Fun Fact: That Drawer Underneath Your Stove Isn't for Storage

Yahoo! News ^ | January 13, 2017 | Travel + Leisure staff

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Perhaps, like me, you use that drawer located underneath your stove for storing pans, cookie sheets, and muffin tins.

Unfortunately, we've all been doing it wrong, according to the good people who manufacture stoves.

While it does serve as a great spot for all of your back-up cooking tools, it's actually meant to be a warming drawer. You may notice a message printed on the inside of the drawer or in some sort of owner's manual that says something like this: "The warming drawer is designed to keep hot foods at serving temperature. Always start with hot food. Cold or room-temperature foods cannot be heated, warmed, or cooked in the warming drawer. Bacteria will grow very rapidly in food tht is between 40 and 140 degrees Farenheit."

Maybe it's because it's located so closely to the ground, or maybe it's because it's such a perfect spot for storing not-in-use skillets, but this is news to me. But what a great way to use all of that heat that goes into cooking your foodsnot to mention the ideal solution for dealing with dinner guests who are running late.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

All this time, we’ve been doing it wrong. ;-)

DANG!

[max americana]

That’s where I keep my shotgun. Dammit’, Ive been doing it all wrong!

[Ann Archy]

Going to check it out tonite!

[2banana]

Can it reheat pizza...?

[jazusamo]

Wondered why it took so long to broil steaks.

[jjsheridan5]

But what a great way to use all of that heat that goes into cooking your foodsnot to mention the ideal solution for dealing with dinner guests who are running late.

And don't dinner guests who lack the courtesy to be on time deserve some well-cooked foodsnot ...

[LostInBayport]

cooking your foodsnot to mention

Foodsnot?!?

Is that from the Michelle Obama school lunch menu?

[LostInBayport]

GMTA

[Lurkinanloomin]

Only some ranges have a warming drawer under the oven, most ARE storage drawers.
I was a GE Factory Service tech for 31 years, so I would know.
If there is no control feature or heating element, it is a storage drawer.

[Ray76]

depends on the stove.

[HollyB]

No. it’s not for rehearing. But to be kept warm just after it’s been cooked.

[outofsalt]

That cabinet above your refrigerator is for more than making ice!

[HollyB]

My first apt had an oven and the bottom drawer was for broiling.

[crosdaddy]

Exactly, my main stove, I can control the temp of the warming drawer. It’s a nice option to have.

[Flaming Conservative]

Bingo! My stove is from the fifties. (Sadly, not an O’keefe Merritt, which probably DID come with warming drawers). Just a vintage Kenmore. It’s a storage drawer.

[Lurkinanloomin]

Yes, on older lower end gas ranges with only one burner, the lower compartment was for broiling. Can’t tell you how many times people lit stuff on fire thinking it was a storage area.

[Lurkinanloomin]

No, nobody made warming drawers until the 1980’s or 90’s that I’m aware of.

[latina4dubya]

what about the oven itself?

[Secret Agent Man]

And we’ve all been facing the wrong way on the toilet.

The tank is a reading shelf.

/s

Seriously, good article.