Maytag Oven: not cooking properly at 350 degrees

Professional Repair Guide

What is this symptom?

Is your Maytag oven not cooking properly at 350°F? You may be experiencing undercooked, overcooked, or unevenly baked food. This could be due to oven calibration issues, a failing temperature sensor, or problems with heating elements. Understanding the root cause is essential for effective troubleshooting and restoring proper oven function.

Urgency: Medium

Important Tips for Maytag Models

  • Maytag/Whirlpool-branded ovens commonly support a temperature calibration/offset adjustment. Maytag also provides an official evaluation method to decide whether calibration is needed before adjusting.

Possible Causes

Oven temperature calibration drift (needs calibration/offset adjustment)

How to Identify: Oven consistently runs too hot or too cool but otherwise heats normally; Maytag calibration evaluation test indicates offset beyond expected; typically no error codes.

Part: Electronic oven control calibration setting (temperature offset)

Failing or inaccurate oven temperature sensor (RTD sensor)

How to Identify: Temperature fluctuates more than normal, takes much longer to preheat, overshoots/undershoots, or cannot maintain 350°F; sometimes error codes appear if sensor fails completely. Sensor resistance may test out of specification with a multimeter.

Part: Oven temperature sensor (RTD probe)

Weak or partially failed bake element (electric models) causing low or uneven heat

How to Identify: Oven struggles to reach temperature, heats unevenly, or takes significantly longer; element may show blisters, cracks, holes, or may not glow during baking (some elements are hidden, so heating performance may be the clue. Continuity test may fail.

Part: Bake element

Weak or dirty igniter (gas models) leading to low flame and poor temperature control

How to Identify: Oven preheats very slowly, may never fully reach set temperature, burner flame may be delayed or weak; may smell gas briefly before ignition or cycle inconsistently.

Part: Oven igniter (hot surface igniter)

Control board / control module not regulating heat correctly

How to Identify: Temperature swings widely, elements/igniter cycle incorrectly, or oven temperature is inaccurate even after calibration and sensor checks; may present intermittent heating behavior.

Part: Oven control board / electronic control (EOC)

DIY Solutions

Verify actual oven temperature using the official Maytag calibration evaluation method

Easy 30-60 minutes
Tools Needed: Oven-safe thermometer (or a known-accurate digital oven thermometer), Pen/paper or notes app
  1. Place an oven-safe thermometer in the center of the middle rack.
  2. Preheat to 350°F and allow the oven to cycle for a period (do not rely only on the preheat beep).
  3. Record multiple temperature readings as the oven cycles.
  4. If the average temperature is consistently off (and within the range your model allows to correct), proceed to calibration/offset adjustment.
⚠️ Safety First: Use an oven thermometer rated for high heat.

Calibrate/adjust the oven temperature offset (if supported by your model)

Easy 5-10 minutes
Tools Needed: Owner’s manual or model-specific calibration steps
  1. Open the Maytag/Whirlpool calibration instructions for your control style (varies by model).
  2. Access the calibration menu (commonly by holding Temp/Time down, Bake, or using Settings until 'CAL' appears, depending on model).
  3. Increase or decrease the calibration offset in the allowed increments.
  4. Press START to save, then retest baking performance at 350°F with a thermometer.
⚠️ Safety First: Calibration corrects small consistent errors; if the oven cannot reach temperature or swings wildly, calibration may not help and parts testing may be needed.

Inspect heating performance (electric bake element or gas igniter) and confirm obvious failures

Moderate 15-45 minutes
Tools Needed: Flashlight, Screwdriver (varies), Multimeter (optional for continuity/diagnostics)
  1. Turn off power at the breaker (and shut off gas if applicable) before inspection.
  2. For electric models: visually inspect the bake element (if exposed) for blisters, cracks, holes, or burn marks; if accessible, test continuity with a multimeter.
  3. For gas models: observe ignition during preheat (from a safe viewing position); if igniter takes a long time to glow or burner ignition is delayed/weak, the igniter may be failing.
  4. If bake element has no continuity or igniter symptoms match common failure patterns, replace the faulty component or proceed to professional repair.
⚠️ Safety First: Disconnect electrical power before accessing panels.

Check oven temperature sensor mounting and wiring connection (basic checks)

Moderate 20-40 minutes
Tools Needed: Screwdriver, Flashlight, Multimeter (for resistance test, optional)
  1. Turn off power at the breaker.
  2. Locate the temperature sensor probe (commonly at the back of the oven cavity).
  3. Ensure the sensor is securely mounted and not physically damaged.
  4. If accessible, check the connector for a loose fit or signs of overheating/corrosion.
  5. If you have a multimeter and a repair guide for your model, test the sensor resistance and compare to expected values; replace if out of spec.
⚠️ Safety First: Always disconnect power before removing the sensor or accessing wiring.

Professional Repairs

Replace oven temperature sensor (RTD probe)

Estimated Cost: $80 - $250

Replace bake element (electric) or igniter (gas)

Estimated Cost: $120 - $400

Diagnose and replace electronic oven control board/control module

Estimated Cost: $250 - $700

When to Call a Professional

Gas odor persists or ignition is delayed with repeated clicking and no stable burner flame.
Temperature remains inaccurate after completing the official Maytag evaluation and calibration procedure.
The oven temperature swings widely (unstable cycling) suggesting sensor or control-board regulation issues.
Electrical testing (multimeter continuity/resistance) is required and you are not comfortable working with live circuits or appliance wiring.
Any error codes related to temperature sensing or heating appear repeatedly and return after reset.

Preventive Maintenance

  • Periodically verify oven temperature accuracy with an oven thermometer and record average cycle temperature before adjusting calibration.: Undercooking/overcooking due to unnoticed calibration drift
    Frequency: Every 6-12 months or when baking results change
  • Keep the oven interior and vent areas clean to prevent airflow disruption that can affect temperature stability.: Uneven baking and temperature instability
    Frequency: Monthly or as needed
  • For gas ovens, monitor preheat time and ignition behavior; slow preheat can indicate igniter wear before complete failure.: Gradual temperature loss and eventual failure to reach set temperature
    Frequency: Ongoing

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Maytag Oven not cooking properly at 350 degrees?
Common causes include calibration drift, a faulty temperature sensor, or issues with the bake element or igniter.
How do I fix Maytag Oven not cooking properly at 350 degrees myself?
Verify temperature accuracy, calibrate the oven, or inspect the heating elements and sensor for issues.
How much does it cost to fix not cooking properly at 350 degrees?
Professional repair costs can range from $80 to $700 depending on the issue and required parts.
When should I call a technician for not cooking properly at 350 degrees?
If DIY checks don't resolve the issue or if you're uncomfortable with repairs, it's best to call a technician.

References & Sources

Community Analytical Insights

Analysis based on real user discussions from appliance repair communities

Can I Fix This Myself?

65%
DIY Success Rate Difficulty: Either

Common Issues Reported by Users

  • Oven calibration is off, causing inaccurate temperature readings.
  • Faulty temperature sensor not accurately measuring the oven's internal temperature.
  • Heating element is malfunctioning or damaged, leading to uneven heating.

User Suggested Solutions

  1. Calibrate the oven: Use an oven thermometer to check the actual temperature. If it deviates from 350°F, adjust the oven's calibration settings according to the user manual.

  2. Replace the temperature sensor: Disconnect the oven from power, locate the sensor (usually at the back wall of the oven), and replace it with a new one if it's faulty.

  3. Inspect and replace the heating element: Check for visible damage or breaks in the heating element. If damaged, replace it by removing the screws and disconnecting the wiring.

Analysis based on 1 community discussions
View Sources

Data compiled from real discussions on r/appliancerepair and r/Appliances:

  1. Can an oven's heating element only be broken at a specific t...

Community Discussions

oven doesn't fully cook food at 350 degrees, cold in the middle

Check oven calibration and use an oven thermometer to verify temperature.

DIY View on Reddit →

Source: Reddit r/appliancerepair

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