Where things might get heated

OVEN

["**Hint:** This kitchen appliance is essential for baking and roasting.\n\n*(This hint points to a common household item used for cooking with heat, making it easier than the original clue while still requiring the solver to connect \"heated\" to a specific appliance.)*"]

**Explanation:** The clue *"Where things might get heated"* leads to the answer **"OVEN"** through a straightforward definition. An oven is a kitchen appliance where food is cooked or baked, and it literally gets heated to high temperatures. The wordplay here is simple and direct—no puns or complex wordplay are involved. The clue relies on the literal meaning of "heated" to point to a place (the oven) where heat is applied. Additionally, "heated" can also imply a figurative sense of tension or conflict, but in this case, the primary meaning is the physical heat generated in an oven. The answer fits perfectly as a common household item associated with heat.