Once considered a staple of professional kitchens, warming drawers have become more and more mainstream.
Do you love cooking? Are you passionate about every detail? If your answer is yes, warming up the plates before the actual dish-up is something you never want to skip.
So, let us help you spot the best warming drawer and make a choice you’ll be happy with every single day you step into your kitchen.
Below, we’ve put under scrutiny some of the most popular models. As always, everything is garnished with a buying guide that you won’t want to miss, either.
Are you ready to delve into the nitty-gritty of the warming drawers that combine simplicity with modernity and perfectly complement any cooking space?
Let’s go!
See Our Top Warming Drawer Reviews
# | PREVIEW | Product | |
---|---|---|---|
1 |
Buy On Amazon Show other buying options |
||
2 |
Buy On Amazon Show other buying options |
||
3
Best Overall
3Cookology CWD14 22L Warming Drawer
|
Buy On Amazon | ||
|
|||
4
Best For Low Budgets
4Montpellier WD14SS Built-in Warming Drawer
|
Buy On Amazon | ||
|
|||
5 |
Buy On Amazon Show other buying options |
||
6
Best For Higher Budgets
6Whirlpool Built-In Warming Drawer
|
Buy On Amazon Show other buying options |
||
1. Newworld Belling UWD14 Built In Warming Drawer
- Built-in model;
- 14L and 25kg maximum capacity;
- Warming and Keep Warm functions;
- Works with a temperature range of 40 to 80 degrees Celsius.
Want the perfect excuse never again to serve hot food on cold plates? If so, you’ll have to take a good look at this built-in warming drawer from Newworld.
The Belling UWD14 is a sturdy stainless-steel drawer with a decent volume capacity, supporting a generous maximum load of 25kg.
The wide temperature range it can work with will give you all the flexibility you’ve been looking for.
Therefore, once you set it up and familiarize yourself with its main options – which aren’t that many – you’ll be ready to make it your favourite go-to small appliance.
You’ll probably notice it doesn’t come with that many functions, but the ones included will serve you well.
Not only will you be able to keep cups and glasses, plates, and dishes warm, but you’ll also keep your food warm and be able to work with a practical timer.
The indicator light is yet another nice touch and even one with a safety role.
Rest assured that it will show you when the drawer has reached the maximum temperature, so you’ll be even more cautious when handling it.
Considering its smooth and clean design, the no-fuss style, and the average price, we do not doubt that this Belling warm drawer is a choice well worth considering. Wouldn’t you say the same?
Specifications
Pros
- Control setting with touch screen makes operation a breeze;
- Can warm cups and glasses, plates, dishes, and food;
- Indicator light tells you when it reaches the maximum temperature;
- Easy to clean and maintain.
Cons
- Takes a little learning curve to familiarize yourself with all its settings;
- Can occasionally make a vibrating noise while in use.
2. Bosch Serie 6 Built In Warming Drawer
- Integrated model;
- 23L and 15 kg maximum capacity;
- Food Warming, Tableware Pre-Warming, Yeast Dough, and Thawing functions;
- Can take in up to 14 plates and 4 espresso cups.
Bosch is a brand that needs no other introduction, and its 23L warming drawer truly stands out.
Not only through its price, which you won’t help but label as a bit on the hefty side, but also through its overall look and functionality.
This integrated model has a generous volume with a maximum weight capacity limited to 15 kg.
Even so, it should easily fit in about 14 plates and 4 espresso cups.
Plus, if you’re looking to make the most of your warming drawer, you’ll love the thawing function that comes with this one.
In a nutshell, this compact drawer with push/pull actioning can warm your food and your plates, but also defrost food and works wonderfully when it comes to bread proving.
For any function you need to select, the built-in rotary controls will allow you to do it in the blink of an eye.
If you’re still having second thoughts, just take a good look at it. Can you notice how elegantly it would fit any kitchen aesthetic?
Once you can picture it in your kitchen, you’ll want it, even more, knowing that it comes with a generous 2-year warranty.
With this reassuring warranty, you’ll start considering it a more than worthy investment.
Specifications
Pros
- Convenient push-pull opening system;
- Includes extra functions along the traditional food and plate warming;
- Comes with an anti-slip mat in the package;
- Equipped with practical rotary controls you can easily adjust.
Cons
- Not the best weight capacity you can find;
- Not the cheapest option on the market.
3. Cookology CWD14 22L Warming Drawer
- Integrated model;
- 22L and 25 kg maximum capacity;
- Plates Warming, Bread Proofing, Defrost, and Soften functions;
- Works with a temperature range of 40 to 80 degrees Celsius.
Here’s a 22L warming drawer from Cookology that seems to tick all the right boxes! It comes from a company reputable for its kitchen appliances and accessories.
The main functions it incorporates are more than enough, even for the pickiest buyers.
Not to mention it makes for an affordable choice.
Expect from this drawer to handle any temperature from 40 to 80 degrees Celsius, all while juggling with four different functions.
You can defrost or soften certain foods, do the bread proofing like an expert, and keep plates and food warm for as long as you need it.
Anything up to 25kg, which is the maximum weight capacity, will do it!
Its LED display with touch controls backs up the easy-peasy operation, and it has a dedicated button for opening or closing it, which we find to be a practical touch, too.
Sleek and elegant, with a shallow design, it will give your kitchen’s setting a refreshing aesthetic kick.
Some would say it takes a bit of trial and error to know exactly what settings to use under what circumstances.
Still, it’s not like it has tens of different options. You’ll learn how to use it once, and chances are you’ll never again want to live without it.
Specifications
Pros
- Sleek and elegant warming drawer;
- Opening and closing at the push of a button;
- LED display with intuitive touch control;
- Wide range of handy settings.
Cons
- The shallow design could hinder proofing bread in a bowl;
- It takes a bit of trial and error to get the right settings.
4. Montpellier WD14SS Built-in Warming Drawer
- Elegant, built-in warming drawer;
- 14L and 25 kg maximum capacity;
- 3 functions and 9 temperature settings;
- Touch operation with digital display and timer.
Despite the little room this warming drawer from Montpellier takes, it can definitely handle large tasks.
Within its 14L drawer, you can stash in anything up to 25 kg, and that’s where the fun begins.
Looking at the practical selection of functions and temperature settings, you’ll find more and more opportunities to use it multiple times a day.
The spring mechanism supports smooth actioning for either opening or closing it.
The three functions will do the trick every time, whether for plate warming, food warming, or slow cook. And the range of 9 different temperature settings is genuinely outstanding.
Setting it up is intuitive even for the less technical-savvy user. What’s more, any active setting will be visible on the digital display.
Touch operation is an enchanting feature to have in a warming drawer, and the timer it comes with will soon be your best buddy.
The maximum temperature range is set to 70 degrees Celsius, so if you’re not bothered that you can’t make it to 80, you’ll love everything else about it.
In fact, the manufacturer considered that it would be more beneficial to have it start at a lower temperature of 30 degrees Celsius and work from there.
All in all, Montpellier’s built-in warming drawer could easily catch your eye. For an attractive price, it also bundles a 2-year warranty. Would you take a pass on that?
Specifications
Pros
- Adjustable heat setting with plenty of options;
- Practical selection of functions and fast warm up;
- Convenient spring mechanism allows easy opening/closing;
- Generous, two-year warranty.
Cons
- Only 3 functions;
- Maximum temperature set to 70 degrees Celsius.
5. Siemens iQ700 BI630DNS1B Warming Drawer
- Integrated, generously-sized warming drawer;
- 52L and 25 kg maximum capacity;
- Food Warming, Crockery Warming, Gentle Cooking, Thawing, and Proving Dough functions;
- Can take in a maximum of 40 plates or 192 espresso cups.
Sit tight before you’re going to hear of Siemens’ iQ700 because it is a one-of-a-kind warming drawer.
There’s so much to say about this nicely-sized integrated unit, but we’ll try to keep it short.
So, if you see yourself having to warm up 40 plates at a time or a whopping 192 espresso cups, this is your go-to warming drawer!
That’s right, it does have a remarkable capacity of 52L and 25 kg, and it can take care of whatever you throw at it with one of the five main functions.
Warming left aside, it handles crockery too, but that’s not all. Thawing, as in delicate defrosting, is totally doable with it, just like gentle cooking.
And did we mention it can prove dough like no other?
All its functions are possible due to maintaining a broad range of temperatures, from 30 to 80 degrees Celsius.
And you have 4 specific temperature control levels to choose from. For your convenience, it is easy to access why either pushing or pulling it.
The control dials are made of stainless steel, guaranteed to last.
The price tag isn’t the most accessible, mind you, but what would you expect from such a generously sized warming drawer with 29 inches in height and weighing 19kg all by itself?
Specifications
Pros
- Built with a really large volume capacity;
- Wider temperature range and 4 control levels;
- Handles actioning with push/pull functionality;
- Sturdy stainless steel control dials.
Cons
- One of the more expensive models you’ll come around;
- Occasional reliability issues reported.
6. Whirlpool Built-In Warming Drawer
- Built-in plate warmer;
- 20L and 25kg maximum capacity;
- iXelium nanotechnology treatment;
- Temperature adjustable from 40 to 70 degree Celsius.
Whether you’re a fan of Whirlpool appliances or you just bumped into this one, you will want to take the extra time and consider their built-in 20L and 25 kg plate warmer.
If you don’t mind playing with mechanical controls, you’ll find in this particular model everything you need and a little extra.
For the part you need, we can mention the temperature range of 40 to 70 degrees Celsius, the easy-open with a spring mechanism, the On/Off indicator, and the generous inside space.
You’ll see it has no whistles and bells, but it certainly does the job.
Now, for the little extra part, we really need to dig a bit into the iXelium nanotechnology treatment.
The stainless-steel warming drawer was coated with this particular treatment, which offers enhanced protection and is meant to keep its good looks for much longer than you can imagine.
Long story short, yes, it will represent an investment if you make up your mind for it.
But it’s a warming drawer that doesn’t catch fingerprints or scratches, and that will stand well to discolouration, maintaining that perfect shine for a long time.
Specifications
Pros
- Easy to open with a simple push;
- Special housing treatment promotes easy maintenance;
- More than decent interior capacity;
- Comes with On/Off indicator.
Cons
- Power led doesn’t light up strong enough;
- Mechanical controls.
Warming Drawer Buying Guide
Fitting
Just as the name suggests, a warming drawer is meant to fit into a wall cavity, like a filing cabinet.
For this reason, you’ll mostly find it as a built-in or integrated warming drawer rather than a standalone unit.
Also, it will typically fit the area from above the oven or right underneath the cooktop.
Its control panel with all the setting options should hide behind a stainless-steel panel in line with your furniture.
Some of the best-rated models are designed with a spring mechanism that allows you to open or close it without the need for a protruding handle.
Therefore, fitting a warming drawer should be seamless and enable the appliance to sit flush with the cabinetry.
Size
Suffices to check a couple of warming drawers, and you’ll notice that size is typically revolving around a common value.
Most models will be sized at around 14cm in height, 59.5 – 60cm in width, and 54 – 56cm in depth.
Weight-wise, which, by the way, is different from the weight capacity, is typically anywhere from 15 to 20kg.
The larger the storage capacity, the higher the weight of the appliance. Still, you might find smaller units with a 14L volume and on the same weight size as a larger 52L drawer.
In the end, size and weight are given by the material (most of them are made of stainless steel), the sturdiness of their structure, and the intended volume.
Weight Capacity
The weight capacity refers to how heavy is the load a warming drawer can stand.
If you’re only looking to keep plates warm for a relatively small family, even a smaller weight capacity of 15Kg might serve you well.
If, on the other hand, you plan on slow cooking with it or hosting larger events and keeping lots of plates, cups, and crockery warm, you will not want to make compromises.
A standard weight capacity for such intended uses is 25kg.
Functions
The best warming drawers have as many functions as possible.
During your research, you might bump into models with only 3 functions, or into others with 5 functions.
The minimum you should get is plate warming, food warming, and bread proving.
In addition, you might want to be able to enjoy slow cooking and food thawing, as in defrosting.
Features
The features a warming drawer comes with go beyond the simple gesture of selecting a function.
Best models offer a touch screen with electric controls and variable temperature settings.
Even for such a simple small appliance that is only intended to keep something warm, the more control features you have, the better!
Temperature Range
The average temperature range you’ll encounter is from 40 to 70 degrees Celsius.
The broader this range, the better, so, if you can find one that goes up to 80 degrees, you might want to give it careful consideration.
Occasionally, some models are meant to handle 30 to 80 degrees Celsius.
Safety
Like with any other electrical appliance, safety is a significant concern.
You will want to pick a model that expands as much as possible, so you can take out the warm food and plates without the risk of burning yourself.
What also helps is if the drawer has a light indicator, so you can always tell when it is on and warming up.
Again, this feature will help you avoid getting burned by touching the hot drawer while thinking it is cold.
Finally, you might notice that most user manuals will underline that it is mandatory to install them in a particular position, one that would force the power cord to exit at the back of the drawer and not stand in its way.
If you can get your hands on the desired model’s user manual, you’ll get plenty of details on how safe that unit is and what you should expect from working with it.
Pricing Range
When everything else from functionality to safety has been covered, you’re still left wondering if the price is right.
So that you know, warming drawers aren’t among the most affordable small appliances.
A cheap warming drawer of decent quality could be around £170. Going up the price ladder, you should still spot more than decent options around £200 to £300. All while top-of-the-range warming drawers will go way above £550.
Our Verdict
Without a doubt, a warming drawer isn’t just for professional kitchens. Yet the models that bring you the best value for your money share some specific features.
Make sure you pick a stylish, stainless-steel model that doesn’t just warm plates and food but can also defrost – look for the thawing function!
Moreover, try to find the perfect balance between the volume and weight capacity you need and a wide temperature range.
Take your time and consider all the options, without dismissing the more expensive ones just because of the price tag.
After all, the best warming drawers, whether from Belling, Siemens, Bosch, or Whirlpool, are an investment in itself. Make it a wise investment with our buying guide and product reviews from above!