Wire Rack, Stainless Steel

Quick Answer: The Wire Rack, Stainless Steel is an open rack formed from stainless steel wire, used in laboratories to hold tubes, bottles or small containers upright while letting water, steam and air pass freely around them. The title gives the material and construction; the layout and size are confirmed on request.

Why Open Stainless Wire Suits Wet and Hot Work

A solid plastic or wooden rack traps water, blocks steam and can warp with heat. An open rack made of stainless steel wire does the opposite: liquid drains straight through, steam and hot air reach every surface of the items it holds, and the metal tolerates repeated heating and washing. That makes a stainless steel wire rack a natural choice for tubes in a boiling water bath, bottles going into an autoclave, or glassware left to dry.

Stainless steel also suits cold work. It stays rigid at freezer temperatures where some plastics become brittle, and it does not absorb moisture or odours. The steel is still affected by chlorides, so racks used in salt water baths or with bleach should be rinsed in clean water and dried.

Wire racks vary a great deal: single-tier or multi-tier, fixed round holes or a square grid, for tubes of one diameter or mixed sizes. The listing states only the material and construction, so confirm the number of places, the tube or bottle diameter and the overall size against your water bath or autoclave chamber before ordering. For boiling tube work in schools, a three-tier test tube stand and a test tube basket are also listed.

Applications

• Holding test tubes upright in a boiling water bath for food tests or enzyme practicals
• Carrying media bottles and tubes into an autoclave and out again
• Draining and drying washed glassware
• Keeping sample tubes in order in a refrigerator or freezer

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Rinse the rack in clean water after water-bath use, especially if the bath contains salt.
• Check welded joints now and then; a broken joint can let a tube tip over in hot water.
• Dry the rack before storage to avoid water marks and chloride staining.
• Use heat-resistant gloves when lifting it out of hot water or an autoclave.

Why Choose LabEquip

Microbiology, food testing and biology teaching labs buy stainless wire racks because the same rack can go from the bench to the water bath to the autoclave. LabEquip lists this rack in its General Lab Products range; contact LabEquip with the tube or bottle size you need to hold.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a stainless steel wire rack go in an autoclave?

Stainless steel withstands autoclave temperatures and steam, and the open wire lets steam reach the items it holds. Load it loosely and handle it with heat-resistant gloves afterwards.

Is a wire rack better than a plastic rack in a water bath?

For hot water, usually yes. Wire does not float, warp or trap water, and heat reaches the tubes from all sides. Plastic racks are lighter and gentler on glass at room temperature.

Will stainless steel rust in a water bath?

Not in normal use with clean water. Salt water, bleach and other chloride solutions can mark or pit it if they dry on the wire, so rinse and dry the rack after use.

What sizes does the wire rack hold?

The title gives only the material. Wire racks are made for tubes of set diameters or with mixed openings, so confirm the number of places and the opening size at enquiry.

Can the rack be used in a freezer?

Yes. Stainless steel stays strong at low temperatures and does not crack like some plastics. Wear gloves when handling it straight from a freezer, as very cold metal can stick to damp skin.

How should the rack be cleaned?

Wash it with warm water and laboratory detergent, use a bottle brush on the wire joints, then rinse and dry. After contaminated microbiology work, autoclave it before washing.

Last Updated: September 2026