That Drawer Under Your Oven Isn’t Actually Intended for Storage

Sometimes common items that you thought that you knew well are ANYTHING what they seem. Take ovens, for instance. These kitchen staples have always come with that nifty pull-out drawer at the bottom. But, did you know that you have probably been using it wrong all this time? Here’s the deal.

I know that when I told this to my group of girlfriends, they were incredulous—to put it nicely! What do you mean we’ve been using the drawer wrong? What the heck else can it be used for? They, like most of us, had been taking advantage of this drawer and using it as storage space for pots, pans, and cookie sheets. Sounds familiar, right?

Well, ACTUALLY, this drawer was originally built to be used as a warming spot for baked food. Yep, we were surprised, too!

You see, it turns out that, if you own one of these ovens – they’re more common than you think! – than you have possibly been serving up luke-warm food to late dinner guests for years!

The warmer acts similarly to the heated lights that restaurants have in their kitchens. It’s not meant to cook the food, but it will keep its core temperature level for longer.

So, how do you know if your oven comes equipped with this glorious mechanism? Well, your best bet is to look back at your appliance manual before you just start sticking food in the drawer.

According to Snopes, in Home Depot’s recent stock of oven/range combos, they were selling 19 models that included the warming feature. Alternatively, 87 models did not; these particular ones only had that common storage drawer.

Now, if you are one of the lucky ones that actually has one of these nifty drawers, we implore you to CLEAN IT OUT! Yep, that’s right; take out all those pots, pans, lids, and cookie sheets. (Don’t worry, we have some ideas on creating extra storage for these items here and here).

Next, it’s important to first recognize exactly what your warming drawer is capable of doing. Some of the newer, “mac daddy” ones actually come with adjustable heat settings. This line made by Thermador will even allow you to have control over the humidity and moisture in the drawer.

If you’re in love with this idea, but your current oven doesn’t have a built-in warming drawer, don’t fret! Most major appliance makers are producing warming drawers that can be installed separately, either under your oven – if your kitchen can account for that space – or in an area of your choice.

Now that you are surely rummaging around your junk drawer for the oven manual, first take a look at some of these special ovens in action. Just click on Travel and Leisure’s video below to see these hot devices for yourself!

Do you think that warming drawers are a good idea? Do you currently own an oven that comes equipped with one? If so, do you think it’s worth the extra cost? Tell us all about your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below!