Almost no one knows this: What the drawer under the oven is for

In many households, the drawer under the oven is used to store pots, pans and baking paper.

But on some oven models, the drawer has a more functional role.

In many cases, it is designed to keep food warm using the oven’s residual heat.

This makes the drawer ideal for keeping pre-prepared food, plates or bread warm until it’s time to serve.

However, this feature is only available on models where the drawer is explicitly designed as a warming drawer and it is recommended to read the user manual carefully.

If the drawer is used to store heat-sensitive materials such as plastic containers or plastic wrap, some issues may arise.

The temperature in the drawer can become high when the heater is in use, which can cause the container in the drawer to melt or, in the worst case, pose a safety risk to the entire home.

Modern warming drawers provide more options

In newer ovens, especially among the built-in premium models, there are drawers with a built-in heating element and temperature control.

Here, the temperature can be adjusted between approximately 30 and 80 degrees, making them useful for multiple purposes, such as slow defrosting, melting chocolate or raising dough.

These features are inspired by methods used in professional kitchens.

However, not all oven drawers function as warming drawers.

Many simple models only have a regular storage compartment that is only partially heated by the residual heat from the oven.

In these cases, you can use the drawer to heat up plates or temporarily keep bread warm, but it is not suitable for long-term heat storage of food.

To get the most out of the warming drawer, it is recommended to preheat it for a few minutes before use.

In addition, the drawer should not be overfilled, as this can prevent even heat distribution.

Damp dishes should also be avoided when the drawer is open, as moisture can accumulate and create a kind of steam environment that is not good for your health.

A quick glance at your oven’s user manual can therefore provide useful information about whether you have an actual warming drawer or just a storage compartment.