn’t practical for full-size ribs, it’s perfect for rib-roasting short baby ribs or for smaller smokers. The porcelain coating is tough enough to handle relatively high temperatures, but it’s definitely more suited towards slow cooking. This grill rack will make a huge difference in the amount of space you have to cook and the smoky flavor of the ribs.
Clean-up
Charred food pieces and sauces won’t cling as tightly to this barbecue rack’s non-stick surface, so it’s much easier to clean. However, when you cook at high temperatures, the food can still burn and cling to the surface. When this happens, the roast holder can be challenging to clean since you can’t scrub it or use harsh soaps without damaging the coating. Instead, you’ll need to soak the vertical rib holder for a long time in mild dish soap to get it clean.
Specifications
- Weight: 15.4 Ounces
- Dimensions: 12 x 9.75 x 3 Inches
- Material: Stainless steel
- Coating: Non-stick porcelain
- Capacity: 5 Baby back ribs
- Compatibility: Smokers, traditional ovens, gas grills, charcoal grills
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Can hold up to 5 small pieces of meat
- Strong material
- Saves space on the grill
- Compatible with just about any grill or oven
- Non-stick surface keeps food from clinging to the rack
- Easy to clean and dishwasher safe
- Lots of space between ribs for a more even cooking
Cons
- Might be too short for longer ribs
- Charred food may still stick to the surface
- Porcelain coating can be easily damaged by hard bristle cleaning brushes or grill cleaning products
4. The Sorbus Non-Stick Rib Rack – The Runner-Up Non-Stick Rack for Short Ribs
- RIB RACK – Makes it simple to grill for a party – Ensures all-around air flow and even cooking
- HOLDS – Ribs upright for grilling and cooking – Designed to hold 4 racks of ribs while cooking other foods
- PERFECT – For slow cooking, barbecuing, outdoor grilling, camping, picnics, and other outdoor activities
Last update on 2024-11-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This cheap rack by Sorbus is our runner-up coated rack due to its metal wiring being on the thin side. However, lots of buyers do however prefer using a cheap steel rack because it’s so light, portable, and compact.
Design
With such a short length, this stand will fit in just about any type of grill or smoker. It will free up lots of space in your cooking vessel since you can stack up to 4 ribs upright.
The stand has a durable steel construction with a porcelain coating. It also has small handles on the edges for easy food handling.
While it’s not suitable for full-length ribs or heavier meat pieces, this cheap rack is definitely ideal for smaller or thinner meat cuts.
Functionality
The slats on this rack are nice and wide, so warm, smoky air can easily surround your meat. The grilling roasting rack can handle relatively high temperatures, but it’s best for slow cooking.
Clean-up
This cheap steel rack will stay nice and clean if you slow cook your food at much lower temperatures because foods won’t cling to the coated surface as much. To clean, simply soak the rack in water for a while and then wipe it clean using a soft cloth.
If you do opt to cook at high temperatures, food will cling to the surface. Be aware that you can’t scrub this steel barbecue rack because it might cause the coating to chip. The only way to get it clean is by letting it soak in water for longer.
Specifications
- Weight: 1.23 Pounds
- Dimensions: 11.37 x 9.75 x 3.25 Inches
- Material: Steel
- Coating: Porcelain
- Capacity: 4 Baby ribs
- Compatibility: Ovens, smokers, and most grill types
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Affordable
- Durable material
- Can free up space on your grill by stacking ribs upright
- Non-stick porcelain coating makes for easy cleaning
- Rack is compatible with many other grills and ovens
- Rust resistant
- Lots of space between the ribs for a more even cooking and better handling
- Grill up to 4 ribs simultaneously
Cons
- Porcelain can easily scratch or chip if you scrub the rack too hard
- Metal is a bit thin
- Charred foods can still cling to the surface
5. The Mydracas BBQ Rib Rack – The Best Multi-functional Rib Rack
- 【2 in 1 Design】This BBQ V rack's unique 2 in 1 Design Gets The Job Done Without Needing Multiple Accesssories;can be used 1 side for the medium turkey and you can flip it over and utilize the...
- 【Cooking 6 Perfect Rib Racks At One Time】Spacer Bars Allow Convection Heat for Evenly Cooking 6 slabs Perfect Rib Racks at one time!this V-rack makes grilling fast and easy, especially when...
- 【Heavy Duty Food Grade Porcelain coated steel Rib Rack】This rib roast rack is solid construction,made out of High quality, thick and sturdy Porcelain coated steel,long lasting durability,heavy...
Last update on 2024-11-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Barbecue lovers who love to prepare different types of food should consider this steel barbeque rack by Mydracas. It’s a multi-functional rack due to the fact that it can be used to prepare a wider range of foods since you can flip it over! One side is ideal for storing ribs upright for smoking and the other side can be used to contain larger meat types.
Design
This ultra-durable rib rack is coated with a non-stick porcelain coating to help keep food from clinging to the surface. This rack also has wide slats for thicker meat chunks and to make it easier to season your ribs while they roast. This rack will fit most grill types and it can also be used inside a 16 inch indoor oven.
The handles on this rack make it easy to move your meat around on the grill. The thicker metal wiring also allows you to smoke and cook heavier foods.
Functionality
You can arrange up to six ribs, or other bbq meat types, vertically inside the rack to free up more space on your grill. You can even flip the rack open to smoke and cook a whole chicken! The rack is ideal for cooking healthier meals because grease will automatically drain while the food is grilling. A drip pan can easily be placed beneath the rack to catch any excess oils and seasonings that may drip from your food.
Clean-up
This rack will stay relatively clean as long as you slow cook at low temperatures due to its porcelain coating. Remember, food will cling and char to the surface if you cook on an open flame or over higher temperatures.
Scrubbing off charred food is a bit tough because you can’t use harsh brushes with this type of coating. Instead, you need to soak the rack in water in order to loosen any food particles before you can wipe it down.
Specifications
- Weight: 1.65 Pounds
- Dimensions: 10 x 14.5 x 4.5 Inches
- Material: Steel
- Coating: Porcelain
- Capacity: 6 Baby ribs
- Compatibility: Kitchen ovens, smoker, and all grill types
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Multi-purpose rack that can be flipped over
- Can grill larger-sized meats
- Porcelain coating will prevent foods from sticking
- Relatively easy to clean
- Ample space between the slats
- Other accessories, like a drip tray, are also available from this brand
- Creates lots of space on the grill
Cons
- Short ribs may fall through the slats
- Porcelain coating can chip or scratch if you scrub it too hard
- Foods can still stick to the surface
Are Rib Racks Safe?
Yes, all the racks we’ve listed are very safe because they’re made from either food-grade stainless steel or food-grade porcelain coatings that won’t negatively affect your health in any way.
However, it’s always good practice to inspect a coated grill rack for any chips. That’s because when chips occur it exposes the internal materials. Chips can also lead to metal rusting. Cooking on rust isn’t ideal for your health because you’re at risk to ingest rust along with your food.
Chefs love grill stands because they often produce healthier, leaner meats. This is because all the fat and grease can easily drip off the meat while it cooks. Prepared foods contain less fat and are healthier for your heart and overall health.
Will the Meat Cook Through?
Positioning your meat upright in a cooking rack can affect the cooking duration, especially if you’re cooking on an open-top grill.
When ribs are laid flat across a grill grid, heat is applied all over the widest part of the ribs. Meat that’s stored upright can only get heat on one side of the ribs. The meat will take a little longer to grill, even if you do decide to close your grill top, since the top half of your ribs will still be exposed to relatively low temperatures.
People who are worried about raw meat should always make a small cut to check if the ribs are done before removing them from the heat.
That being said, these stands are very functional for smokers. Warm smoke can fully surround your meat products and will cook the food from all sides. You don’t need to worry, your ribs will have a very rich, smoky aroma and will be evenly cooked on all sides!
Stainless Steel vs Porcelain Racks
In this guide, we compared grill racks with two different types of finishes. Both stainless steel and porcelain coating offer some advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages of Stainless Steel Grill Racks
- Racks won’t chip
- Surface can withstand rough cleaning products and brushes
- Rust-proof surface is better for health
- Can handle lots of weight
- Dishwasher safe
Disadvantages of Stainless Steel Grill Racks
- Food tends to cling to stainless steel surfaces
- Stand can be hard to clean if lots of food is stuck to the surface
Advantages of Porcelain Coated Racks
- Easy to clean
- Only need mild soap to loosen any stuck food pieces
- Dark coating can look cleaner for longer
- Rust-proof coating eliminates food contamination
- Tend to cool down quicker
Disadvantages of Porcelain Coated Racks
- Food can still cling to the surface if you cook at high temperatures
- Can’t withstand any hard scrubbing brushes, sponges, or harsh cleaning products
- Not all racks are dishwasher safe
- Metal wiring is thinner
- Can easily chip if the rack falls or if exposed to extreme temperatures
The main difference between these two coatings is the cleaning process. If you’re not fond of scrubbing, then you should consider investing in a porcelain coated grill rack. If you want something that’s more durable and can handle a lot of wear or high temperatures, then a stainless steel rack might be a better option.
Conclusion
We’re quite certain that any of these grilling racks will make it much easier and quicker to prepare tasty ribs. We hope that this guide has helped you find the best rib rack for smokers, grills, or ovens, so you can enjoy the best functionality when hosting BBQ parties!
If you need more barbecuing advice or are shopping for other high-quality barbecuing accessories, you should take a look at some of our other reviews and guides. With the help of BBQ Queens, anyone can master the art of grilling!
Last Updated on August 31, 2021 by Judith Fertig
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