Should you buy Aga? - which one?

2021-11-24 02:46:19 By : Mr. Robin Huang

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Since it was first invented in 1922, Agas has become an iconic device in kitchens around the world. It's not just design that endures—the oldest working model in the UK can be traced back to 1932. 

Today, a new two-burner Aga will cost at least £8,000. However, as a return on this huge investment, you will get a versatile, spacious cast iron cookware that can provide heat and is ready to use. 

Read on for more information about choosing Aga, including main features, options and costs, or read our Aga review.

If Aga is not suitable for your family or budget, please refer to our guide to choosing a traditional cooktop.

An Aga is a spacious cast iron cookware with multiple levels, oven and cooking options. Each Aga was ordered at the company's Shropshire factory, but they all included an oven, a simmering stove, and one or two electric stoves. There are also models with three, four or five ovens, as well as the option of replacing the electric stove with a gas or ceramic electric stove.

Agas are regenerative cookware, which means that they generate heat in the core and then transfer the heat through the surface of each oven and electric stove. Traditional models are designed to stay on at all times, so they don't have any dials or switches. All of this meant that Argas would also gently heat the room they were in.

Aga’s cast iron body allows heat to be efficiently stored and transferred to Aga’s various cooking zones. The radiant heat it produces allows Aga to cook food for a long time without drying or burning. 

The temperature inside the oven varies, but as a rough guide, you can expect 250°C for the oven, 190°C for the oven, 140°C for the slow stove, and 85°C for the heating oven. The thermostatic control inside the Aga can maintain a consistent temperature. 

You can buy Agas that runs on electricity, gas, or oil, as well as some dual-fuel combinations (such as gas ovens with electric stoves).

Aga cookware is not cheap. Even the smallest model costs twice as much as the most expensive Best Buy rating range cookware we have reviewed. Below we summarize the benefits of each Aga model, the cost of purchasing a new model, and other potential costs that you should be aware of when considering purchasing.

The price of the new Aga always includes delivery and installation.

This model is only 60 cm wide (the same size as an ordinary plug-in cooker) and is suitable for people with a small kitchen and no room to accommodate one of the larger classic Aga models. It is equipped with two ovens that are always on, and optional electric hot plates or four-burner gas stoves (two and a half fast, one fast and one wok burner). Aga 60 also provides optional programming settings, allowing users to automatically use the top oven. 60 can provide classic Aga design or more modern appearance.

The original classic Aga is still very popular and comes standard with two ovens-one for baking and one for simmering. Three-oven and four-oven models are also available. Two and three oven models are equipped with the classic double stove top-one for boiling and one for simmering. The four-oven model can also choose a heating plate or two-ring stove (gas or electric ceramic). The oven and electric stove on the traditional Aga are always on.

Dual Control is available in three or five oven models, offering greater flexibility than the classic Aga. It is available in full electric or dual fuel, and its heating plate can be individually controlled or completely turned off, which helps to reduce operating costs. The all-electric model also has a "low energy consumption" setting, which means that the oven can run at a lower speed, further reducing energy use.

Total Control also provides three or five oven models, allowing users to be more flexible when using Aga. Each individual section can be managed through the touch screen control on the oven, allowing the user to turn the section on or off as needed. 

It also includes a handheld controller that allows the oven to be programmed in advance for automatic cooking. The three-oven model is also compatible with smartphone apps, allowing the oven to be controlled from a distance. When wi-fi is not available, remote programming can also be done via text messages. The standard heating plate that comes with the five-oven model can also be replaced with a touch-control induction cooker.

There are many optional additional functions, from induction hobs and enamel electric stove lids to iTotal Control smart functions. Adding these can greatly increase the price. 

Some people also purchased an additional Aga module to sit next to their main Aga. In addition to providing additional cooking space, it can also be used when the main Aga is completely closed. This is especially convenient in the hot summer, because you may not want the heat of the entire Aga to further increase the temperature in the kitchen. 

Adding additional Aga modules to your order will of course require additional space and money. The Aga module starts at £3,450 and is available in electric or dual-fuel models. They include slow cooker ovens with grills, fan ovens and optional gas or ceramic electric four-ring stoves.

Yes. In view of the long life and high cost of Agas, the second-hand market is very active.

By walking around, it is possible to buy a refurbished second-hand Aga at a much cheaper price than the above price. However, if you do decide to go down this route, you must first consider the cost of disassembly, reconstruction, delivery, and installation, and then calculate how much bargain you actually get. 

Other costs to consider depend on the type of fuel you use, or whether you want to connect the boiler to your Aga. If this is the case, then new ducts and installation of flues are just a few things you need to remember.

The operating costs of Aga cookers are so complicated and controversial that it has developed an economic sub-discipline called "Aganomics." With so many different models and fuel types, reducing the exact cost of running Aga is a daunting task. If you also start to consider potential savings, such as claiming that Aga's versatility eliminates the need for toasters, microwave ovens, radiators, and some other appliances, then you really have entered a minefield of money and cost.

Ultimately, determining the operating cost of Aga depends on the model you have, the fuel source you use, and the extent to which you will take advantage of any potential programming features. Most Aga ovens now have some programming features that allow you to turn off the dishes and oven when not in use, or put Aga in sleep or holiday mode. There is also a 30 amp cooker with two or four ovens, which can consume electricity all night when it is cheap and release electricity during the day, thereby saving even more. Among all these variables, it is difficult to find anything that can be considered "normal" use. 

Below we give some estimated weekly operating costs for the three-oven model across the entire range. The cost is based on the energy usage statement of Aga's own cooking standard weekly menu.

These calculations are based on the cost of electricity at 16.41 pence per kWh and the cost of natural gas at 4.97 pence per kWh.

When considering the ongoing cost of Aga, service should also be considered. The fuel oil model needs to be repaired every six months, and the gas Agas needs to be repaired once a year. Electric vehicles do not require repairs, but in order for Aga's five-year warranty to be valid, they should also be inspected every 12 months. 

If you like Aga's craftsmanship and design, but want the flexibility of traditional cooktops, then these models are worth checking out.

Aga 60 is 60 cm wide and looks similar to a free-standing cooker, but Aga claims that it has the versatility of a range cooker. It has a four-burner gas stove, a programmable fan oven, an electric oven and a ceramic grill. You can also buy a traditional Aga style hot plate with cover, 

The S series 64 has a classic enamel cast iron finish on the outside, but there are two electric fan ovens, a slow fire oven and a ceramic grill inside. There is a stove on the top, and you can choose six gas burners or six ceramic electric rings.

Pay close attention to our range cookware reviews to see how the Aga range cookware matches Belling, Stoves and Rangemaster models.

The advantages of Agas compared with traditional stoves:

Compared with Agas, the advantages of traditional stoves:

Find out the latest Best Buy range cookware, as the independent one revealed? lab testing.

Rayburn is a stove with a built-in boiler that can provide hot water and, in some models, can heat multiple radiators around the house. They are made of cast iron, coated with an enamel finish, and look like Aga cooktops, manufactured by Aga in the same factory in Shropshire. They have an electric stove top with a lid and are equipped with two ovens-one for cooking and one for heating (models with two cooking ovens are also available).

In addition to the ability to provide central heating and hot water, Rayburns differs from Agas in that certain models are compatible with solid fuels, such as wood, peat briquettes, or anthracite/bituminous coal. This makes them an excellent choice for people in rural areas, people who want to get off the grid, or people who just want to use a cheaper, lower-carbon fuel source than natural gas or oil.

Rayburn has a variety of models, each of which provides different heating and cooking functions, as well as compatibility with different fuel types. The price of the Rayburn 200 series cookware starts from about £4,600 and can heat two or three radiators, while the model in the 600 series that can power about 20 radiators can cost up to more than £9,000.

If cooking is your biggest concern, then you will want to choose Aga because they offer more cooking options, with four or five oven models to choose from. If you are satisfied with the existing heating system and have a fairly modern boiler, then Aga may be for you again.

If you need a lot of hot water and want to burn wood, cheap coal or peat, then you need to check out Rayburn. If you need to run a central heating system and cook from one system, then choose Rayburn. Live on a boat and want a cooker and heater? This is your Rayburn (or other solid fuel combustion range, such as Marshall or Stanley).