What is the drawer under the oven for? What is the drawer under the oven actually for?

In traditional kitchen ovens, the oven is combined with the hob. But not all housewives are satisfied with this option for organizing the workspace. To make the cooking process as convenient as possible, and the interior of the kitchen - stylish and compact, they use special furniture for embedding ovens.

Features and benefits of a kitchen with a built-in oven

An oven cabinet is a design designed to install an oven in it. It can either be part of a furniture set or purchased separately.

The advantages of a kitchen interior with a built-in oven include:

• visual appeal - such an interior looks much more elegant than a kitchen with a conventional oven;
• saving usable space;
• the ability to organize a “working triangle” (cooking area) in a way that is convenient for the owners of the house;
• practicality - such furniture often combines several functions at once. For example, it can serve as a storage system.

But such a solution has some features that must be considered when choosing:

• the cost of built-in appliances complete with furniture is higher than traditional;
• in the event of a rearrangement or failure of equipment, problems may arise: the oven will have to be changed along with the cabinet, since it will be difficult to find a design that is suitable in size - usually furniture is selected for the equipment, and not vice versa.

Types of designs of kitchen cabinets for built-in ovens

For embedding appliances, two types of furniture are used:

• floor cabinets;
• cupboards.

The cabinet for the built-in oven allows you to place it at a height of no more than 20 cm from the floor. For most housewives, this is a familiar option.

An oven case involves placing appliances on one of its shelves and has the following advantages:

• allows you to set the oven at the optimum height;
• makes it possible to make it inaccessible to small children;
• perfect for people who have a hard time bending over.

Pencil cases are not suitable for cramped kitchens - they look too bulky there. In this case, it is better to choose a floor cabinet higher.

Depending on the shape, the furniture for the oven can be:

• straight - in the form of a rectangle. Typically, such designs are part of the furniture composition of the headset;
• corner - are made in the form of triangles or trapezoids and allow you to install equipment in the corner.

Particular attention should be paid to the material from which the cabinet is made. It must not only withstand the impressive weight of equipment, but also be heat-resistant and safe for humans.

For the manufacture of structures for the oven use:

• Chipboard - is inexpensive and does not have high performance properties;
• MDF is a higher quality material. Furniture made from it is durable and does not deform under the influence of steam;
• natural wood is a material that requires special care. It is used for the production of cabinets for the oven in rare cases.

For the manufacture of rear walls and curved elements of the facade, fiberboard or plywood is used.

The material itself and its coatings must not contain toxic synthetic substances: under the influence of heat, they enter the air and can cause serious poisoning.

How to choose an oven cabinet - what are the requirements

Built-in ovens can be:

• gas;
• electric.

Gas ovens are more expensive, but pay off faster - gas is cheaper than electricity. However, the heat in them is not distributed so evenly and some products are not baked.

In any case, the furniture should be equipped with a ventilation system - a grill or special holes. Some models are made without a back wall.

Electric models are not economical and require high-quality wiring, but the dishes in them are cooked evenly, for which they have received recognition from most housewives.

It is important to choose the right furniture size. If this is an oven cabinet, then its height is usually from 65 to 80 cm.

Depending on the design, this parameter includes:

• the height of the oven box is 59.5 or 60 cm (standard);
• height of legs / base - 10-12 cm;
• tabletop thickness - 2-4 cm;
• drawer height - 10-20 cm.

The depth of the cabinet is from 50 to 65 cm, depending on the model of built-in appliances. Of these, about 10-13 cm is the overlap of the countertop on the body, which is necessary for the stable placement of the oven. Width varies from 50 to 120 cm.

The sizes of kitchen cabinets are more variable, their depth and width are identical to the parameters of the cabinets, and their height can be from 160 to 220 cm.

The module under the oven should always be larger than the appliance itself in order to ensure free air circulation.

What can combine in a cabinet for a built-in oven

The cabinet for the built-in oven can combine the functions of other household appliances:

• microwave ovens (microwaves);
• hobs.

The oven with the microwave function has gained wide popularity due to its practicality and convenience. It allows you to use the oven as a microwave, and modern models are equipped with other modes of operation - for example, defrosting, grilling, baking.

Structurally, this technique is an oven equipped with a magnetron - a microwave radiation generator.

Any oven can be combined with a hob. There are two options for this technique:

• dependent set - in it the cabinet and the panel have a common control system;
• independent - in this case, the oven and hob are purchased separately.

The dependent set looks stylish and harmonious, but is inferior to the independent set in practicality - in the event of a breakdown, the entire structure fails. In addition, in the latter case, it is possible to choose equipment that meets the needs of the hostess.

Additional equipment for oven cabinets - storage and opening systems

Furniture under the oven can be used to store kitchen utensils.

For floor cabinets, the storage system is represented by an upper or lower drawer of limited height. Because of this, only certain items can be stored in it. For example, frying pans and baking sheets.

The cabinet-pencil case has more opportunities for organizing the storage system - in it it can be represented by open shelves, drawers and compartments with doors.

Typically, the oven is built into the middle of the structure, so the storage compartment is located below or above.

In the closed sections of the cabinet-pencil case, various types of door opening mechanisms are used:

• hinged - the simplest: the doors are hinged and open "on themselves";
• folding - horizontal hinged system: open up or down;
• lifting - open with gas lifts.

Rules for placing cabinets under the oven in the kitchen

In order for the oven cabinet to harmoniously fit into the interior of the kitchen, to be convenient and safe to use, when placing it, follow the following recommendations:

• follow the rule of the "working triangle" - a space limited by three points: an oven, a sink and a refrigerator. The total sum of its sides should not exceed 6 meters;
• choose a comfortable height of equipment. The best option is from 20 to 80 cm above the floor;
• do not place the oven close to the refrigerator: this can lead to breakage of one of the appliances;
• the distance between the sink and the oven must be less than 45 cm to avoid short circuits;
• the gas oven should be located no further than 1.2 m from the pipe - the longer the hose, the less reliable it is;
• consider the opening area. It should allow you to freely pull the baking sheet out of the oven.

Steps and rules for installing an oven in a kitchen set

Installation of a built-in oven consists of several stages:

• checking equipment for operability by connecting to the network;
• installation of the cabinet in the right place;
• checking the wiring - it must have a sufficient level of resistance and be grounded. It is desirable to have a circuit breaker that operates in case of voltage drops;
• if the oven is gas - check the pipes. They must be intact, without damage;
• placing the oven in a furniture niche. If the cabinet is equipped with a rear wall, then it is necessary to make holes for wires in it;

Almost no one uses the bottom drawer under the oven for its intended purpose. Most store baking sheets, lids, and other kitchen utensils in it.

It turns out 99% of people do not use it for its intended purpose.

Hot dishes on the table

The bottom drawer cooker compartment has been designed to maintain the optimum serving temperature for already cooked meals. That is, the food can stay warm in this drawer for an extended period of time. It's called the "warming box".
You may have already noticed that after using the oven, the items you store in the bottom drawer stay warm for a while. This happens precisely because the compartment absorbs heat. In most cases, these drawers have a humidity controller, which ensures that constantly reheated food does not dry out.


But in it, cooked food does not burn, does not cool down and does not lose its taste.
Due to the fact that the drawer is located under the oven, it uses the heat from it when it is working and can be used to heat dishes.


After all, there are a number of such dishes that simply need a heated plate. And culinary connoisseurs will not appreciate it if you suddenly “plunk” a fresh omelette into a cold plate. And for those who still weren’t aware, the dishes are specially heated so that the magnificent omelette does not fall off.
And then there are hot salads ... They also need dishes with a temperature above room temperature.
The easiest way to reheat your plates before serving is to bake them in the oven at 80-90 degrees for a few minutes (or in a drawer under the oven).


Imagine this option: you cooked soup, you and your children ate it, but your husband has not come home from work yet. Instead of leaving the pot on the stove or putting it in the fridge and then reheating the soup, you can simply place the pot on this shelf and the soup will stay warm!


Or your son does not want to break away from a computer game, and dinner is already on his plate. Don't yell at him. Let him play these cherished 15-20 minutes, and put the plate of food in this box under the stove yourself. So you will keep the temperature of the dish and save the nerves for yourself and the child.
In addition, this compartment is perfect for reheating bread, especially in cases where the bread has had time to get a little stale.


The most amazing thing is that in all the instructions for the stoves it is written what this box is for, but no one uses it for its intended purpose!
Unfortunately, we were not able to find confirmation of this theory in the manuals for stoves in Russian. In each of them it is designated as a "drawer", and in each of the manuals it is silent what it is for at all.


I also want to draw your attention to the fact that rags, paper and other flammable items cannot be stored in this box.

Built-in oven - the model is very convenient. Not everyone is satisfied with the option when the oven is located under the hob: especially when both units need to be turned on at the same time. An independent model can be placed anywhere and at any height.

Product dimensions

Foreign companies started the production of ovens. This significantly affected the dimensions of the product.

The standard width of the models is 90–120 cm. This corresponds to the European idea of ​​​​comfort.

• However, the standards of Russian kitchen sets are completely different. Here, the cabinet for the oven and the hob has a width of 60 cm. In this case, the manufacturers of the devices gave in and began to produce models with the appropriate width. For example, the well-known manufacturer of goods for the home Ikea.

In order to ensure ease of installation, the width of the oven should be reduced by 1–2 cm.

• Today you can also find very miniature built-in models - with a width of 45 cm and a height of 60 cm. However, these are rather test samples. As a rule, even with a width of 45 cm, the height remains standard - 85 cm.
• The depth in most products is 50–55 cm.

A cabinet for a built-in oven is usually equipped with a drawer for storing baking sheets, dishes and other things.

Materials and tools

Do-it-yourself cabinet under the oven is a very real task. There are no particular difficulties here. To make it you will need the following:

• plywood or chipboard 16–18 mm thick;
• worktop 28 mm thick or more;
• legs;
• furniture confirmations, dowels and self-tapping screws;
• guides;
• electric drill;
• wood glue.

Kitchen Cabinet Calculations

As a rule, the instructions for the oven contain data not only on the dimensions of the model itself, but also on the requirements for the installation niche. This should be used in calculations.

The cabinet for the oven has dimensions equal to the parameters of the installation niche plus the thickness of the material used. In fact, it is a box with a double bottom - horizons 1 and 2 and a horizontal crossbar at the top - a hull bar. The latter is required for the normal attachment of the hob to the countertop. In addition, this part maintains the distance between the sidewalls, which is also important.

First you need to make calculations, then the following parts are cut out of chipboard or MDF sheets:

• sidewalls - the sum of the height of the niche, the thickness of the tabletop and the height of the legs - 2 pcs;
• horizon - that is, the bottom, dimensions are exactly equal to the parameters of the installation niche - depth and width - 2 pcs;
• body strip - its length is equal to the width of the niche, and its own width does not exceed 100 mm.

The back wall of the drawer, as a rule, is not included in the detailing: it is made from scraps of fiberboard. Usually its height does not exceed 100 mm.

The details of the drawer are calculated by the residual method. It's easy to do this:

• the height of the facade is equal to the difference between the height of the kitchen cabinet, the height of the legs and the thickness of the first horizon. The facade does not cover it due to the peculiarities of the installation of the oven. Width corresponds to 60 cm minus 3 mm. As a rule, there is no handle here: to make it more convenient to use, a notch is made on the second horizon;
• side parts are equal in length to the depth of the pedestal minus gaps, and in height - to the distance between two horizons minus gaps;
• the length of the rear wall takes into account the thickness of both sidewalls and the thickness of the guides.

Chipboard or MDF can be cut to size in the workshop: on professional equipment, the pattern will take much less time, and accuracy is guaranteed. In addition, in most cases, the details are edged here - they close the ends with a melamine strip. Otherwise, the operation will have to be done by hand.

Product assembly

The kitchen cabinet for the oven and hob is assembled on confirmations or dowels. The fastening of the latter is duplicated with glue. Holes for them are pre-drilled.

Self-tapping screws are allowed.

1. First you need to assemble the box itself - sidewalls and horizontals.
2. Then fix the body strip, lowering it 10 mm from the edge of the sidewall.
3. To the bottom of the product you need to attach the legs with self-tapping screws.
4. If it is decided to make a drawer, then, before installing the first horizon, guides are attached to the walls - articulated or telescopic.
5. Install the back wall.
6. Assemble the product and install on the guides.

Do-it-yourself cabinet for the oven is ready. In the photo you can see a product that is in no way inferior even to well-known brands, like Ikea.

What is stored in the drawer under the oven? Pots, pans or trays? Unnecessary lids?

This box seems to many housewives to be a great place to store various kitchen items, but there is a possibility that this is not correct. Depending on the design of the stove, such a box may have a completely different purpose.

What is the drawer under the oven actually for?

It's hard to believe, but it can be used to warm up cooked food. Such a box is convenient to use when the food is already cooked, but it is too early to serve. Such a device is useful in every kitchen, because it allows you to keep the dish warm until the right moment.

Such a box is especially convenient during a big holiday, when it is impossible to cook all the dishes in the oven at one time.

How do you know which drawer is under the oven?

The easiest way to find out what the drawer in a particular stove is for is to look at the instruction manual. If the design involves heating food in a niche under the oven, it is important not to forget a few important rules.

First, the drawer under the oven is not designed for cooking. Only ready-made hot dishes can be placed here. It should not be used to heat cold food or cook raw food.

Secondly, it is forbidden to store any items in such a box, as this can lead to a fire. Unfortunately, you will have to give up using this extra kitchen storage space.

There is also a second option. In gas stoves, a frying compartment can be located at the bottom. It is easy to distinguish by the presence of an open heating element. Such boxes allow you to make the perfect crispy crust or melted cheese filling.

Do not be upset if the drawer serves only for storing things and does not have any additional functions. This means that it was used for its intended purpose all the time.

The box under the oven in the stove often raises questions even among experienced hostesses who think about its purpose. Most often, frying pans and other kitchen utensils settle in it. However, the purpose of the additional compartment is determined by the type of stove and the functions included in it by the manufacturer, and may differ for different models.

The purpose of the drawer under the oven: truth and speculation

The presence of an additional compartment depends on the model of the household appliance. Built-in or drawer compartments are typical for gas and combined types. In electric or induction versions, such designs are less common and depend on the functional features of the selected stove or oven.

One of the common misconceptions is that the task of the additional compartment is to create thermal insulation between the bottom of the plate and the floor. However, for this purpose, a special box is installed, and heat-insulating bases are used to install the equipment. The built-in box does not affect this setting in any way.

In the drawer under the oven it is convenient to store molds and baking sheets

When answering the question of whether it is possible to store kitchen utensils in such drawers, refer to the instructions attached to each stove. In most cases, this compartment is marked as an additional storage compartment. However, consumers themselves are more inclined to consider it an additional compartment for frying pans, trays and baking sheets.

The instructions for the plate Lysva GP 400 M2C clearly indicate the purpose of the additional box

Warm up or not

The situation is different with the theory of heating food in a drawer. Consumers greet this option coldly, justifying distrust with the following factors:

• this compartment gets dirty quickly, it is not protected from dust;
• in the instructions, manufacturers designate this compartment as auxiliary for storing dishes and other utensils;
• The compartment has gaps too large to retain the heat needed for reheating.

Some manufacturers install special compartments that allow you to keep food warm for a long time.

Such doubts are understandable, but such a function is still present in some models, which is also noted in the instructions for the corresponding stove. In such cases, the compartment is called a heating cabinet or under-oven compartment.

The Ardo C 640 G6 stove has a heating compartment function by the manufacturer

The main caution for using an additional drawer under the oven is not to put flammable objects and substances into it, as well as plastic utensils and containers. This rule is relevant for any type of plates. It is also not recommended to store products that deteriorate at elevated air temperatures.