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CNET
27-05-2025
- General
- CNET
Here's What the Mysterious Drawer Under Your Oven Is Really For
You know that mysterious drawer under your oven? The one currently crammed with rogue baking sheets, mismatched lids, and the sandwich press you swore you'd use? Seems like the perfect hideaway for kitchen chaos, right? But hold onto your spatulas --because that drawer might not be the storage savior you think it is. In many ovens, that drawer is actually designed to keep food warm. In others, it moonlights as a mini broiler. And yes, some are just good old storage. Basically, it's the oven's version of a surprise ending. Now, if you're scratching your head thinking, "Wait, what?", don't worry -- you're not alone. Most of us have never opened the oven manual unless it was to fan a smoke alarm. But fear not! We're not about to assign homework. No dense instruction manuals here. We're breaking it down for you in plain, delicious terms. Here's how to decode your oven drawer's secret identity—and how to use it without accidentally slow-roasting your muffin tins. 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 Click to unmute Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Skip Backward Skip Forward Next playlist item Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 1:29 Loaded : 39.73% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 1:29 Share Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. How to clean your oven with baking soda and vinegar 3 functions of your oven's bottom drawer 1. 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. 2. 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. 3. 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.
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
You've been storing your soy sauce all wrong! Experts reveal the common mistake that makes the condiment lose flavour
It's a popular condiment that most people will have in their kitchen. However, it turns out that countless UK households might be storing their soy sauce incorrectly. While many people are likely to keep their soy sauce in the cupboard with other kitchen essentials, an expert from Cookology has warned that this could spoil the sauce. The experts said, 'Condiments tend to reside in cupboards; however, most should be stored in the fridge once opened. 'Soy sauce is often [seen as] a cupboard staple. Surprisingly, it should be stored in the fridge to keep its flavour once opened.' The experts added that while soy sauce should belong in the fridge for flavour retention, mayonnaise and pesto should also be kept refrigerated, but for a different reason. 'Mayonnaise should be stored in the fridge after it's opened to stop bacterial growth, alongside opened pesto, pickles and jam, the experts said. Elsewhere, the experts weighed in on the debate of whether chocolate should be stored in the cupboard or fridge. The experts said, 'There's an argument to say that when you go shopping that chocolate is stored on the shelves, but there's more to it than that. 'Hot weather can make it difficult to store chocolate as there's a risk of it melting, however, storing it in the fridge can impact taste due to something called sugar bloom which is when the sugar recrystalises causing condensation on the surface. 'This in turn causes the sugar to absorb moisture, which then evaporates and can leave a dusty layer.' The outcome might not make refrigerated chocolate desirable for some, but ultimately, it's down to choice, they said. Andrew Wright, appliance expert from Cookology, added, 'There's conflicting advice around what you should and shouldn't store in a fridge available everywhere, but often it can come down to personal preference, especially with chocolate. 'However, the science shows that things that aren't stored in the fridge don't have as long a shelf-life as their countertop counterparts, and due to them often being perishable goods, [they] can be at risk of bacterial growth if not stored correctly. 'It's easy to say read the manufacturers instruction, but when it comes to produce that isn't necessarily labelled, such as fresh vegetables, then a fridge tends to be the best option to ensure longevity.' It comes after experts from W hich? revealed the best method to store a staple kitchen item - olive oil. While many people like to keep their olive oil next to the hob for easy access, the experts warned that this could make the liquid go rancid more quickly. Instead, they advise storing it in a cool, dark place. 'Keeping your olive oil in a cupboard away from light, heat and oxygen will help to prolong its life and prevent it going off too quickly,' Which? explained. Unlike wine, olive oil does not get better with age - so you shouldn't let it hang around for years. 'Once the bottle is opened it's exposed to oxygen, which causes the oil to deteriorate,' the experts added. 'For maximum taste and health benefits, use within a couple of months.' While Which? advises keeping your olive oil away from any heat sources, it's also best to avoid the fridge. 'Don't store it in the fridge,' the experts cautioned. 'You might have heard that keeping your olive oil in the fridge will help it last longer, but our experts don't recommend this. 'Keeping it in a cool, dark cupboard is best.' The experts also encourage you to pay close attention to the packaging. 'Our experts recommend avoiding oil sold in clear plastic bottles, which can negatively impact the flavour of the oil,' it explained. 'Ideally, opt for a tin or a dark-coloured glass bottle rather than a clear one. 'This helps to block out light and prevent the oil from deteriorating, both on the shop shelves and when you get it home.' Which?'s advice comes shortly after furious shoppers branded the cost of olive oil 'disgusting' after prices almost tripled in three years. In January 2021, the average price of a bottle of olive oil was £3.54. But in April 2024, research by MailOnline found the average is £9.49, an increase of more than 168 per cent. The most expensive bottle of olive oil is £22 for 500ml from Waitrose. It's almost double the price of a 750ml bottle of Whispering Angel Provence Rosé, which is just £11.49 from the same supermarket. The cheapest place to buy a 500ml bottle of olive oil is Aldi, where you can get your hands on one for just £4.59. Iceland had the cheapest bottle on average at £5.50, although it only offered a single type. Comparing all the cheapest 500ml bottles from each shop, the Co-Op came out with the most expensive, of £7.35.
