Providing heat, unrivalled cooking space and a four-figure price tag, the Aga is seen by many as the ultimate kitchen centrepiece.
Agas have become an iconic fixture of kitchens around the world since they were first invented in 1922. And it’s not just the design that has endured – the UK’s oldest working model dates back to 1932. Today, a new two-oven Aga will set you back at least £8,000. But in return for this sizeable investment you’ll get a versatile, spacious cast-iron cooker that provides heat and is always on and ready to go.
What is an Aga?
An Aga is a spacious cast iron cooker with multiple levels, ovens and cooking options. Each Aga is built to order at the firm’s Shropshire factory, but all include a roasting oven, simmering oven and one or two hot plates. There are also models with three, four or five ovens, as well as the option to swap a hotplate for a gas or ceramic electric hob. Agas are heat-storage cookers, which means that they generate heat in their core which is then transferred across the surfaces of each oven and hotplate. Traditional models are designed to stay on all the time, so they don’t have any dials or switches. All of this means that Agas also gently heat the room they are in. The cast-iron body of an Aga enables heat to be efficiently stored and transmitted throughout the Aga’s various cooking zones. 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. 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. You can buy Agas that run on electricity, gas or oil, as well as some dual-fuel combinations (such as gas ovens with electric hobs).
How much can an Aga cost?
Aga cookers don’t come cheap. Even the smallest model available costs twice as much as the most expensive Best Buy-rated range cooker we’ve reviewed. Below we round up what you get with each Aga model, how much they cost to buy new, and what other potential costs should you be aware of when thinking about buying one. The price of a new Aga always includes delivery and installation.
Aga 60: from £5,695 At just 60cm-wide (the same size as a regular slot-in cooker) this model is aimed at those with smaller kitchens who don’t have room for one of the larger classic Aga models. It comes with two ovens – which remain on at all times – and a choice of electric hotplate or four-burner gas hob (two semi-rapid, one rapid and a wok burner). An optional programming setting is also available with the Aga 60 that allows users to automate use of the top oven. The 60 is available in the classic Aga design or with a more contemporary look.
Traditional Aga: from £7,245 The original, classic Aga is still a popular model and is available with two ovens as standard – one for roasting and one for simmering. Three and four-oven models are also available. The two and three-oven models come with the classic double hotplate top – one for boiling and one for simmering. The four-oven model also comes with the choice of a warming plate or a two-ring hob (gas or electric ceramic). The ovens and hotplates on a traditional Aga remain on constantly. Aga Dual Control: from £10,595 Available in three or five-oven models, the Dual Control offers more flexibility than the classic Aga. Available in all-electric or dual-fuel, its hot plates can be controlled individually, or turned off completely, which can help to reduce running costs. The all-electric model also has a ‘low-energy’ setting, which means the ovens can be run at a lower rate, further reducing energy usage.
Aga Total Control: from £11,595 Also available in three or five-oven models, the Total Control gives users even greater flexibility in how they use their Aga. Each separate section can be managed via a touchscreen control on the oven, allowing users to turn sections on or off as suits their needs. A hand-held controller is also included and allows the ovens to be programmed ahead of time for automatic cooking. The three-oven model is also compatible with a smartphone app that allows the ovens to be controlled from afar. This remote programming is also available via text message for when wi-fi is unavailable. The standard warming plate that comes with the five-oven model can also be swapped for a touch-control induction hob.
Optional extras to consider
There are lots of optional extras, from induction hobs and enamelled hotplate lids to iTotal Control smart functionality. Adding these can bump up the price quite a bit. Some people also buy an extra Aga module to sit beside their main Aga. As well as providing extra space for cooking, it can be used when your main Aga is completely switched off. This can be particularly handy on hot summer days when you may not want the heat of the full Aga further pushing up the temperature in your kitchen. Adding an extra Aga module to your order of course requires extra space and money. Aga modules start from £3,450 and are available as electric or dual-fuel models. They include a slow-cook oven with a grill, a fan oven and a choice of gas or ceramic electric four-ring hob.