What is the bottom drawer for in a gas stove: ways to use a tiled tray
We all use stoves to cook food. Most often they are equipped with an oven under which there is a spacious niche.Many will no doubt immediately say what the bottom drawer in a gas stove is for - it is a convenient place to store frying pans, dumplings, and baking sheets.
But it turns out that these are not all of its possible functions. How else can you use the box?
We will tell you all about gas stove trays, what they are like, how they can be used rationally and what they were originally intended for.
The content of the article:
Why do you need a tile tray?
Under the oven on most stoves there is an opening or drawer. It is called the sub-oven compartment. Some people mistakenly believe that its purpose lies in isolating the hot bottom of the oven from the floor covering, but this option is actually incorrect, although logically speaking, one might actually think so.
The opinions of other people were divided. Some suggest that the box is intended for storing dishes, others claim that it is for heating food.
The tray is almost ideal for storing kitchen utensils. It is hidden from view and easily accommodates several frying pans for which there is little space in the kitchen set. It is also convenient to take dishes from it and you don’t have to go far from the stove.
This version is not unfounded, since after looking at the instructions for some gas stoves we find a drawing of the device, where this part is designated as a “pull-out auxiliary cabinet”.
At the same time, there are cookers on sale in which the tray is equipped with additional inserts in the drawers, leaving no doubt as to whether they are used for storing dishes.
Is it worth closing the topic on this, since what the drawer under the oven of a gas stove is intended for seems to have been clarified? Not at all. It turns out that supporters of the second theory also have reasons to consider their opinion correct.
Again, let's look at the instructions. On many stoves, the compartment is designated as a warming cabinet and is detailed in the literature that it can be used to keep food warm while the oven is operating.
True, few people use this function; consumers believe that a warm box is not suitable for preserving food due to large gaps and inconvenience of use, although opponents of microwave ovens who do not know about this possibility of the stove will certainly greet the news with a bang.
Opinions of users are again divided. Some say that the cabinet dries dishes, while others are delighted and claim that the function has simplified the organization of serving hot food for feasts.
In any case, let's take a closer look at how it works. When the oven is turned on, hot air from the oven enters the tray and heats its metal walls. Thus, what is inside it is constantly heated.
For example, you cook potatoes as a side dish, and bake fish in foil with it. It is much more pleasant to eat the whole dish hot, rather than ice-cold potatoes with hot fish. You simply put the potatoes in a box, and when the second component is ready, take it out and serve everything to the table.
However, it is also worth remembering that some ovens provide for draining condensate into special containers, therefore, before putting food in the heating drawer, do not forget to remove it and drain the accumulated liquid from it.
So, we found out that the bottom oven drawer can be used depending on the model:
- for storing dishes;
- for heating food;
- for both at the same time.
But this is not all you need to know when using it.
Safety precautions when using the pallet
Never forget that the tray is located under the oven, which may be running at a time when you want to look into the tray. For these cases, always keep oven mitts or kitchen towels nearby to protect your hands from burns.
If you are heating food in the drawer, open it completely to make it easier and safer to remove the hot food.
A large amount of hot air flows from the oven into the bottom drawer, unless otherwise provided by special design and insulation. That is, if the drawer is designed specifically for heating food, and you want to put frying pans or something else there, keep in mind that the item may deteriorate or catch fire.
The following must not be placed in an oven with access to high temperatures:
- perishable foods and dishes if they will not be used soon;
- napkins, paper, textile towels;
- plastic bags;
- flammable liquids and sprays;
- chemicals;
- items that release toxins when heated, as well as dishes coated with non-heat-resistant varnish, PVC containers not intended for hot dishes.
And other things, as well as products that can spoil or harm health when heated.
An interesting fact: in the English version of the instructions for some models of gas stoves it is stated that clothes cannot be dried in the drawer, while in the Russian version this is not mentioned.
What can and cannot be placed in a pallet?
But what is the drawer under the gas stove intended for? You can put dishes in the tray that are not afraid of prolonged exposure to high temperatures - dumplings, frying pans, meat hammers, baking sheets, and so on.
And of course, don't forget about food. Can be reheated:
- pizza;
- side dishes;
- pilaf;
- roast;
- soups;
- baked meat/fish.
Take into account the time the dishes are in the drawer so that they do not have time to dry out or spoil.
Types of oven trays and their functions
We have already found out that niches can be stationary with an opening door, or as a separate, usually retractable element of the slab. As a rule, inexpensive stove models are equipped with stationary ones. There are no special varieties, so we will not focus on them. But modular boxes can be different.
Retractable models have a built-in type of configuration. So they can go in tandem with a factory-assembled device, and this option is usually universal for both types of cabinet applications. When choosing this option, inspect the niche for tightness and ease of cleaning.
A furniture module is a special element of kitchen furniture in which built-in stove. Whether the stove has a tray or not, you will technically have an additional drawer to store utensils under the appliance. True, it will not heat up food, of course, since it is usually made of MDF, which prevents high temperatures from entering the box.
And another option, also for storing kitchen utensils, is a separate box with a podium top, which you can purchase to order or make it yourself. The module usually has a moisture-proof coating and can be equipped with additional containers for storing various small items that are not often required during cooking.
It is also not suitable for heating food, but as in the second case, you can not only store dishes in it, but also napkins, towels, documents for kitchen appliances, and in addition, its color and texture can be selected in accordance with the general design concept .
We did not include another function of the tiled tray in the article - a drying cabinet, because few models have it and this compartment is no longer listed as an auxiliary drawer.
The purpose of the function is clear: if you need to cook dried fruits, dry mushrooms or crackers, just place it on a special tray and dry it while the oven is running.
This method is especially effective if the tray is equipped with a special fan.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
Video. Why do you need a tray under the oven? One of the options:
So, we found out why a gas stove has a bottom drawer. This is both a functional storage place and convenient heating of food without using a microwave.
How do you use this pallet? Maybe you have your own interesting options? Share your tips in the comments and ask questions about the topic of the article.
