Replacing some parts on a standard Kenmore electric range is a lot easier than it seems. If you have basic tinkering skills, you can save yourself the repair costs by doing it yourself. This is even true for some electrical components, like the surface element control switches.
What controls the temperature regulation on an electric range?
On an electric range, you regulate the temperature of each burner (also known as surface elements) using the knobs on the front panel of the range. These knobs allow you to regulate between the various temperatures you use for cooking, from low, medium-low, medium, medium-high to high, usually in increments from Low (1) to 10 (high).
Each burner control knob has a respective surface element control switch located on the other side of the panel on which they sit. This is what really controls the burners, communicating the proper temperature between the knobs and the respective burners.
Surface element control switch: common issues
Some common issues caused by a faulty surface element control switch include:
- Electric burner does not turn on at all
- Electric burner only works at low temperatures
- Electric burner only works at high temperatures
- Electric burner only works at low and high temperatures
All of these issues are certainly annoying! In my case, my front right large burner (which is the one I use the most) only worked at low and high temperatures.
Where to find replacement parts for a Kenmore electric range
If your Kenmore unit came from Sears, Sears Parts Direct generally has you covered. If not available on there, try eBay or any similar reseller market.
Your range’s model can be found on an information bracket located inside the oven door. It looks like this:
To figure out which replacement part you need, you can enter your Kenmore range model number into the search box on Sears Part Direct. Scroll down until you locate what you need. Note that sometimes, older parts have since been replaced with a newer model, which will be indicated when you locate them on the site.
You can also look up your individual part number to go directly to the component page on Sears Parts Direct. Individual components, such as the surface element control switches, have their model number stamped on. You can locate this, once you follow the below instructions to access the switches, but here’s what they look like. Type A goes with the smaller burners, and the part number is 318220080; type B goes with the large burners, and the part number is 318220081. These are the numbers you want to use to look up the replacement part on Sears Parts Direct.
How to replace a surface element control switch on a Kenmore electric range
IMPORTANT!
Before starting, either unplug the range from the wall or turn it off at the circut breaker!!!
1. UNPLUG THE RANGE FROM THE WALL OR TURN IT OFF AT THE CIRCUT BREAKER BEFORE PROCEEDING!
2. Remove all coils and trays from the range and set aside.
3. Lift the range cover. The range cover lifts from the front like the hood of a car. Most ranges also include a support strut to hold up the cover while you work.
Note that grease buildup may cause the cover to become stuck. In this case, try to wedge a knife or other flat, sturdy object between the front corners of the cover and the counter to carefully force it up.
4. Remove the temperature control knobs.
5. Remove the brackets housed below the knobs using a flathead screwdriver to carefully loosen and turn counter clockwise.
6. Pull the entire top panel up, and set aside; note that the oven light switch may remain connected to the panel, in which case you can just turn the panel to the side to set it next to the range while you proceed.
7. Remove all screws holding the control bracket in place using a larger phillips head screwdriver. Note that the 790 model has six screws, and that you should NOT remove the screws directly adjacent to the oven and time control panel. Carefully pull the bracket back to expose the surface element control switches. You may need to close the range cover at this point to loosen up the wires and gain access to the surface element control switch you want to replace.
8. Locate the surface element control switch you want to replace. Remove the screws from the front side of the bracket holding the surface element control switch in place with a phillips head screwdriver.
9. Take a picture or draw a diagram of the current position of each connection. Reference this when connecting the new switch. Note that each color corresponds to a code etched into the control switch terminals.
In my unit:
- Black wire: L1 (power negative)
- Orange wire: P (power indicator light)
- Brown right: H1 (heating coil)
- Brown left: H2 (heating coil)
- Red wire: L2 (power positive)
10. Disconnect each connection. Depending on how old your unit is, you may need to gently pull the connections off of the switch using a pair of pliers. Once disconnected, remove switch and set aside.
11. Connect wires to appropriate connections on replacement switch.
12. Place mounting bracket on the knob connector, and then install the switch to the main bracket covering all of the switches. Screw switch into the main bracket cover using provided screws and a phillips head screwdriver.
13. Ensure the knob screw is in the OFF position and replace all of the screws holding the main bracket to the range.
14. Reset the cover and knob brackets, carefully tightening each one with a flat head screw driver to hold the cover in place.
15. Replace knobs, trays and heating elements, restore power and test.
Breakfast Kale Recipe
By now you know that we love kale. While kale makes an excellent dinner vegetable, did you know you can also eat it for breakfast or brunch?
This is a slightly more decadent, yet protein packed version of our braised kale recipe. We “brunch it up” with the addition of bacon and eggs, and a reduction of the broth.
After cracking the eggs onto the kale portions, cook at least until the whites are solid. After that, it’s up to your tastes on how done you like them. For less runny yolk, just leave in for a few more minutes.
The below recipe is for two; simply double it for a family of four.
Breakfast Bacon, Eggs & Kale Recipe
| Ingredients 2 slices of bacon 10 cups of fresh chopped kale 1/4 tsp garlic salt 1/2 cup chicken, beef or vegetable broth 2 eggs Smoked paprika Optional: grated parmesan or crumbled feta cheese Directions 1. Cook the bacon in a large, deep sauté pan until crisp; set aside to drain and cool. 2. Toss the kale in the pan with the bacon grease over medium heat until lightly coated, about 2-3 minutes. 3. Add the garlic salt and broth; stir to mix/coat, and cover. Simmer over medium heat for about 5 minutes. 4. Carefully separate the kale into separate, equal servings portions in the pan, and make a “nest” in the middle of each. 5. Crack an egg into each nest, and cover, simmering for about 5 additional minutes, or until the eggs have set to desired consistency. 6. Carefully remove the portions into serving bowls; top with a sprinkle of smoked paprika and if desired, parmesan or feta cheese. |
How to Braise Kale
Kale is a bountiful, nutritious and cheap leafy green, which, with the right preparation, is also delicious.
Kale is versatile, and can be consumed as a salad, in smoothies, soups and braised into tender, savory goodness.
We eat this year-round, but braised kale is especially hearty on a cool evening in the fall or winter. It pairs well with chicken and pork chops, and a glass of dry white wine. Personally, we’ve found it pairs especially well with this Moroccan Chicken dish, finding ourselves taking bites of the chicken, quinoa and kale at the same time for an indescribable explosion of flavor.
Braised Kale: Cooking Notes
The key to a good mess of braised kale for a family of four is starting with the a large, wide and deep sauté pan that has a lid. This is because kale, like most greens, wilts and shrinks as it cooks, so you want to make sure you have room to start with a full pan.
The recipe calls for 12 cups of chopped kale, but this is an estimation. We generally start by packing and filling the sauté pan to the brim. We usually end up using about 2/3 to 3/4 of a package of pre-chopped kale.
If you like your greens with a bit of vinegar flavor, feel free to toss a couple of quick splashes of red wine vinegar in at the end.
Braised Kale Recipe
| Ingredients 2 tablespoons olive oil At least 12 cups fresh chopped kale 1/4 tsp garlic powder 1/4 tsp smoked paprika 1 cup chicken or beef broth OR 1 bouillon cube in 1 cup water Splash of red wine vinegar (optional) Directions 1. Place olive oil in pan and heat over medium high heat 2. Once oil is heated, add kale and stir for about 2-3 minutes until lightly coated with olive oil 3. Add garlic powder, smoked paprika and broth, stirring to combine and coat the kale, about 2-3 minutes 4. Reduce heat to medium low and cover. Braise for 10-12 minutes or until broth is mostly evaporated and absorbed, stirring occasionally. 5. If desired, splash a few drops of red wine vinegar over the cooked kale and stir. Serve immediately. |
While this is a great side vegetable for dinner, it can also make a nice hearty breakfast or brunch dish.
Speaking of breakfast, if you like kale, you’ll love this breakfast kale dish!
How to Stock Your Pantry With the Essentials
When my partner and I moved in together, we combined kitchens that were in disarray. I lived alone and was used to cooking for one, if I cooked at all. She had been in recovery from some medical issues, and relied on pre-packaged and frozen meals to hold over her tribe.
When I moved in, things changed. Not only was I another mouth to feed, but we decided that it was time to break the unhealthy habits of dining out and eating pre-packaged and frozen items. We also decided to make and stick to a budget with a goal of paying down debts that we both brought to the table.
So how do you combine eating healthier with a budget? Well, that’s what this site is all about! And for us, it started with stocking up on the essentials.
What are Pantry Essentials?
At first, we found ourselves running to the grocery store…a lot. We’d try to make something for ourselves and a hungry teenager and pre-teenager. But we often found we lacked something essential, such as flour, sugar, a vinegar, a spice. Eventually, we built up a collection.
After building a collection, we wanted to start planning meals around what we already had in order to save on grocery bills. But what were we still missing?
As we learned, a well-stocked pantry is a project with some up-front cost against your grocery budget, but with long-term benefits. Once your pantry is stocked with staples, your grocery budget goes down.
We used a list created by the folks over at Budget Bytes. Obviously, tailor this for your own needs. For example, we don’t bake, so we left off things like baking and cocoa powder, as well as any item that hit our allergy list.
Once stocked, the grocery bill went down because we were now buying mostly perishable and one-time use items. In addition, we could build our meal plans around the staples we already have, and plan to pick up staples when they are on sale.
Related: How to Build an Emergency Savings Account
How to Organize Your Pantry
- Pull everything out, and group any duplicates together
- Toss anything long-expired
- Donate anything not expired that you aren’t going to consume
- Where possible, combine any duplicates into either one original container or into larger containers.
- If possible, group your spice cabinet into categories so you can better find and take stock of what you need. We grouped together: dried herbs, ground savory spices (turmeric, cumin, etc.), ground sweet spices (nutmeg, cinnamon), salt-based seasonings (seasoned salt, Old Bay, etc.), salts, peppers, etc.
Speaking of turmeric and cumin, have you tried this Instant Pot Moroccan Chicken dish?
A good cabinet audit, update and organization will help prevent purchasing things you already have, and help you build meal plans around what you already have, thus saving in your grocery budget!