Your Bottom Oven Drawer Actually Is For Storage (Here's How To Tell)

It doesn't matter what type of oven you have; there is a good chance there's a drawer at the bottom that has remained somewhat of a mystery to you. Regardless of how much time you spend in the kitchen cooking, it's also likely you have used that bottom drawer for storage for quite some time. You're not alone. But have you ever stopped to ask if that's what it's intended for? It seems like a practical place to keep cookie sheets and muffin pans — items that can be difficult to fit in standard kitchen cupboards — but storage is not always the purpose. Bottom drawers can be intended for storage, but they also may be meant as a broiler or warming drawer. This is a topic that has been creating confusion in the kitchen for years.

It is lovely to think that oven manufacturers were so concerned with kitchen cabinet space that they wanted to give you more. But since that drawer is adjacent to the oven and can get quite warm, it's essential that you get to the bottom of its intended use and what items you should avoid storing in the drawer. Since heat from your stove can still impact the temperature of the space, you shouldn't just shove anything in it. You may easily damage plastic, paper, glassware that isn't oven safe, or other items that can be negatively impacted by heat — not to mention the safety concerns to be aware of. It's important to know what your model's drawer is meant for, so you can take precautions to prevent oven fires in your home.

So how do you tell if your model's drawer is intended for storage and not something else? The best way is to check the manual, which can usually be found on the manufacturer's website if you don't have the physical copy that came with the oven. Look for sections titled "features" or "components" for a breakdown of what your oven offers and how to use it safely. You can also examine the drawer itself. For gas stoves that have heating elements at the bottom of the oven, you might see heating racks or coils inside the drawer. This indicates that its intended use is a broiler — a great feature for crisping or browning meats, veggies, or casseroles.

For electric stoves, you might actually have a warming drawer down there — a feature that will help you keep food warm as you prepare the rest of your meal. If that's the case, you should see something that indicates it — either a button that's labeled "warming drawer" or "warmer" or a knob that controls the drawer's temperature. These can be on your stove's control panel area with all the other buttons, or depending on your model, you may sometimes find it within the drawer itself. Each feature is practical in its own way, and once you know what it's used for, you can start getting the most out of your oven. Whatever that is, it will be nice to know once and for all if you can use your oven drawer for storage.