Surprising Ways to Use Your Oven's Hidden Space Below

CNET

12-05-2025

The extra space under the oven is one of those quietly understood, socially accepted rules for storing big pots and pans that don't have a space in other cabinets. But what is the true purpose of that space below your oven? Did the designer really consider our storage needs, or was the creation for something greater?
If you're left curious about what that drawer under your oven is really used for, read on to learn more about the type of drawer you may have in your kitchen. It may be the secret cooking option you can use for your next meal.
Read More: Clever Cleaning Hacks for the Hardest-to-Reach Crevices in Your Kitchen
How to clean your oven with baking soda and vinegar How to clean your oven with baking soda and vinegar
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How to clean your oven with baking soda and vinegar
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
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
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.