How can I keep my oven drawer from becoming a mess? Every time I open it, everything shifts around and becomes a jumble of pots and pans. And where on earth do all the crumbs come from? Any suggestions on how to keep the drawer clean and organized without having to overhaul it every month?
By Randi from Loving, TX
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Can you try plastic bins? They come in different sizes from shoebox to huge. Or do you think they would melt?
I just read an organization article and they said to use baking pans to organize things in a pantry.
I'd try the plastic boxes, but I'd experiment with them first. I'd fill one box and then cook a pot roast. This may not even apply to you because I have an old, old stove and maybe your drawer doesn't get hot at all.
I do have another suggestion though that I got from a magazine. Organize everything and anything you can with these boxes, but use their covers. that way next time you clean you just remove the boxes, clean the cabinet, dust the plastic box covers and put everything back, never taking anything out of the boxes themselves to clean.
Lots of luck!
I definitely would not suggest plastic boxes or lids for organizing in an oven drawer at all :-o What I do is place flat sheets (like cookie and pizza sheets/pans) on the bottom, then a roasting pan bottom side down on them and then place smaller items inside of that, then I put the skillet lids on the other side of the roasting pan and the skillets upside down (smallest first) over the lids. Saucepans and pots are kept (stacked when possible) in the lower cabinet next to the oven. As long as you put them back that way after washing you'll not have any problems. Oh, I don't know how crumbs could be getting in there unless the drawer is left open (even part way) after removing or replacing the cookware ;-)
The crumbs are probably just from cooking. The bottom of most ovens are not without gaps for air.
I never kept anything in there but flat things. Cookie sheets, baking sheets, muffin tins, etc.
But I am with Deeli, no plastic.
Good luck!
I don't know if this idea might help or not. I have an electric range and use the bottom drawer for lid storage. I hated having the drawer 'bare' so I put a old cotton Receiving Blanket folded to fit the drawer. It seems to help with the sliding around, and as for the crumbs, they clean up easier as you just gather the blanket and wash it :) I'd guess the crumbs come from broiling things like garlic bread....maybe?
Line the drawer with newspaper sections. The newspaper has a date on each page, and it is easy to keep up with when it was changed last. When changing, just roll the papers inward into a ball and throw away. I also line the top of tall cabinets and sheves with newspapers.
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