Self-cleaning ovens have seen a price increase in recent years but Maytag's MEW5530 built-in electric oven remains fairly budget friendly.

A good-looking oven, this model fits nicely into a 30-inch cutout and does a respectable job of baking, roasting and broiling. We like the well-designed controls and the fact that this oven preheats, not just for a given amount of time, but to a set temperature. This preheating feature ensures that when you're ready to bake, the oven is at exactly the temperature you need it to be.

If you haven't used a new oven lately, you'll likely appreciate the convenient, up-to-date features of the MEW5530. Two features that are particularly impressive on this model are cook & hold and keep warm. Cook & hold heats foods, then keeps them warm for an hour before shutting off the oven. Keep Warm is a low setting that's used to keep hot foods warm for an extended period of time. It's useful for keeping fresh bread warm or for holding foods that guests bring along to parties. Yet another use for this feature is it cam warm plates before food is placed on them. Unlike cook & hold, the keep warm setting doesn't shut off automatically, so keep an eye on it when you use this function.

Another new feature you'll find on the MEW5530 is a favorites setting. This setting allows you to program the time and temperature of a favorite recipe you use frequently. With this setting, the program you need is always right at your fingertips.

Offered in white or black glass, the MEW5530 self-cleans and offers a short cycle that saves you time if the soil level is light. While not inexpensive when compared to a one-piece range, Maytag's MEW5530 is reasonably priced for a built-in electric oven.


Pros: A good value among single, electric ovens
Cons: Combined with a cooktop, this is a more expensive choice than a one-piece electric range

Warranty
1 year