Most of us have them — those small, hard-to-reach cupboards above the refrigerator that seem more like wasted space than anything useful. They’re awkward, deep, and almost impossible to get to without standing on a chair. But did you know these high cabinets actually have a purpose? And it’s probably not what you think.

Originally, the cabinets above the fridge were designed with a very specific use in mind: long-term food storage. Back before large pantries were common in homes, these upper cabinets provided a space to store dry goods, canned foods, or seasonal items that didn’t need to be accessed daily. Because heat rises and the area above the fridge gets warm, it was never ideal for perishable food—but for shelf-stable supplies, it was a clever solution.

Over time, however, as kitchens became more modern and spacious, that cabinet lost its clear purpose. Nowadays, most people either ignore it, use it to hide clutter, or forget it even exists. Some homeowners have even taken to storing things like cookie trays, holiday serving dishes, liquor bottles, or cleaning supplies up there.

But here’s the catch: the cabinet space above your fridge can actually become a fire hazard if you’re storing the wrong items—especially anything flammable like paper towels, alcohol, or plastic goods. That’s because fridges release heat as they cool, and the small, enclosed space above them can trap that heat over time.

So what should you store there?
Experts recommend using the space for:

• Cookbooks or recipe binders
• Extra paper goods (like napkins) if sealed well
• Appliances you only use once a year
• Large serving platters or trays
• Baking sheets
• Small kitchen tools in labeled bins

Just avoid storing anything that could warp, melt, or ignite from heat exposure.

Now that you know, it might be time to climb up and see what you’ve got hiding up there — and give that cabinet the purpose it was meant for.