What Is the Purpose of the Drawer Under the Stove?

Have you ever found yourself wondering what the purpose is of that drawer beneath your stove? It’s one of those kitchen features that often gets overlooked or used for random storage, but it turns out that the drawer under the stove actually has a specific purpose—though its use can vary depending on the type of stove you have.

In this article, we’ll explore the different potential uses of the drawer under your stove and why it’s a handy feature in many kitchens. Whether you’re using it to keep your kitchen tidy or for a more practical purpose, you might be surprised by how much you can benefit from this often-forgotten kitchen feature.

1. Warming Drawer: The Most Common Use

One of the most common purposes of the drawer under the stove is to act as a warming drawer. This type of drawer is designed to keep food warm while you’re preparing other dishes or waiting to serve.

How it works:
Warming drawers are typically heated and can maintain a consistent temperature, which is ideal for keeping dishes at the right serving temperature without further cooking them. This makes them perfect for large family meals, when you’re trying to keep everything hot before serving. They are often adjustable, allowing you to choose the ideal temperature to keep bread, casseroles, or side dishes warm until you’re ready to serve.

Benefits:

Keeps food at the perfect serving temperature without drying it out or overcooking it.
Can be used to warm plates or keep baked goods warm, such as rolls or cookies.
Particularly useful during holiday meals or dinner parties, when you’re cooking multiple dishes at once.

2. Storage Drawer: A Handy Place for Pots, Pans, and Cookware

If you don’t have a warming drawer, the drawer under your stove may simply be used for storage. The deep, pull-out nature of this drawer makes it ideal for stashing items that you don’t use every day, but still need to have on hand.

Common items stored in the drawer:

Pots and pans: Large cooking pots, pans, and skillets can easily fit in the drawer, making it an excellent storage option to clear up space in your cabinets.
Baking sheets and trays: If you bake frequently, you can use the drawer to store baking sheets, pizza pans, or cooling racks.
Oven mitts and kitchen towels: The drawer can also be used to store your oven mitts, potholders, or kitchen towels, ensuring they’re easily accessible while cooking.

Benefits:

Helps free up cabinet space and keeps kitchen tools within arm’s reach.
Makes your cooking experience more organized, as you don’t have to rummage through cabinets or drawers to find what you need.
Offers a convenient place to store kitchen items that are regularly used, but don’t need to be on display.

3. Broiler Drawer (For Some Stoves)

Another common use for the drawer under the stove is as a broiler. Some stoves, especially older models, have a separate broiler located in the drawer below the oven. The broiler is used for cooking food at a very high heat, often for quick cooking or browning.

How it works:
The broiler drawer is typically positioned at the bottom of the stove, and it has a heating element that emits intense heat. It is especially useful for broiling meats, fish, or vegetables, as well as for toasting bread or melting cheese on to