Oven Storage Drawer: 8 Items You Can Safely Store

When you think of the bottom drawer that lives underneath your oven, you probably just picture extra storage. Maybe you've thrown a few baking sheets under there and forgotten about them, or maybe you haven't touched the area at all, given that you're not 100% sure what it's for. Depending on the type of oven that you have, this space may actually be meant for different purposes. For some oven designs, this bottom drawer is exactly what you may think: A storage drawer. However, for others, it may be what's known as a warming drawer or a broiler drawer. If you've determined that your bottom oven drawer is actually for storage, you can finally utilize it properly. There are some items, like plastic or wooden kitchen tools, that should never be kept in that space. Items like cast-iron skillets, casserole dishes, and pizza stones, however, can be safely stored. 

You can usually tell what kind you have by inspecting the controls on your stovetop and the size of the drawer itself. If you have a broiler button, that's a pretty clear sign of the drawer's purpose. Some warming drawers may also have controls near the bottom of the oven itself or on the inside, which you can spot when the drawer is open. If that's the case, then you should not use your oven drawer for storage. However, if there are no additional temperature controls, then you most likely have a storage drawer. These also tend to be larger and deeper than the other types. Note that storage drawers will, of course, get warm due to their proximity to the oven, which is why it's important to only store items that can safely withstand the heat. 

If your cast iron doesn't quite fit with the rest of your pots and pans, or you prefer to keep it in a separate area completely, the storage drawer underneath your oven is the perfect place to keep it. In fact, a warmer environment like under the oven is often recommended as the heat can help prevent the pans from rusting. Note that you should avoid storing your cast-iron pans underneath the oven if they have wooden parts. 

Pizza stones, also known as baking stones, are used to ensure your homemade pizzas heat and cook evenly, taking away any need to adjust or flip over the food. They are typically made with natural materials, which allow them to absorb excess moisture. While some people opt to keep their pizza stone in the oven at all times, since it requires a preheating session before use, you can also easily store it in the drawer beneath your oven. The heating element of your oven won't damage the stone, and the drawer will keep it easily accessible. 

Chances are, if you can't find your muffin tins, they may be hiding in the drawer underneath your oven. In fact, the drawer that seems to be a catch-all for random kitchen tools may, in fact, be an ideal place to keep these tins. Muffin trays are typically made of heat-conductive materials like stainless steel, carbon steel, or aluminum, making them perfect candidates for this drawer that tends to be a little on the warm side. 

Similar to muffin tins, baking sheets are typically made of oven-safe materials like stainless steel or aluminum. Given their ability to be kept in a warm environment and their thin shape, baking sheets can safely be stored in the drawer underneath your oven. This will keep them handy for baking and cooking sessions, and leaves you more storage space in your kitchen cabinets. 

Chances are, you may already be using your oven's bottom drawer as a storage option for your random pots and pans. Thanks to the expanded depth of an oven storage drawer, you can keep a few items in here that would otherwise take up a ton of space in your kitchen cabinets. If you have a few pots and pans that you use frequently, the oven drawer is a great spot to keep them close by. You should be able to store your pot and pan lids in the drawer as well. 

Similar to how only some types of glass can be used in the oven, only oven-safe glass should be stored in the bottom drawer. This includes brands like Pyrex, OXO, and Moss & Stone, which are specifically designed for high temperatures. If you need some extra storage space in your kitchen, and these items are way too bulky to keep elsewhere, the drawer below your oven is a perfectly safe place to store these items. Note that you should avoid putting untempered glass in or underneath your oven. 

If you own a roasting tin or two, then you know how bulky these items are, making them not so ideal for basic kitchen cabinet storage. Enter: The bottom oven drawer. You can safely store your roasting tins in this spacious area, as they are typically made of aluminum, stainless steel, or carbon steel, which are all heat-safe. Since these drawers tend to be expansive in depth, your roasting tins should fit snugly inside. 

Last but not least, stop storing your bulky casserole dishes in a pile underneath your kitchen counters or deep in your kitchen island shelves. Underneath the oven is the perfect place to keep these larger items easily accessible. As long as these dishes are made of metal, glass, or ceramic, you have the green light to safely store them in your oven's storage drawer.