W10779716 Whirlpool Range Oven Bake Element – The essential fix for a Whirlpool electric oven that won't heat when set to bake, takes excessively long to preheat, bakes unevenly (top browns but bottom stays raw), doesn't reach the set temperature, sparks or arcs visibly, produces a burning smell, trips the circuit breaker when bake is selected, or has a visible break, blister, or burn spot in the lower element. The bake element is the heating coil at the bottom of the oven that provides the primary heat for baking and roasting. This is a 3,600W @ 240V class element (platform dependent) that converts electrical energy into intense radiant heat. When the element fails — typically from the nichrome wire burning through at a weak point (internal open circuit) — the oven loses its primary heat source. You may see a visible blister, hole, or burn-through spot on the sheath where the failure occurred. Heat-fatigued terminals are another common failure — repeated thermal cycling weakens the terminal connections over time. A short-to-ground failure (element shorts to the metal sheath) causes the circuit breaker to trip immediately when bake is selected. If your oven runs the fan and lights but produces no heat on bake (while broil still works), the bake element has failed. This genuine OEM Whirlpool part directly replaces W10289097 and W10774342. Fits Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Amana, Jenn-Air, Roper, and Kenmore electric ranges and wall ovens. Easy 15–25 minute DIY repair.