Can anyone talk to me about warming drawers please?

[Fillybuster]

In the middle of a massive building project, about a zillion decisions to make and don't have a clue about this....!

I'll have 2 neff ovens, and do a lot of cooking and baking. Have space for a 400mm warming drawer - will it be useful? What's it for?

Thank you!

[TimTamTerrier]

I use mine for storing baking trays, I have warmed plates in it about three times in five years. If I was doing it again I would drop the smaller oven down a bit and have a stand-alone grill over the oven instead. (All ovens are under-counter, it would be a different configuration if they were chest height.)

[FranHastings]

I love mine. I use it every single day. I put DH's tea in there when he's going to be late, prove dough and when I'm coming a big roast/Christmas dinner, I whip stuff into there from the main ovens. I have a normal sized oven and a combi oven too. DH uses it to warm plates too. I don't because I like my plates cold. 😁 I love it and wouldn't be without it, but I guess it depends on how you cook/live.

[FranHastings]

My ovens and warming drawer are chest height/eye level, I can see how it might not get used under the counter.

Also use it to keep puddings warm while we are eating the main.

[FranHastings]

^^cooking, not coming a big meal. Bloody auto correct.

[Trills]

I associate it with Agas and farmhouses and putting a newborn lamb in there (to keep it warm, not to cook it).

Would it be a good temperature for proving bread?

[Fillybuster]

Going to have 2 built in ovens, one above the other, so the plan is to have the warming drawer underneath. I don't think I'll use it daily, but do like baking bread, pizza etc and regularly host up to 20 people for meals....so if it actually does keep food warm (does it? Is it properly hot or weirdly warm?) then I've got the space so quite tempted.

[FranHastings]

Husband says it's hot. Just asked him. It's hard to get more of a review out of him than that. I've never thought it was not a good temp when I've had stuff out of it. Mine has various temp settings and goes up to 80, I think. It is a bit of a godsend if you are entertaining.

[FranHastings]

Sorry, that is not the best English I've ever written. I was distracted by a child climbing all over me.

[Fillybuster]

Fran - we've all been there!

Thanks. I'm looking at the Neff one, which goes up to 80C - dh was wondering if that was a useful temperature, so that does help actually!

I suspect I'll use it for bread/yeast cake type stuff about 6-10 times a year; for keeping food hot on a fairly regular basis and approximately never to warm plates....

[didireallysaythat]

I'd check the height and size of the of the drawer. BIL has them under his ovens to make a bank of appliances but they aren't that big so he can't 4 plates and a serving bowl in there to warm them. I hate food on a cold plate and I was determined to have one but I'd need a bigger one.

[Tram10]

I use mine daily for keeping food warm, never use it for warming plates.

[Motherfuckers]

I have used it once in 4 years, to keep breakfast warm for all the hungover people. My DH uses it all the time apparently...

[SweetGrapes]

I am getting a neff one too. Never used it before but the online review has a chef talking about how he uses it to slow cook lamb - so i am quite excited about it!

[Fillybuster]

Cooking in it? Really? Link please SweetGrapes although I can't see myself actually doing it given the massive slow cooker from dm that's been sitting unopened in my garage for 3 years

[JT05]

Read with interest. I haven't used mine ( fitted in new house) , I've just finished reading the instructions for 3 ovens and induction hob! Lost the will!
You've spurred me on, now I've found out I can prove bread in it. Thanks.

[fluffikins]

You can slow cook in them. I'd love one! Although I know someone who used one to keep food warm all day- she'll cook dinner at lunchtime and then put it in the warming drawer all day which must breed bacteria

[PikachuSayBoo]

If you're getting neff ovens they probably have a proving function which you could use for dough. So you wouldn't need a warming drawer for bread/pizza dough.

[Wizlau]

I had one until I recently moved house and really miss it. Great for keeping things warm when I don't time meals properly. Main thing it was used for was by dc to dry paintings and gluey bits of paper!