Are You Struggling To Open A Stuck Oven Drawer? Here Are The Steps To Take

That bottom drawer below your oven is like an unsung hero in your kitchen, taking on all the miscellaneous baking and cooking supplies that would otherwise just be taking up a ton of space in your cabinets and drawers. But since this spot tends to be a "catch-all" drawer, it can easily get stuck, so you'll have to be without your baking sheets, pots, or large utensils. But if your oven drawer is stuck shut, you can take a few steps to get it open without having to call in a professional.

Before you do anything, make sure your oven is turned off and fully cooled down. Most likely, your oven won't open because the drawer has too many items that have shifted around and are jamming on the oven itself. We've all been there. If you can open the drawer slightly, you can take a thin, long tool that will fit into the gap, like a spoon, spatula, screwdriver, or a ruler, to try to shake loose whatever item is getting in the way of the drawer opening If this works, all you would need to do is reorganize your drawer to make sure the item does not cause the issue again.

You may still need to see if the drawer has fallen off its tracks or if the tracks are damaged or misaligned. If you can, empty the drawer of any items that might get in the way before trying to remove the drawer. If the drawer has fallen off the rails, you may need to refer to your owner's manual if you cannot simply shift the drawer into the correct spot. Check to see that there is no warming or proving drawer that could be causing the problem. If possible, you may need to take your drawer out and reinsert it properly, with the back end wheels fitting inside the bottom rails so the drawer slides in cleanly.

If the tracks are damaged or misaligned, you may need to grab a screwdriver or a hammer to fix any pieces that might have come unscrewed or to realign the rails. You might even find that the oven door may need to be removed if that helps with visibility. Before using any tools, remember to be very gentle so as not worsen the damage. If the damage is severe, it may be time to call a repair person or replace some parts.

Keeping your oven drawer tidy is the best way to prevent it from sticking. You may need to rethink what you keep in the drawer or reconfigure how you store items so everything fits neatly. In some cases, removing some items (especially heavier ones) may be necessary since an overloaded drawer with extra weight might be contributing to the drawers getting stuck or misaligned. Pulling too hard on your drawer, may also cause damage that affects how easily you can slide it in.

Plus, a dirty oven means that your drawer might be getting stuck on food residue, so make sure you are cleaning it regularly. If you don't like using harsh chemicals, you can even use lemons to clean your oven naturally without harmful fumes. A clean oven is also less hospitable to insects or rodents. Before putting everything back into your oven drawer, check for any signs of mice that may be found behind your oven, especially if it's a good place to find bits of food.