You know that mysterious drawer under your oven? The one currently crammed with rogue baking sheets, mismatched lids, and the sandwich press you swore you’d use? Seems like the perfect hideaway for kitchen chaos, right? But hold onto your spatulas — because that drawer might not be the storage savior you think it is.

In many ovens, that drawer is designed to keep food warm. In others, it moonlights as a mini broiler. And yes, some are just good old storage. Basically, it’s the oven’s version of a surprise ending.

Now, if you’re scratching your head thinking, “Wait, what?” don’t worry — you’re not alone. Most of us have never opened the oven manual unless it was to fan a smoke alarm.

But fear not! We’re not about to assign homework. No dense instruction manuals here. We’re breaking it down for you in plain, delicious terms. Here’s how to decode your oven drawer’s secret identity, and how to use it without accidentally slow-roasting your muffin tins.

Read more: Clever Cleaning Hacks for the Hardest-to-Reach Crevices in Your Kitchen

3 functions of your oven’s bottom drawer

1. Warming drawer

A warming drawer is easy to identify. Take a look at the buttons on your oven. If one of them is labeled “Warming Drawer” then that’s exactly what you have. Anytime you need to warm a pie or a loaf of bread — or you just want to keep dishes warm while the rest of the meal finishes cooking — pop it into the warming drawer and push the warming button.

2. Broiler

If you have an oven heated with natural gas, the drawer is typically a broiler. To be sure, pull open the door. If it looks more like a retractable pan than a drawer, then it’s a broiler. 

Think of the broiler as an extra cooking area. It’s best for toasting or browning foods like casseroles or breads. Any item placed in the broiler will burn quickly, though, so check on it every couple of minutes.

3. Storage drawer

If there isn’t a warming button and the area looks like a deep, empty drawer, then you probably have a storage drawer. As per a recent Reddit discussion, many people are unsure about what to keep in this space. This is a good place to store cast iron pots and pans, because the warmth from your oven will help keep them rust free. Just be sure not to store plastic items in this drawer, because they may become warped due to residual heat. 

Likewise, some older ovens have little insulation and may heat your metal cookware when the oven is on. As a precaution, always use oven mitts to remove cookware during or after your oven has been in use.