Stop Storing These 5 Kitchen Items Near the Stove

Keeping your favorite utensils, ingredients, and spices handy on your kitchen counter is practically a chef’s rite of passage. It’s far easier to store the appliances and items you use every day on your countertop rather than tucking them away in a pantry or drawer. However, if the only counter real estate you have left is next to your stovetop, you should know what that means, safety-wise. Below, we discuss which items should never find a permanent home near the stovetop.

1. Oils and Spices

Though it’s pretty common to keep your favorite oils and spices right next to the stovetop, you should actually be keeping them far away from the heat. Sure, it’s handy to have your garlic powder and olive oil right there when you need them—but the heat can spoil both your spices and your olive oil quickly.

Keeping your olive oil next to the stovetop makes it go bad faster and causes it to lose its flavor and quality over time. Exposing your oil to heat or light is the quickest way to turn it rancid, so if you notice it tastes strange after keeping it next to the stovetop, it’s probably time to replace it (and stash it in your cupboard instead of next to the stove). 

The same thing goes for spices. They may not go rancid, though they can grow mold if moisture accumulates in the jar. The most important change, however, is the loss of flavor. Keep your spices somewhere cool; put them in a spice rack or drawer to keep them fresh. 

2. Paper Towels and Napkins

You probably like to keep your paper towels handy in the kitchen. While it’s perfectly fine to store paper towels (and napkins) on the counter, you should never leave them near the stovetop. An open flame can easily catch a roll of paper towels or a full napkin holder on fire. When the flames aren’t contained to your burner, they can quickly spread around your kitchen—especially if you aren’t actively watching your stovetop when an accident occurs.

The same thing goes for cookbooks. They may look pretty on your kitchen counter, but they shouldn’t go anywhere near your stove.

3. Linens

Cloth linens are another fire hazard that you might be storing too close to your stovetop. This includes items such as kitchen towels, cloth trivets, oven mitts and gloves, and pot holders. Never place these items next to your stovetop; keep them inside a drawer or cupboard instead. 

For towels you want out in the kitchen, a towel rack attached to your dishwasher or near your kitchen sink is a good idea. When you place oven mitts down after using them, be sure to keep them a safe distance away from your stove.

4. Electric Appliances

There are several reasons you shouldn't store any electrical appliances near the stove. The first is the appliance’s cord—when too hot, it can become damaged, posing a fire hazard. You also risk an appliance’s cord falling directly onto your stovetop. Whether it's an open flame or an induction cooktop—this is a serious fire hazard as well. 

Overheated appliances can also warp or become damaged. Not all appliances are meant to withstand high heat. Even with high temperatures, you risk damaging your appliances by spilling grease, oil, or cooked food on them.

5. Fruit Bowls

Keeping a bowl of fresh fruit next to your stove exposes it to excess heat, which makes it spoil faster. The increased moisture around your stovetop can also cause your fruit to mold quickly.

Heating your fruit too much may also cause it to lose flavor, so even if you want your fruit to ripen up quickly, storing it near the stovetop still isn’t a great idea. Move it to a different spot on your counter instead, where it won’t be exposed to such extreme temperatures.