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How much do you need to spend for an electric range that quickly brings water to a boil and simmers sauces superbly while its large oven turns out nicely browned cookies? If an electric coil top model is for you, figure on $430 or less. The Kenmore 90212, which was just added to Consumer Reports' list of top range picks, is the lowest-priced range in that select group and a fraction of the price of some smoothtop electric ranges with similar performance.
"It just doesn't happen that often," says Tara Casaregola, the engineer who runs our tests of cooking appliances. "Electric coil tops are less expensive, but standout performance isn't usually the big draw." However, the Kenmore 90212 delivered excellent overall performance in our tests and is a CR Best Buy. Broiling was only mediocre, and if want a great-looking range, keep looking. This Kenmore won't turn heads but at that price the real surprise is not how basic it is but how well it performs.
The GE JBP35SM[SS] is the other electric coil range we recommend. It costs $650 and is available in a stainless-steel finish. Its better baking score put it a notch above the Kenmore. Our tests also found that the $800 Whirlpool RY160LXTQ coil top range was impressive overall. It's not a recommended model, but it is an unusual hybrid—a slide-in range with an electric coil top. That's like wearing sneakers with a tux.
Our range Ratings include dozens of electric smoothtop, induction, and coil ranges. Smoothtop ranges are sleeker and make it easier to wipe up spills, compared to coil tops, and induction ranges offer the fastest cooktop heat of anything we've tested. Cooking with gas? We've tested dozens of those too, including some pro-style models that make our top picks list. Use our test results to find the right range for you.
—Kimberly Janeway
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