Buying the best warming drawer for you

Warming drawer buyers guide

A warming drawer is a useful addition to any kitchen, particularly if you’re an avid cook or a busy family. If you’re not sure what a warming drawer is or whether you need one, this guide provides a handy overview.

What are warming drawers?

A warming drawer is used to keep food and tableware warm until you’re ready to serve. But their functionality doesn’t stop there. Warming drawers can also be used to slow cook meat, prove dough, defrost food and melt chocolate. This makes them particularly popular with cooking and baking enthusiasts.

Most modern warming drawers allow you to set a precise temperature, usually between 30˚C to 80˚C. Setting the temperature to 60°C will prevent bacteria from developing, ensuring the heating process is completely safe. Many also come with humidity controls that help to retain food’s moisture, flavour and consistency.

Why buy a warming drawer?

A warming drawer is a great investment for busy households where family members eat at different times. Unlike heating meals in a conventional oven, a warming drawer won’t continue to cook your food or dry it out. This means everyone can enjoy the same great-tasting meal at their convenience, regardless of when it left the oven.

A warming drawer is also ideal for anyone who loves to entertain. Being able to keep food warm means you can easily prepare multiple dishes ahead of your guests’ arrival. Plus, you can ensure your main dish doesn’t go cold while you tuck into your starter. Serving food on perfectly warmed plates is also a great way to recreate that restaurant-style experience.

Are you a passionate cook or budding baker? Then a warming drawer could become your new best friend. Whether you want to slow cook meat for added tenderness, prove dough for breads or pizza or melt chocolate for delicious desserts, a warming drawer makes food preparation that much easier.

Where to put your warming drawer

A warming drawer is built into your cabinetry and usually sits adjacent to your oven, keeping everything within arm’s reach. Available in a variety of finishes, they’re designed to complement your other kitchen appliances for a seamless look.

Bear in mind that a warming drawer needs to be wired directly into your electricity supply and will require cabinetry for those connections, along with suitable ventilation. It’s best to install a warming drawer during a kitchen redesign so that the required space and cabinetry can be taken into consideration.

If you are planning a new kitchen, our kitchen designers can design and install beautiful Masterclass kitchens. Visit our kitchens website for more information on our range of kitchens.

Common warming drawer features

Fan

Some warming drawers incorporate a fan to circulate heat evenly around the cavity.

Temperature range

Most warming drawers offer variable temperature settings of between 30°C and 80°C.

Timer

Some warming drawers come with an electronic timer which will automatically switch the heat off after a certain time period has elapsed.

Defrost

This setting is excellent for quickly and safely defrosting frozen food.

Shop for warming drawers at Knees Home & Electrical

At Knees Home & Electrical, we stock a great range of warming drawers from top brands including Miele, Bosch, Smeg and Bertazzoni.

We have a store in Wiltshire, Trowbridge. We have a range of appliances on display in-store, so you can take a look before you buy. But you don’t have to live locally to buy your warming drawer from us. We deliver across mainland UK using our delivery partner, and you can see and buy our entire range online.

If you need any help or advice, our helpful customer service team will be happy to help you find the perfect warming drawer for your home.