Most of the ideas to do with maintaining your aga are very much common sense - things like wiping away spills immediately so that they don’t stain or clog up your aga. The more you care for your aga stove, the more it will give you in return and the less it will cost you in replacing parts or other maintenance.

When cooking…

When you are cooking, it is not unsual to walk away from the aga, as it is designed for slow cooking, and this can result in small spillages or the pans etc. boiling over. The aga oven is constantly on and heated which means that these small messes can dry and become stains very quickly and will not only reduce the look of the aga, but it will also mean that certain parts may have to be replaced. Wiping these spillages away as soon as they have been made, or as soon as you notice them will help to prevent this. You must also ensure that you only use cleaning products that are approved for an aga. Thes best way to avoid damage to your aga is to ask the dealer, or a specialist which products would be best suited for your aga, and it’s finish. If not, the quality of the aga and also the appearance will be reduced. The aga’s worth will also be diminished if you were ever to want to sell the appliance.

Spring clean your aga…

If you have been given the aga oven, or buy it second hand, you may find that it hasn’t been looked after as well as it could have been, and it may be a bit on the grimy side. The best way in which you can tackle this problem, is to break it down into small manageable chunks. Tackle one part of the aga at a time, and clean it properly to ensure that the life span of the aga is retained. Cleaning it all in one go, will not only stress you out but it will also take a lot of time.

Service your aga every other year

If you have an aga stove that burns oil, then it will need regular servicing. The pipes that feed the oil burner will get small carbon deposits building up inside them, as this will cause to malfunction or not run as efficiently as it should. These services apply to all type of aga’s, no matter what fuel they burn, and regular services will ensure that the appliance runs well, efficiently and you will notice any problems with it while there is still time to sort them out, rather than have costly repair bills.

You can do your own D.I.Y service, but you need to be sure that you know what you are doing, and it is probably best to hire a professional.

When thinking of having your aga cooker serviced, it is best to hire a professional that you know has the right qualifications for the job in hand. It also pays to know how often your type of aga needs to be serviced as different fuels require different maintenance periods. The ones that burn gas generally only need to be serviced once a year, but the oil burners should be done every six months. If your aga has been converted to burn solid fuels, then you may find that it needs sweeping at six month intervals and the main chimney itself, swept every year. The sweeping can be down by the owner, but again, for a full and complete job, it is best to hire a service engineer that specialises in aga’s.

Regular maintenance of you Aga…

Maintaining an aga oven is not a difficult job, and with regular services and adequate cleaning, you will find that you and your aga have a happy relationship for many years to come. If you have any doubts to the cleaning of your appliance, or any other maintenance problems, be sure to ask an aga professional, either a sales representative or a service engineer, and they will be able to answer any questions you may have.

For more information about Aga ovens and Rayburn stoves, and how you can have your Aga set up in your dream kitchen contact us now, and take advantage of our Aga offers.

The Man Behind The Aga cooker

Dr. Gustaf Dalen, a Swedish man, and also a Nobel Prize Winner, was the great mind behind the aga. He was an unfortunate man, and it was this unfortunate incident that begins the story of the aga. It was an earlier invention, and a rather large explosion that left him blind that encouraged him to go about the invention of the aga cooker.

Being blind, he was rarely out of his house, leaving his wife to take care of everything. It was during this period that he realised his wife was seriously stressed and very tired from cooking, heating the house, cleaning and everything else that comes with a home. Dalen wanted to design something that could help his wife out with all of these things, to leave her in a better mood, and give them more time together.

It was this design that lead to the aga, and also the foundation of the AGA company. AGA actually stands for Aktiebolaget Gas Accumulator, the name of the company. It was the year 1922 when the design was complete, and it was the aga cooker. A kitchen appliance that could handle every culinary technique, heat the house with it’s constant heat and also aid with the washing, drying and pressing of clothes. The hotplate and the rails on the front of the aga enabled the quick drying of clothes, and it could also allow for the clothes to pressed. It was on constantly, heating the house during the cold months and could also be used to heat water for washing, not just dishes and laundry, but for personal washing as well.

The Introduction of the Aga cooker to England

Aga was introduced to England seven years later, in 1929, and to date, there are three main models of the original aga. There are two, three and four oven types and it can run on a wide variety of fuels. Kerosene, diesel, propane gas and natural gas amongst others. The newer models also have the ability to burn solid fuels, and has been proven to be much more economical than conventional ovens. It uses less fuel, which means that not only was it very economical in 1922 in the first years of it’s history, but it is also cheaper to run than most gas and electric ovens to date. Due to the way it retains heat, the more you use it, the more economical is it.

The aga cooker was loved back then, and it still loved today, and it is because of it’s stored heat, it means that less fat is needed for cooking. (Saving money again!) The food keeps it moisture, flavour and texture and also doesn’t lose any vital nutrients and it’s appearance is not affected. This means that not only is the aga useful, economical and stylish, but it is also better for your health and makes food taste and look much better.

The Aga cooker design

The design, shape and build of the aga cooker has changed very little since it’s invention. The only real things that have changed is the design to make it burn fuel that is more convenient for today’s lifestyles and also to make it burn cleaner.

It’s simplicity has made this an appliance that has needed very little modification and the phrase, “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it” comes to mind.

It is this simplicity that has ensured that the aga has lasted this long, and I’m sure will make sure it stays around for many years to come!

For more information about Aga cookers, finding the right one for you and your home, contact us now and we will get back to you, and give you the advice you need, at the price you’ve hoped.

Cleaning your Aga

One tip that you may find handy to know, is when thinking of cleaning your aga. When making a hot drink, or boiling the water for any other reason, use the kettle to make your job of cleaning the aga much quicker and involving less scrubbing.

By facing the kettle in a specific way, you can use the boiling kettle to provide steam and essentially, steam clean your aga.

When you face the spout of the kettle towards the hotplate, the steam leaving it will make wiping up any spills much easier and will leave it clean and shiny. With this technique, you are technically killing two birds with one stone, and cleaning the hotplate while making a drink.

Easy Aga firelighters

Another helpful tip I wish to share with you, will save you money and also a bit of effort.

If you are preparing foods that involve lemons, oranges or limes, keep the skins of the fruit and dry them out in the warming oven for a couple of days. Once this baking is complete, you will find that these make great firelighters in the winter and not only that, but they will make the aga smell lovely and fresh, and also your kitchen, should you leave the door open.

These fruit skins work in these ways because they retain all of their natural oils and they burn really well. This way, you have no need to buy firelighters and you can also freshen up the smell of your aga.

Rayburn dinner party tip

If you want to plan for a dinner party, or just prepare a meal for the evening, then you can use the simmering oven to your advantage. If you have to go to work, or just go about cleaning your house, then why not make a stew or a casserole, put it in the oven and leave it all day. It will cook slowly, meaning that the meat will be nice and tender, and you don’t have to sit there and stare at the food every now and again to make sure it is cooking as you want it to.

Aga Receipes

You will learn, as you cook with your aga, different things that can help you out and it is these things that you will pass on, whether it be by word of mouth, or whether you choose to enter your helpful advice onto internet forums and other such sites. One person in particular has written a book on essential aga cooking tips, and this book is available from most book stores and also online. If you are thinking of buying an aga, or already have one, it might be worth purchasing this book to ensure that you are making the most of your kitchen appliance. There are helpful hints on how to save money, how to cook certain dishes easier and cheaply, as well as letting the reader know how they can use their aga to help with other household jobs.

Use and pass on your Aga

If you have inherited your aga, you may find that the person that leaves you the aga, or even if you buy one second hand, will leave you with some great advice that may have been handed down to them. Due to the aga’s design not changing in so many years, the advice has been passing down for many years, and still applies today.

There are websites, books, and much more all dedicated to the spread of the aga’s hints, and it is definitely wise to check such things out, as you may be making life harder for yourself by not using them!

For more information about Agas, and how we can get you a very reasonably priced Aga for your home, contact us now.

What sort of guarantee and service level will I get with my Aga cooker?

The first question you should ask, is what sort of guarantee you will get with your aga, and how long for. You want to know if you are covered in the event of your aga breaking, and also how long this cover will last. Repairs could prove rather costly, and a guarantee will enable you to get a replacement aga cooker if yours should malfunction for whatever reason. Another important question you need to ask, is where the aga will be assembled. Will it turn up at your house fully assembled, or will it be assembled once it has reached your kitchen. They are actually designed to be built once they arrive at their destination, for example, your kitchen, and some parts of the age may become un-alligned and will not work as efficiently. If the aga is being assembled in your home, then you need to ask whether or not it will be fully trained professionals that will be installing it, or whether you will need to sort this matter out yourself.

What comes with my Aga cooker, what else will I have to buy?

Another helpful piece of information you may want to find out if there is any cooking equipment or accessories accompanying your aga. There are specifically made cooking utensils such as pots and pans to be used with aga’s and if they are supplied with the aga, it may work out cheaper than buying it all individually. You may also want to know what sort of finish the aga has to ensure you buy the right equipment and also because the finish may take up to three days to fully complete. You may also want to find out, if the aga is second hand, if it has been converted. This means it has been changed to burn a different fuel. Also, it may have an automatic thermostat control, especially if it has been converted. These are all things it is helpful to know. And obviously, there will slightly more questions that need to be asked with a second hand aga. Things like the condition, what fuel it burns and other such things need to be enquired about before you make your final decision. You need to find out if any parts have been replaced, or if they have just been painted after cleaning. If the parts have been replaced, have they been replaced with specific aga components or a replica make?

Who will install my Aga cooker?

If the aga burns gas, you need to ensure that the engineers that will be sorting it all out have been properly registered and are fully trained, and the same goes with the oil engineers, if it burns oil. You may also want to find out if the aga contains any products that may contain asbestos, as this is obviously harmful for your health, especially if you are planning on using it a lot. Also, asbestos products are illegal in certain countries.

What is the final cost, of everything to do with my Aga cooker?

You may also wish to enquire about the pricing of certain thigs with the delivery of your aga. Will there be any delivery charges that you will have to pay on top of the amount agreed with the aga seller? There may also be an extra charge for the assemblers to put the aga together, and even charges for things like the colour of your aga. There are so many things you will have to bear in mind.

Hidden charges can be a problem, especially if you are having your aga delivered and assembled, and you need to ask about these as you could end up paying more for your aga then you first originally thought!

For more information about Aga cookers, contact us now, and find out how we can help find you the best price on Aga’s delivered and installed to your home.

Mr Practical

“There is no real cleaning involved with an aga oven – no scrubbing, no nasty smells that linger for days, it’s simple and helpful, and takes so much time away from cooking”

Chris, from Lincoln

What we say…

With an aga cooker, because it is vented, the smells are directed straight away from the kitchen, so that if you cook a curry, or a fish meal, the smell doesn’t stick around to smell your house out for days on end. The materials used in the making of an aga make for easy cleaning, and no scrubbing. Everyone leaves their pan to boil over every once in a while, and because of the simpleness of an aga, all it takes is a quick wipe and the mess is gone!

Tasty food

“The aga oven uses indirect heat and this is projected from all sides of the aga meaning that the food I cook keeps it’s moisture and doesn’t dry out. This also means no extra fat needed, saving money every time I cook! Not only that, but it means that my food is much healthier and it retains it’s appearance, making for good-looking meals”

John, from Devon

Laundry dry for free!

“My aga oven helps with the laundry, I end up using less electric because I use my aga instead of my dryer. Not only does it dry, but it presses the clothes as well, meaning that I spend less time doing the ironing and more time enjoying family life. It’s great in the cold weather, being able to heat up gloves, hats etc. is a god send, and it also warms up my kitchen!”

Joan, from Edinburgh

What we say…

The aga cooker can be used for not just cooking purposes. Having a hot plate on the top and rails along the front allows for easy and quick drying of clothes. Not enough room on the washing line? Not a problem, just use the aga! Getting ready to go out and realised that the shirt you want to wear isn’t ironed, don’t worry, just pop it on the aga and finish getting ready. This useful kitchen appliance is not only a great, stylish way to cook food, but also provides a great helping hand when coping with other features in day to day life, such as the laundry!

24/7/365

“My aga oven is on 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It heats up my home quite nicely in the winter, and we don’t really feel the heat in the summer. I use it to heat hot water to give the kettle a rest, and it is great to boil those dirty white’s that seem to turn grey in the washing machine. It is also a great help during a power cut, no loss of heating or hot water for tea and coffee, and unlike electric ovens, I can cook while my neighbours look on hungry!”

Lowri, Hampshire

What we say…

Again, a wonder in more ways than one, another happy aga owner explains why her aga is much better than conventional gas or electric ovens. There is no risk of getting hungry when there is a power cut, and also enables you to do small amounts of washing, especially when trying to get the white’s white again!

Host-With-The-Most

“I love having Christmas dinner at my home, inviting many people over. They all seem to comment how easy I cope with cooking large dinners, and the secret is – my aga! This great cooking device allows me to prepare and cook huge meals with very little effort, leaving me masses of time to concentrate on my family and friends. Not only that, but it is easy to clean, leaving me even more time to enjoy the finer things in life. My food always turns out beautifully, no dryness, and everyone says how much they enjoy my meals!”

And on, and on, and on, and on

“I have had my aga for almost thirty years, and I bet it’ll last practically the same again. Can you give me an example of any other gas or electric oven that would last that long? It is easy to use, easy to clean and has more than one use. Not only do I cook, clean and heat my home, all with the same device, but it provides a great focal point for my kitchen and everyone says how homely it makes my kitchen look. It has a look that appeals to so many people, and I am proud to say that I own one. I have bought conventional ovens and always end up resorting to my aga oven, mainly because I end up making such a mess with the cooker and I detest spending my life scrubbing it! My husband loves the meals I cook for him, and all the time he keeps saying so, I will keep using it!”

What we say…

As you can tell from so many people’s opinion of the aga, it has many uses, not just for cooking. It’s handy for doing the laundry, heating the home and also comes in useful for those times when there is a power cut, so why not have the neighbours round for a cup of tea? You never know, you could end up converting them to the great ways of aga cooking as well!

For more information about Aga ovens, and how we can help you get the best bargain and service enjoy your kitchen once again, contact us now for a friendly chat.