Should you buy an Aga?
What is an Aga Cooker?
An Aga is a cast-iron cooker with multiple levels, ovens and cooking options. Each Aga cooker is built to order at the firm’s Shropshire factory, but all include a roasting and simmering oven. Traditional Aga cookers are designed to remain on all the time and are heat-storage cookers. This means the cooker generates heat in its core. Which is then transferred to the surfaces of the oven and the hotplates. Temperatures inside the ovens vary, but as a rough guide you can expect 250°C in the roasting oven. 190°C in the baking oven, 140°C in the simmering oven and 85°C in the warming oven.
A thermostatic control inside the Aga maintains consistent temperatures. Often pronounced as an aga cooker, the correct spelling is Aga. There are a variety of different ranges available to purchase, including an Aga electric range, but there are many different electric Aga reviews that can you help you determine the best one for you.
Deciding whether to buy an Aga largely depends on your cooking preferences, lifestyle, and the specific features of an Aga cooker that appeal to you. Here are some factors to consider:
- Cooking Style: Aga cookers are known for their even heat distribution and the ability to retain heat, which is excellent for slow cooking, baking, and roasting. If you enjoy these cooking methods, an Aga might be a good fit for you.
- Energy Usage: Aga cookers are always on, which means they consume a constant amount of energy. While this offers the advantage of a warm kitchen and immediate cooking access, it might result in higher energy bills.
- Kitchen Space and Installation: Aga cookers are sizable and require proper installation. Ensure you have enough space and the necessary infrastructure (such as a flue for venting in the case of traditional Aga models) before purchasing one.
- Maintenance: Aga cookers require a specific cleaning and maintenance routine. Traditional models often need regular servicing to maintain their efficiency.
- Cost: Aga cookers tend to be a significant investment, not just in the purchase itself but also in ongoing running costs.
- Aesthetic Appeal: Aga cookers have a classic and timeless look, which might be an essential factor if you value the aesthetics of your kitchen.
It might be helpful to see an Aga in action or speak to owners to understand their experiences with these cookers. Assessing your cooking habits, available space, and the practicality of incorporating an Aga into your lifestyle will help you decide if it’s the right choice for you. If you value the qualities an AGA offers and can manage its requirements, it might be a worthwhile investment.
In summary, Aga cookers are known for their unique, consistent, and slow-cooking capabilities, while standard ovens provide more precise temperature control and versatility for various cooking methods. Your choice between the two would depend on your cooking preferences, kitchen needs, and the type of recipes you usually prepare.
Aga Cooker Cleaning Hacks:
If you have been baking, cooking and roasting the Aga out of your Aga cooker, it may begin to look a little worse for wear. The good news is – almost all AGA cookers can be brought back to an extremely high professional standard – even the oldest of models. Our Aga cleaning hacks will ensure your Aga cooker is looking as clean and shiny as the day it was made.
- Clean spillages up straight away
This may seem the most obvious of Aga cleaning tips, but liquid and food spillages must be cleaned up straight away as the acidity in certain fluids may stain the front plate and doors. Use a soft, slightly damp cloth to wipe away these stains immediately.
- Avoid Oven Cleaning Products
If you have tough food stains on your Aga cooker, use a soft soap filled sponge to clean these away, so you don’t scratch the enamel. Avoid oven cleaning products, instead try an AGA enamel cleaner and AGA e-cloth. Certain components of the Aga cooker, such as the handrail brackets are powder coated, so avoid using an abrasive cleaner on these parts, instead use a warm, soap-filled cloth.
- Care for your Aga Flue
If you see dust or dirt collecting around the burner door or flue chamber of your Aga cooker, remove it gently with a soft brush. Safety first – do not use the vacuum cleaner to remove dust from your AGA oven as this could cause a fire.
Visit our How to clean an Aga blog for more information on how to clean your Aga Flue.
- Remove Aga Cooker Doors
Did you know you can remove the doors of your Aga cooker to make cleaning easier? Remember where each door came from ready for when you reinstall them and avoid immersing the AGA doors in water.
If your Aga cooker isn’t looking its gleaming best and you simply don’t have time to give cleaning your Aga a go for yourself, why not call your local Ovenclean specialist to make your Aga cooker look as good as new again in just a few hours.
Switching from a Standard Oven to an Aga
If you are thinking of switching from a conventional electric oven to an Aga cooker, you may have to make some changes to your cooking habits. Switching from electric to Aga means you may have to adapt your kitchen and cooking style, but owning an Aga has many benefits.
Here are our 10 essential considerations to keep in mind if you’re thinking of switching from an electric oven to an Aga cooker.
- No preheating – No need to pre-heat, an Aga oven is always ready for use, unlike a conventional electric oven.
- Warm your home – The Aga cooker is the focal point of any home and functions as a constant heat source. Your pets will love it too as they lie beside it during cold winter days. An Aga cooker makes the kitchen the perfect spot for the children to read and do their homework while you cook the evening meal.
- Hefty bills – A common concern with switching from electric to Aga is you will be faced with big bills as it’s on constantly. However, as mentioned in number 2, an Aga cooker will likely warm your kitchen and sometimes your whole home. Here are some tips on how to make your oven more efficient.
- Heat in the Summer – When switching from a standard electric oven to an Aga range cooker, you could consider buying a small conventional oven for the summer months. This is because your Aga oven could turn your kitchen into the Sahara on hot summer days! Summer is also the best time to clean an Aga, find out why here.
- Luxury product – Switching from an electric oven to an Aga cooker can be very expensive. Depending on style and size, Aga ovens can cost over £10,000.
- Time for a brew? – Switching to an Aga cooker, eliminates the need for an electric kettle too! A stove kettle will boil on the hot plate in no time.
- Flexible cooking – Cooking options on an electric oven can be very limited, switching to an Aga cooker gives you much more flexibility. You can roast, cook, bake, toast, reheat and more.
- Aga recipes – Switching from electric to a traditional Aga is a learning experience and may seem daunting at first, but it’s nothing a good Aga cookbook or Aga recipes research won’t fix.
- Laundry – Aga cookers offer a special service that an electric oven cannot compete with – you can even dry your clothes! You can purchase specialist drying racks that allow you to use the heat from the Aga to dry your washing.
- Delicious food – Switching to an Aga could improve the taste of your food. An Aga oven ensures food maintains the maximum amount of flavour and nutrients, by holding in moisture. The radiant heat it produces is what gives an Aga its ability to cook food for long periods of time without drying it out or burning it.
Whether you decide to buy a new Aga or stick with a traditional electric oven, our network of oven cleaning specialists are here for you.
If your Aga, Range or oven isn’t looking it’s sparkling best and you simply don’t have time to give cleaning your oven a go yourself, why not call your local Ovenclean specialist to make your cooker look as good as new in just a few hours.
