Warming drawer w/ vent VS. convection fan

10 years ago

When I last had a warming drawer 20 years ago, it had a vent to close for moister conditions or open, when you wanted to keep things crisp. I am looking at two 36" models: one has the venting that I'm familiar with but only comes with a stainless drawer front and the other has no venting, but has a convection fan to shorten warm-up time. Its instructions say to turn off the fan when you want to retain more moisture in the drawer.

Can anyone comment on this newer style drawer with fan and no vent? I am inclined to buy it, as it is offered without a drawer face, but I am more accustomed to having a vent that can be opened or closed.

Thanks very much!

Featured Answer

plllog

10 years ago

So...by getting the T'dor, you're essentially getting something not much bigger than the 30" regular style, with which you'd have much more selection.

I really don't know how the fan driven WD works in comparison to the normal kind, but I have to say I don't like the idea. From what you say, they flat out admit that the fan dries out the food. Additionally, why would they need a fan if it worked normally? This leads me to think that it isn't a good design, but that's all wild speculation based on little knowledge.

OTOH, you sound like you have more experience with the lever operated vent than I do. I have it, but I don't have a lot of occasion to open it. I doubt that the conditions in the T'dor and Dacor are similar. They function in different ways. Is there an exterior vent for the convection fan? It doesn't sound like there is.

The whole point of the lever vent is to allow steam to escape. That is crucial for things that you want to keep crisp, like waffles (I just can't keep hold of 'em long enough to stack them in the WD!). Turning off the fan to keep things moist is more about preventing the fan churned air from drying them out.

Sorry. I'm thinking it through as I'm typing. I guess my reaction is that warming drawers work so well to do what they do without any electronics at all, that every addition to the works seems like a potential to screw it up to me. An electronic temperature control, other than having to be constantly locking out the auto-shutoff because who wants it to shut off after four hours? (couldn't they make it six or eight?), could be useful, especially if you're going to use it for slow cooking. But so would a $10 oven thermometer with a low, medium, high dial. :)

You're used to the lever vent and its results. It seems to me that buying new technology that might or might not work the way you expect it to is borrowing trouble when there are so many other appliances to worry about. If the fan unit is a display model, can you get them to hook it up so you can try it out? Or better yet, can you get them to give you a deal on the configuration you already like?

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Comments (6)

plllog
10 years ago
A lot depends on how you want your warming drawer to operate. At its
best it's a simple box that heats up. A lever to allow steam venting is
also nicely low tech. The rest of them run the gamut from full
electronic oven controls to electronically controlled simple boxes. I
haven't used the kind with the fan, but considering that the temperature
one wants for a warming drawer tops out at about 210° F, unless your house is very cold, I don't know why you'd need a fan to speed up warming. For holding thoroughly heated food warm without overcooking, unless you have a heavy pot full of stew or something, you're really looking more for 145-165°.

There isn't much selection at 36", however, as I'm sure you know, so that does force you to choose from what's available.

Re fronts, my panel ready 30" WD with vent lever came with the stainless front on it. It's cheaper for them to make them all the same than to save a little on the drawer front. Check with the installation guides, and even the makers themselves (e-mail or call), about whether you can substitute a custom panel if that's your preference.
kitchengirl
Original Author
10 years ago
Hi plllog, Thanks for your reply. There is a great deal on a previous showroom demo unit Thermador with a convection fan w/o vent… My question is really about whether the old-school vent offers something essential to the utility of a WD.

The instrux. manual for the Thermador says to turn off the fan if you'd like more moisture in the drawer (instead of closing a vent).

I remember distinctly from my previous drawer with vent that it made a world of difference whether the vent was open or closed. Really, the question is: do I just cover the dishes to be kept moist and leave open the ones that are to be crisp, if I am keeping more than one kind of food warm in the drawer??

Can you think of a negative to the Thermador with convex. fan vs. a traditional vented model? The Thermador is open on the sides, allowing greater access, but the controls are on the side, so the drawer is 4" less interior space than Dacor's. Thanks again for your input!
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kitchengirl
Original Author
10 years ago
Plllog, I expect my experience with the vented WD is similar to yours; I used it for 9 years before relocating to SoCal (and now we've become Midwesterners). It's true that I'm limiting myself w/ the 36" unit (really only 3 models, and I've ruled out American Range's model), but I plan to put it in my 36" cabinet below my induction cooktop.

I have noticed a trend toward these convex fan units w/o vents, but I don't know why, or what the +s/-s are. OR, appliance Co.'s just seek new gimmicks to try to sell more of a low-cost item...

The Thermador I found online w/ warranty, not from an area retailer. I will try calling Thermador, but don't have much hope for additional useful info. Thanks!!
plllog
10 years ago
Another option, if you don't need the width for the usable space, is to get a 30" and either use fillers next to it, or put in custom cubbies.

If you don't get more responses here, you might try posting in Kitchens for people's experiences with fan driven warming drawers.
kitchengirl thanked plllog
kitchengirl
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks -- I will check internal measurements of the 30" units to compare. And will apologetically post over in Kitchens, too.