If you're anything like me, that drawer beneath your oven has become a go-to spot for storing baking sheets, pans and other kitchen odds and ends. But have you ever stopped to wonder if that's what it's actually for? It turns out, that drawer might have a more specific -- and surprisingly useful -- purpose.
Not all oven drawers are designed the same. While some are intended purely for storage, others are meant to keep food warm or even serve as a broiler. If you've never checked your oven's manual (no judgment), now's the time. Below, we'll walk through the different types of oven drawers and help you determine what yours is really designed to do.
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3 functions of your oven's bottom drawer
Warming drawer
A warming drawer is easy to identify. Take a look at the buttons on your oven. If one of them is labeled "Warming Drawer" then that's exactly what you have. Anytime you need to warm a pie or a loaf of bread -- or you just want to keep dishes warm while the rest of the meal finishes cooking -- pop it into the warming drawer and push the warming button.
Broiler
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Broiler drawers are typically found on gas ovens and are very narrow. Chris Monroe/CNET
If you have an oven heated with natural gas, the drawer is typically a broiler. To be sure, pull open the door. If it looks more like a retractable pan than a drawer, then it's a broiler.
Think of the broiler as an extra cooking area. It's best for toasting or browning foods like casseroles or breads. Any item placed in the broiler will burn quickly, though, so check on it every couple of minutes.
Storage drawer
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A storage drawer is usually much deeper than a warming drawer or broiler. Chris Monroe/CNET
If there isn't a warming button and the area looks like a deep, empty drawer, then you probably have a storage drawer. As per a recent Reddit discussion, many people are unsure about what to keep in this space. This is a good place to store cast iron pots and pans, because the warmth from your oven will help keep them rust free. Just be sure not to store plastic items in this drawer, because they may become warped due to residual heat.
Likewise, some older ovens have little insulation and may heat your metal cookware when the oven is on. As a precaution, always use oven mitts to remove cookware during or after your oven has been in use.