Electric Ranges

Electric smoothtop ranges are most popular

Electric ranges are popular among consumers because they don't require a separate gas hookup. Testing also shows that electric ovens cook more evenly than gas-powered ovens. However, electric ranges are slightly more expensive to operate. If you decide on an electric range, you must choose between traditional coil burners, smoothtops and induction ranges (discussed in the next section). Most reviews indicate that smoothtop ranges, which have radiant heating elements hidden under a flat ceramic surface, are easy to clean, but coil burners are less expensive to repair and replace. Given the popularity of flat cooktops, coil burners are typically found only on budget ranges of less than $500. Although a higher price gets you a classier design and extra features, actual performance differences between higher-end and lower-end electric ranges are often small.

Among electric ranges, the Electrolux EW30EF65GS (*Est. $2,250) rates highly in professional sources. The Electrolux range combines a full-size convection oven with a mini-oven/warming drawer for a total capacity of 6.7 cubic feet. It also offers electronic touch-screen controls, a self-cleaning feature and a wide range of cooking and baking options. Four heating elements are embedded in the glass smoothtop. Preprogrammed oven settings, including a Perfect Turkey turkey" setting (which is praised by experts and owners alike) simplify cooking. Like its gas equivalent, the EW30GF65GS (discussed in the previous section), this range has Luxury-Glide oven racks that roll smoothly on ball bearings and a Wave-Touch control panel that activates only when touched. The Electrolux EW30EF65GS comes in a stylish stainless-steel finish (with a distinctive cobalt-blue interior) and is covered by a one-year warranty.

One recent professional test gives the Electrolux EW30EF65GS range very good or excellent marks in every category -- baking, heating, broiling and cleaning. Review site ConsumerGuide.com names it a best buy as well, giving it 5 stars out of 5 overall. The reviewer praises this range's variety of presets and notes that the heating elements make better contact with the pan than those of many other smoothtops. We found more than 30 reviews for this model at the Electrolux manufacturer site and another 10 or so at BestBuy.com, and nearly all of them award this range perfect 5-star scores. Users praise  the easy-to-adjust heating elements, easy-glide oven racks, bright interior lighting and mini-oven. Most also like the Wave-Touch controls, although a couple say they can be a bit confusing. The most common complaint is that the glass smoothtop is easily scratched. Two users report having technical problems with their ranges, but one goes on to give the range 5 stars anyway because Electrolux's customer service was so helpful and the replacement range worked perfectly. The other describes a much worse experience with customer service and gives the range 1 star -- the only negative review we found. This user's experience appears to be unusual, because the Electrolux brand receives high average ratings from owners in the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Home Appliance Study.

Another electric range with good expert reviews is the mid-priced Kenmore 92803 (*Est. $925). In one professional test, this range earns top marks for heating, simmering, broiling and cleaning, and very good marks for baking. The Kenmore range has a huge 5.8-cubic-foot oven with a convection feature, three chrome racks and a large glass window. The ceramic glass cooktop contains five heating elements, including one high-power TurboBoil burner and one that can adjust in size to accommodate extra-large pots. The controls combine an electronic touchscreen for the oven with knobs for the five burners. The Kenmore 92803 range has a stainless-steel finish, but the same range is available in white, black or bisque for about $70 less. It is backed by a one-year warranty.

Kenmore appliances are sold only at Sears, so Sears.com is the best source of user comments for this range. We found a total of 15-plus reviews for the four separate model numbers, with an overall rating of 3.7 stars out of a possible 5. Users love this range's large oven, and several say the convection feature is great for even baking. A few owners say the cooktop would be more useful if one of the small warming elements (which are needed for handling delicate cooking jobs) were moved to the front in place of the TurboBoil element, because as one user points out, boiling water doesn't require much attention. Also, as with other smoothtop ranges, we read the occasional lament that the cooktop scratches easily.

Among budget-priced electric ranges ($700 or less), we found the best reviews for the Samsung FE-R300SX (*Est. $625). This range has four heating elements embedded in its smooth ceramic cooktop: two small 6-inch elements and two dual elements that adjust from 6 to 9 inches as needed. The huge 5.9-cubic-foot oven has five rack positions, and its heating element is hidden to prevent the burns and mitigate food spills that can occur with an exposed heating element. It includes both electronic and dial controls on its backsplash, and there is a child safety lockout feature. However, it doesn't include features found on higher-end ovens, such as a convection mode or a warming drawer. The Samsung FE-R300SX range has a stainless-steel finish, but white and black versions are also available for about $100 less. Its one-year warranty covers parts and labor.

The Samsung FE-R300SX is named the best budget electric range in Good Housekeeping's recent review of 27 ranges. It performs well at every kitchen task -- baking, boiling and simmering -- and the editors like its preprogrammed settings for pizza and chicken nuggets. We found nearly 20 enthusiastic reviews for this range at BestBuy.com, and about 35 more on the Samsung website. Users say this range is a great value, praising the cooktop and oven performance and features such as the quick-boil burner and slow cook setting. Most also find it easy to clean, though a couple of those who bought the stainless-steel version disagree. The most common complaints about this oven are that it offers too little storage space for cookware and it does not include a broiler tray.

Another budget range that performs well in professional tests is the GE JBP35SMSS (*Est. $550). This is the only well-reviewed electric range we found that has old-fashioned heating coils rather than the more modern smoothtop design. It's a basic model with few features beyond the self-cleaning cycle, but it does offer a large 5.3-cubic-foot oven capacity. In professional tests, this range is rated excellent for baking and simmering, very good for boiling and just OK for broiling. We found only a handful of user reviews at HomeDepot.com and Buzzillions.com, but most users seem to like this range's looks and performance. More than one expresses delight at being able to find a coil range that is available in stainless steel. (This range also comes in white, black and bisque, and unlike many ranges, it doesn't cost extra for the stainless-steel finish.) GE's warranty covers parts and labor for one year.

Another GE range, the GE JBS55DMWW (*Est. $450), isn't included in any professional tests, but it gets high overall ratings from users at HomeDepot.com and Buzzillions.com. Unlike the other ovens in our reviews, this bare-bones smoothtop range doesn't include a self-cleaning cycle, but most owners say they don't miss it. Users say this range is a great value, with its 5.3-cubic-foot oven, quick-heating burners and easy-to-clean glass cooktop. However, like all smoothtop ranges, this one gets some complaints about how easily it scratches. A few users also note that the large oven takes a long time to preheat. The GE JBS55DMWW has a white finish, but it is also available in black and (for an extra $100 or so) stainless-steel finishes. All versions share the same one-year limited warranty.