I’ve been cooking for most of my adult life, and I’ve never actually been completely sure just what that drawer under the oven is for. It seems like a good enough place to store baking pans, but that also feels like wasted space, or that it should actually be for something besides storage. I’ve never really used that drawer for anything. Honestly, most of the time I forget it’s even there until I can’t find the muffin tins, and my husband tells me to look in the oven drawer.
So what is the point of your bottom oven drawer anyway? Well, the answer actually depends on which model of oven you own. By checking out your user manual, you’ll be able to see how the manufacturer labeled the drawer and what the intended use is. For some, it’s simply extra space, but for others, it’s a helpful kitchen tool.
PopSugar’s Anna Monette Roberts did everyone a huge favor by figuring out what, exactly, the mystery drawer is for.
According to Roberts, that drawer could be a storage drawer, or it could be a “warming drawer.” On gas ovens where the heating unit is on the bottom, the drawer might even be a broiler drawer, which is great for roasting vegetables or browning the tops of casseroles. Roberts suggests using the broiler drawer to toast marshmallows to make a “s’mores dip,” and now I really wish I had a broiler drawer.
You’ll have to look at the manual for your specific oven to find out whether you have a warming drawer, broiler, or just some extra storage.
“The bottom drawer is for storing oven trays and other cooking utensils,” the manual says. “It can get very warm, don’t store anything in it, which may melt or catch fire. Never store flammable materials in the drawer. This includes paper, plastic and cloth items, such as cookbooks, plasticware and towels, as well as flammable liquids. Do not store explosives, such as aerosol cans, on or near the appliance.”
My little electric oven calls it a warming drawer and says to use it to keep dishes warm while preparing the rest of the meal. That actually sounds extremely useful, given how difficult it can be to time a meal exactly right so all the side dishes aren’t ice-cold by the time the rest is cooked. I plan on putting mine to good use right away, just as soon as I get all the muffin tins out of it.
Watch the video below:
If you have an electric stove you have a storage drawer if you have a gas stove it is a broiler. You can use it to keep stuff warm but they may dry out a little. Some high end stoves have a warmer setting but most it only heats if the main oven is in use. Sadly most people these days don’t bother to read the INSTRUCTIONS and Owner’s Manual when they get a new appliance and that can lead to many problems and even fires. Motors can burn out and other things can go bad if you don’t read that book. So be smart read the manual it will tell you what you need to know about the new whatever appliance you bought. It also tells you about hooking up you TV if that is what you bought.