Expert consulted: 
If your oven racks are still in the same place they were when you bought the oven, you’re doing it wrong. Oven racks are movable for a reason, and your oven likely has different notches and places in which to put the racks designed for different cooking tasks. In fact, rack placement can significantly affect how evenly food cooks, browns, and bakes. And no, the best rack position isn't the same for every recipe.
Here’s how to position your racks for different types of oven cooking for the best results every time.
Best rack position for cookies
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab, when kitchen appliance analysts are testing ranges they regularly evaluate recipes using different rack heights in the oven. Cookies are baked on the top, middle, and bottom racks simultaneously.
“When we bake cookies on all three racks, we notice that the cookies on the middle rack consistently come out the most evenly baked,” says Eva Bleyer, Reviews Analyst in the Kitchen & Cooking Lab.
“The cookies on the top rack tend to be overly browned on top, while those on the bottom rack often become too brown on the bottom. Because of this, I generally recommend baking on the center rack whenever possible. If you need to bake on multiple racks at once, rotating the pans and swapping positions during baking will help promote more even results.”
What about for cakes?
Cake baking is similar to cookie baking because the center rack usually provides the most even heat.
“When we conduct our cake test in the Lab, we bake two cake layers using both conventional bake and convection settings, always positioning them on the center rack to ensure even heat circulation,” says Bleyer.
“We intentionally do not rotate the cake pans during testing so we can evaluate how evenly the oven bakes on its own. That said, after years of performing this test, I can confidently say that rotating cake pans halfway through baking can help produce more consistent results.”
For the best crust on bread
Bread is one baked good that may benefit from a bake on the lower rack.
“Based on my culinary experience and work as an analyst, most baked goods bake best on the center rack,” says Bleyer. “Some breads can benefit from the bottom rack, especially when you want to build a stronger, more golden crust.
For artisan loaves and hearth-style breads, placing the rack slightly lower in the oven can help encourage better bottom browning and crust development.
The rack can vary for pizza
Unless you have a dedicated pizza oven that heats to 800°F or higher, where you bake your homemade or frozen pizza often comes down to the style of pizza you're making and your personal preference.
There is some debate over whether pizza should be baked on the bottom, middle, or top rack. I’ve tried all three methods, and I still prefer the center rack because it offers the best of both worlds: even baking with enough heat to help develop a crisp crust.
If your goal is maximum browning on the bottom, placing a pizza stone or steel on a lower rack can help mimic the intense heat of a pizza oven.
Best rack for broiling
Broiling is a great method of cooking: It’s fast, efficient, and tasty. The most important part is ensuring that your rack is close enough to the broiler (the heating element at the top of the oven) to cook the food. Too close, and the food may burn; too far, and the broiler may not cook the food enough.
“If you’re broiling, use an upper rack so the food sits close enough to the top heating element. When testing an oven's broiling performance, we position the rack so the food sits approximately 3 to 5 inches below the upper heating element,” says Bleyer. “For most broiling tasks, keeping food within this range helps achieve even browning and effective cooking. As with any broiler, however, it's best to monitor your food closely until you become familiar with how your specific oven performs.”
When cooking a large meal
The luxury of prioritizing rack height when cooking for a crowd isn't always possible, but Bleyer recommends keeping your oven racks evenly spaced whenever you can.
“If the racks are positioned too close together, they can restrict airflow and lead to uneven cooking,” she says. “This becomes especially important when you're preparing a large meal such as a Thanksgiving feast and using multiple racks at once. Leaving adequate space between pans allows heat to circulate more effectively throughout the oven, helping food cook and brown more evenly.”
Bottom line
When in doubt, keep these guidelines in mind:
- The top rack is best for broiling and surface browning
- The center rack is ideal for most baking
- The lower rack can help promote a deeper, crisper bottom crust on breads and pizzas
“After testing so many ovens, though, I can tell you they really vary, and it's best to understand how your own oven operates,” says Bleyer. “Electric ovens tend to heat more evenly no matter what rack you are on, while with a gas oven it's often best to stick to the above guidelines.”
Eva (she/her) is the Reviews Analyst in the Kitchen & Cooking Lab. She tests kitchen appliances, cooking tools, and cookware using standardized lab protocols in order to help consumers make informed purchasing decisions. With more than 15 years of experience in the food industry—including work as a food stylist, personal chef, and food brand marketing manager—she brings both culinary expertise and practical insight to every review. Eva earned a Bachelor of Science in Food Studies, Nutrition and Public Health from New York University. She completed her culinary training at the Natural Gourmet Institute (now the Institute of Culinary Education) and holds foundational and intermediate barista certifications from the Specialty Coffee Association.
