That humble drawer beneath the oven, so often crammed with warped baking sheets and forgotten roasting pans, was originally designed in many models as a warming drawer—a quiet workhorse meant to keep cooked food perfectly warm without drying it out. Instead of juggling timing or serving lukewarm dishes, you can hold plates at a gentle 140°F–200°F, preserving texture and flavor while the rest of the meal catches up. But this elegant idea has been buried under years of habit and assumption, turning a subtle piece of engineering into a cluttered catch‑all.

Reclaiming its purpose starts with a simple step: check your manual or the control panel to see if your drawer heats. If it does, clear it out—storing pans there can block airflow, damage the appliance, and even create a fire risk. Used correctly, that forgotten drawer becomes a quiet ally: keeping dinner warm for late arrivals, proofing bread like a pro, and turning your kitchen’s “junk space” back into the heartbeat of a well‑run home.