Remember when I realized I was slowly turning into a Mexican?
It’s happened again.
I used to make fun of my mother-in-law for this, as well as former roommates, landlords and friends.
And now…
Yes. I use my own oven for storage instead of baking. It’s just so darn convenient!
I think this cultural habit stems from two factors:
1. Mexican cooking requires more use of the stove, not the oven.
2. As in many non-American countries, Mexican kitchens don’t offer much in the way of cabinets.
So Voila! Perfect solution: Unused oven = storage.
American readers: Feel free to mock me.
Mexican readers: Feel free to say “I told you so”.
Haha! I only understand this because my Grandmother in Switzerland does the same thing. And she keeps her cheese in there instead of the fridge so it is nice and stinky.
I do the same thing! But, I use my oven, so out comes the pot and pans! Hey, it’s a good storage spot.
Ha! Ha! I’m from the U.S. too, but I have always, from when I was a little girl in Georgia, known that the oven was a great place for storage! :-)) We stored our cornbread baking pans and cookie sheets in there! So…it’s not that unusual everywhere! ^_^
Our old apartment had NO storage in the kitchen so I can totally understand needing to do this!
Well, at least it is all baking related. I would be more concerned if you stored your linens in there.
Cute post Laura! I actually do use my oven but that’s beacuse Hubby and I are such foodies and we love to cook.
Hey, dont be surprise, I even storage cases of cokes, so my children wont get to them. of course I always make sure to take them out before I bake.
HA! Nice- just be sure you don’t preheat it before emptying it out!
lol! My Mother In Law does this, and she lives in Virginia! And my mom will store leftover food in the oven, like donuts.
It’s the reason I ALWAYS check the oven before preheating it now.
I will not mock. Nor will I say I told you so! Instead, I will say that it is indeed a lovely storage spot!
I am as American as you can get, but a southern American. I have kept my iron skillet in my oven always. I always knew to check the oven before turning it one or moving from that house. Left over cobblers always were stored in the oven. It is a logical thing to do. Things don’t rust(the skillet) in high humidity, food stays safe from critters like mice and roaches etc.
i would like to have one of those hangy pot things, where all your pots and pans hang above your head.
Sergio’s sister in Mexico City requested that I make lasagna for the family since they have never tried it and wanted to. She went to work. And so did I… pulling out a 100 pieces of plastic dishes in order to use the oven.
lol…that must be why my Mexican neighbor keeps her comal in the oven!
LOL! love it 🙂
Hahaha – I don’t do that but only because I use my oven a LOT!! LOL!!
You’re hilarious!!
Hey, I’m Canadian and I’ve used my oven for storage…lol. Only took me one time of melting some plastic to make me remember to ALWAYS check the oven before turning it on, even if I’m 100% certain nothing is in there.
I used to also be shocked that my Mexican friends here in the states used their dishwasher as storage (for cups and such), but now I do the same thing. 🙂
LMAO! I have cookie sheets in my oven right now because I can’t fit them in the sliding drawer under the oven.
Don’t Mexicans bake bread though? Pan? … Interesting cultural difference. Korea isn’t very big on ovens either, actually. If they do have something like it, it’s one of those mini ovens.
If nothing else, your oven will be a convenient space saver!
Hey there. The people here buy most of their pan/bread from the nearest bakery. At least in the city that’s the usual. We don’t really bake that much. ;D
We don’t have a comal in the US, so the oven gets used daily to heat tortillas. Wish I had more storage space though! Perhaps your next post will be: How I Learned to Love Sandwichon? I think if I actually eat that with a smile then I will immediately be granted citizenship!
I’ve done this as long as I’ve lived in an apartment (zero storage space). I once melted a plastic tupperware thing because I didn’t take everything out when I did want to bake! Love the blog, by the way!