You’ve likely never given your oven’s bottom drawer much thought. In fact, it’s probably been weeks since you last opened it. Or maybe, you’ve never even used it. Hey, no judgement here. The muffin tins we put in ours when we moved in are probably covered in dust by now.  

Despite the fact that a majority of range ovens have them, these drawers can be a source of mystery, and even anxiety, for many people. And it’s easy to see where the confusion comes from. The purpose of an oven’s bottom drawer can vary greatly depending on the oven model. Some are capable of getting very, very hot, while others are intended simply for storage. Those are two very different things. 

Misusing an oven’s bottom drawer can be dangerous, so it’s important to know what you’re working with. There are three common uses for your oven’s bottom drawer. Read on to find out more about each one, and the right way to use yours.

Common Uses For An Oven’s Bottom Drawer

Storage

Storage is by far the most common function of a bottom drawer, and we’re willing to bet that this is how you’re currently using yours. But that doesn’t mean you should be storing your tablecloths there. No ma’am. According to Lauren Thompson, Product Marketing Senior Manager for Freestanding Cooking at GE Appliances, these drawers should only be used for “heat-safe cookware and pans.”

“We recommend that you do not place dish towels, paper towels, cookbooks, owner’s manuals, contact paper, shelf liners or plastics in the storage drawer because the drawer can get warm or even hot while cooking or self-cleaning the oven,” she explains. 

Warming 

Warming drawers are intended to keep food warm. These can often usually be identified by a button with “warming” settings either located with the rest of the oven knobs or near the drawer. These should be used to keep food warm before serving—not for storage of any kind.

Broiling

If the bottom drawer on your oven is a broiler, it’s designed for high-heat cooking and browning. Unlike storage and warming drawers, broiler drawers usually look more like a “retractable” pan. These essentially serve as an additional cooking area, and are best used for toasting or browning. These get very hot very quickly, so refrain from using them for more than a few minutes at a time.

How To Know The Difference

“Misunderstanding the drawer’s function can lead to improper use, so it’s important to identify the type of drawer you have by consulting the oven manual or manufacturer’s website,” warns Thompson. The presence of a broil or warming drawer will always be called out on the product page, she adds.