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Baked ziti and vegetables inside an oven

The complete guide to oven rack positions

Q: Why is oven rack position important?

The proper placement of oven racks helps you get the best results for the meals you put so much care into. Because heat and air movement differ throughout the oven, some cooking methods are better suited to the top, middle or bottom. Proximity to a heating element, orientation of heat and airflow patterns all factor into achieving the ideal result for the dish and your family.

Q: What is the proper placement of oven racks for most cooking needs?

The middle zone is a go-to for many of your baking needs, and is typically a safe bet for casseroles and baked goods. The bottom zone of the oven is often good for roasting and baking crusty bread or pizza, while the top is ideal for broiling and toasting. Consult your oven’s owner's manual to learn about ideal oven rack placement for your specific model, and read on to get more information on what oven rack to use, when and why.

Q: Which way do oven racks go in?

It’s a good idea to keep one rack in the center of the oven, or just off center, since so many cooking tasks will happen there. If you often bake multiple dishes at once, try to evenly space out the racks in the 2nd and 4th or 5th slots. No matter your cooking routines, racks are easy to adjust in the moment according to what your recipe requires. Just make sure the part of the rack that slopes up is in the back of the oven and not the front.

Understanding optimal oven rack placement can help you achieve desired results and streamline meals. Standard ovens feature three cooking environments: the top, middle and bottom of the cavity. Keep reading to learn about these three sections, how to position each rack and which cooking methods are suitable for each rack placement.

Why is oven rack position important?

Proper oven rack placement can help you get delicious results for the meals you put so much care into. Depending on what you’re cooking, some dishes may be better suited for the top, middle or bottom racks. Proximity to a heating element, the orientation of your oven’s heat and airflow patterns all contribute to how an oven functions and can impact which rack placement is best for your dish.

What is the proper oven rack placement for baking, roasting and broiling?

The middle zone is a go-to when baking, and is typically a safe bet for foods like casseroles, cookies and pies. The bottom zone of the oven is ideal for roasting and baking crusty bread or pizza, while the top is ideal for broiling and toasting. Consult your oven’s owner’s manual to learn about the ideal oven rack placement for your specific model. Read on for more information on what oven rack to use, when and why.

Top oven heating element baking food inside the oven

Top zone cooking

The top oven rack can help you quickly crisp and brown dishes. Because heat rises, this top segment delivers concentrated heat from the upper heating element when broiling. Use it when making thin, light, quick-cooking foods or in conjunction with the lower rack when cooking multiple dishes.

Cooking methods: broiling, toasting, crisping leftovers, browning, multi-rack cooking

Food types: fish, thin-cut beef or pork, garlic bread, peppers, zucchini, dishes with a cheesy top layer

Middle zone cooking

The middle zone can be used to cook a wide range of recipes. It’s ideal for dishes that need all-over heat because there’s room for hot air to flow throughout the cavity. Your food will also be at an equal distance from both the top and bottom heating elements. Use the middle rack when you’re baking casserole-type dishes for the family, reheating pizza, steak or other similar cuts of meat, or baking sweet treats for bake drives or parties.

Cooking methods: baking, convection baking, braising, air frying

Foods: casseroles, pasta bakes, baked potatoes, bacon, chicken, sheet pan dinners, roasted vegetables, cakes, cookies, brownies, muffins, banana bread

Chicken and vegetables on a baking sheet inside an oven

Bottom zone cooking

Typically, the bottom heating element is the primary heat source, which means it gets your cookware, and the bottom of food, piping hot. Use the bottom rack of the oven when you’re roasting large cuts of meat, creating a crust on bread or setting a pie crust. When cooking on multiple racks, use the bottom along with the top to space out dishes. Learn more about the parts that make up your oven.

Cooking methods: roasting, baking, multi-rack cooking

Foods: roast beef, roast pork, roast whole chicken, pot roast, pizza, crusty bread, pies, Brussels sprouts, squash, potatoes

Cooking tip: stagger dishes when multi-rack cooking

If you're using multiple racks to cook several dishes, try to stagger them so no dish is completely above or below another. This will encourage more consistent airflow and help ensure each dish is surrounded by heat at every level. If you often cook multiple dishes at once or have a large family, consider a double oven to take care of all your baking needs.

Which rack position is hotter: top or bottom?

Since heat rises, the top of the oven is often hotter than the bottom. The top rack is ideal for quick cooking methods like broiling or browning the outside of food. That said, the best rack position depends on whether you want to direct heat onto the top or bottom of your food, or whether you want it evenly distributed, such as in a convection oven vs. a conventional model. Refer to your owner’s manual for more information about your oven’s settings and racks and how to use them.

A frozen pizza with vegetables on top cooking in an oven

Which way do oven racks go in?

When inserting oven racks, fit the rack into the grooves of your oven and slide into place. Many recipes direct you to use the center rack, so it can be helpful to keep one oven rack in the middle position. If you often bake multiple dishes at once, try to evenly space out the racks in the 2nd and 4th or 5th slots. No matter your cooking routines, racks are easy to adjust in the moment according to what your recipe requires.

A Whirlpool® Oven with lasagna baking inside

What is considered the middle oven rack?

The location of the middle oven rack varies depending on the number of rack positions available in your specific oven model. If your oven has an even number of slots, pick the rack that’s closest to the middle position. When trying to determine where to place your dish, it can be helpful to consider your recipe and your desired results. Placing dishes near the bottom of the oven puts them closer to the oven’s heat source, whereas placing them closer to the top can further cook the surface of the food.

Where can I find replacement oven racks?

Replacement oven racks can usually be bought from your oven’s manufacturer. Consult your oven’s use and care guide, which can often be found online if you no longer have it, to find your model number or the oven rack part numbers. If you know your model number, you should be able to find the right rack on the manufacturer’s website. If you’re looking for Whirlpool^® Replacement Parts, you can easily do so online.

Shop for Whirlpool^® Ranges and Wall Ovens

Whirlpool^® Ranges and Wall Ovens offer convenient features that can help you achieve the results you and your family crave. Features on select models include True Convection Cooking with Third Heating Element, which helps you cook foods faster¹ by using a third element plus a fan to distribute hot air evenly over, under and around food— while Rapid Preheat uses a rear fan combined with the use of all of the elements to help heat the oven quickly.