Plenty of electric ranges offer a good-looking, flat-radiant cooking surface, but Maytag's MES5875BA takes this surface and adds an abundance of flexible-use elements. These elements include a dual-choice element, a triple-choice element, a warming center and a flex-choice melting element.

The dual-choice element offers two rings of heat, while the triple element offers three. Maximize the efficiency of cooking with this range by selecting the heated ring closest in size to the pan you will be using -- doing so will increase the heat-to-pan contact and result in the more even cooking results that are especially important to proper preparation of foods such as omelets, frittatas and crepes. Add to this the convenience of a warming center for completed foods and an element that reduces low enough for controlled melting and you have an electric range that offers just a bit more for the selective home cook.

If this cook also enjoys baking, she will likewise appreciate the added convenience of the convection oven. This oven allows for the baking of three racks of cookies, cake layers and shallow pies. The convection also speeds roasting somewhat -- although you shouldn't expect the time savings to be as dramatic as in a speedcook oven. More important than time savings, this feature improves the quality of meats and poultry by sealing in the juices that make these foods tender.

When it comes to design, we're quite impressed with the good-looking, easy and effective digital controls that the MES5875BA has to offer. We're also pleased with the way the flat-glass surface matches the glass of the white, black or bisque versions of the range.

Maytag's pricing on this range is right in the middle of the pack. It offers a number of upgrades, so you can certainly spend more if you wish. If the MES5875BA has the features that work for you and it's in your price range, by all means consider it.


Pros: Flexibile-use stove top, nicely designed controls, convection oven
Cons: Lacks warming drawer

Warranty
1 year, limited