Obe's Profile

You should always follow the range instruction manual when leveling a stove. If the manual is not available:
1. Level the front to back and left to right by placing a level on the oven rack. Adjust using the leveling feet on the stove. Some stoves have adjustment screws in the front for adjusting the back feet without pulling the stove from its location.
2. After leveling to the oven rack, place a level across each of the burners. Check for consistent level.
3. If the oven rack is level and all burners are not level to the same side; lift the range top (they are all hinged for cleaning, if you don't know this then be prepared for the mung growing under your range top). You will notice two rubber grommets ("feet") on the front of the range top. Remove the low side grommet and add some washers between the grommet and the stove top to raise that side.

The reason you level to the oven rack is because oven racks can't be adjusted for level. Range tops can be adjusted to level. If you level to the burners, then any baking in the oven will result in lopsided cakes.

Although bent elements can be a source of the problem, it is cheaper try leveling the range top first. Don't place your level on the range top itself as it is just sheet metal and probably warped from heat. You can put a heavy cast iron pan on a burner and put the level in the pan.