The area around your stove can be prime kitchen storage real estate, especially for items that you regularly use when you're cooking. But there are likely things you have around your oven right now that can't take the heat—and need to be moved ASAP.
Keep in mind that your stove top temps can exceed 500 degrees Fahrenheit, which can translate to temperatures well above 100 degrees for items placed around or above your stove. That can create two very different issues: It can damage the items themselves and reduce their longevity, or it can create a potential fire hazard.
Check out this list of items that you shouldn't store near your stove—and why you should move them now.
Cooking Oil
Any chef worth their salt will tell you that cooking oils—particularly olive oil and seed oils—are extremely sensitive to high temperatures, which can degrade their quality and make them go rancid faster.
Spices
Keeping your spices near your stove seems to make sense, so you're always ready for an extra sprinkle of dried oregano or a dash of chili powder. But you may find that your spices stored near the stove lose their flavor faster, as the heat dries up the essential oils that give your spices their flavor and aroma.
And another potential issue? The humidity that develops—especially if you're regularly boiling water or simmering stews and soups—can also cause your spices to clump in their containers, making it hard to achieve just the right amount.
Paper Towels
Sure, you'd probably like to have paper towels handy to deal with any kitchen spills. But because they're so incredibly flammable, you'll want to keep your paper towels as far away from the stovetop as possible.
Electronics
High heat can mess with electronic components, and even melt them, if it gets hot enough. Consider moving counter appliances and your smartphone or laptop far away from the heat of the stove.
Perishable Food
The additional warmth from your cooktop can cause produce or other perishable items to soften and spoil faster. There's a reason why storage suggestions for even potatoes, onions, and other room-temperature vegetables call for cool, dark spots with low humidity!
Cleaning Products
Cleaning products are another potential flammability issue—plus, the chemicals released if they catch fire could be hazardous to your health.
Canned Goods
Canned goods are often considered among the most shelf-stable products you can keep in your pantry. So you'd think that storing them above the stove would be fine as well—but the USDA recommends finding a different spot for your favorite canned beans and soups. They should be stored at room temperature, as temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit can increase the chances that they will spoil.
Vinegar
Just like oils, vinegar can be affected by the high temperatures of the stove. You may find that they begin to taste "off" if they are stored near the stove.
Alcohol
Storing alcohol near the stove creates two different issues: It can be incredibly flammable, and long-term exposure to heat could impact the flavor and quality of your wines or other alcoholic beverages.
Cookbooks and Paper
Not only are cookbooks and papers a fire hazard, but the inevitable splashes and splatters will stain from the stove will stain them. (And cleaning tomato sauce or cooking oil off of paper can be impossible!) Keep cookbooks and recipes far from your cook top, and use a cookbook holder with a clear plastic or acrylic shield to help minimize stains.
Dish Towels and Oven Mitts
Oven mitts feel like they should be a near-the-stove essential, but you'll want to keep them safely stowed to avoid a potential fire hazard. Consider placing them in a drawer nearby, instead of out in the open close to the stove.
Medications
For most medications, you'll want to choose a cool, dark place for storage—and the area around the stove is not a good choice then, obviously. Long-term exposure to heat could reduce the effectiveness of your medicines.
Anything Wood or Plastic
These items are at risk of warping, drying out, melting, or even catching fire if they get too close to the flames, so keep them away from the heat of the stove.
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