Can You Bake Bread in an Aga Cooker?

If you own an Aga cooker or are interested in purchasing one, you may be keen to explore its functionalities and capabilities with different recipes. Baking your own bread is often considered a luxury in most households, as bread recipes don’t always result in the best outcome due to the limited temperatures of modern ovens.

However, with an Aga cooker you will be surprised how well your bread recipes can turn out, as long as you follow the recipe of course!

So, can you bake bread in an Aga cooker? Yes, Aga cookers are perfect for baking a variety of bread recipes. This is due to Aga cookers featuring a roasting oven that can reach up to 240c, which is ideal for helping to produce airy bread with a tasty outer crust.

Keep reading to learn how to bake a classic French baguette and a tasty sourdough bread in an Aga cooker.

Are Aga Cookers Good for Baking Bread Recipes?

Aga cookers are ideal for baking bread due to them featuring a roasting oven that can reach temperatures up to 240c. This is perfect for Aga bread recipes because it allows for a faster rise in the bread before the gluten and crust has time to harden. This results in fluffy and airy bread with a tasty crust; perfect for pairing with homemade soups, making delicious cheese toasties or simply having on the side of your main dish.

You will be pleased to know that even the smallest of Aga cookers, the 2 door Aga cooker, features a roasting oven. Therefore you don’t need to worry about missing out on delectable Aga bread recipes if you only have space for a smaller Aga cooker in your kitchen. Whether you have a 2,3,4 or 5 door Aga cooker, once you try an Aga bread recipe, you are sure to want more!

How to Bake a Steamed French Baguette in an Aga Cooker?

As huge fans of Aga bread recipes, we thought it would only be fair to share some of our favourites with you. This Aga French baguette recipe is fairly simple and results in mouth-watering Aga bread every time.

Steamed French Baguette Ingredients:

• 485g plain flour 
• 325ml warm water 
• 8g salt 
• 12g yeast 

Method:

1. Once your ingredients are measured out, place all the dry ingredients into a bowl and pour the water over the top. 
2. Mix together and knead the dough for 5 minutes.
3. Remove the dough from the bowl and knead it for a further 5 minutes. Ensure to stretch the dough well as you knead it. 
4. Roll the dough into a ball and cover with cling film. Place the dough into a lukewarm space to prove for 30 minutes. 
5. Remove the dough from the cling film and briefly knead again. 
6. Cut the dough in half and shape into a long sausage shape. 
7. Place the dough into a baguette tin and score gently across the top diagonally 4 times. 
8. Cover the tin with a tea towel and leave to prove for a further 30 mins. 
9. Add boiling water to another tin and place it on the bottom shelf of your Aga cooker roasting oven.  
10. Put your baguette filled tin on a higher shelf and leave to cook for approximately 22 minutes. 

By following this recipe, you are sure to create some fluffy baguettes that are suitable for a variety of dishes in your family home. To see the amazing results of steaming your baguettes in an Aga cooker roasting oven, take a look at the video below. 

 

How to Bake Sourdough Bread in an Aga Cooker?

For all of the sourdough bread lovers out there, we have the perfect recipe for you to try in your Aga cooker roasting oven. Take a read through and give it a go yourself to bake the tastiest homemade sourdough. 

Baked Sourdough Ingredients:

For the Sourdough Starter:

• 700g strong white flour 

For the Sourdough Loaf: 

• 500g of strong white flour 
• 1 tsp fine salt 
• 1 tbsp clear honey 
• 300g sourdough starter 
• Oil for greasing

Method:

Starter Method:

1. Mix together 100g of flour with 125ml of lukewarm water and begin to whisk until it is lump free. 
2. Transfer this mixture into a large jar or plastic container and leave it unsealed in a warm place for 1 hour. Seal the container and set aside for 24 hours.
3. Over the next 6 days you will need to feed the starter mixture by tipping away half of the original mixture and adding 100g of flour. You also need to add 125ml of water and mix it in well. 
4. On day 7, the starter mixture should bubble and smell a little sweet. This is your sign that it is ready to be used in baking. 

Sourdough Loaf Method:

1. Add the flour, 225 ml of lukewarm water, salt, honey and the starter into a bowl. Stir with a wooden spoon until combined.
2. Place the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for roughly 10 minutes until soft and elasticated. 
3. Place the dough in a bowl which has been oiled and cover it with a tea towel. Leave it in the warm place to prove for around 3 hours. 
4. Line a medium-sized bowl with a tea towel and flour it well. Knead the dough again briefly to knock out any air bubbles.
5. Shape the dough into a ball and place it seam-side up in the bowl you have prepared with a tea towel. Leave at room temperature until the dough has roughly doubled in size. 
6. Place a baking tray on the bottom shelf of the oven, where it should be around 210c.
7. Place a baking tin with a little bit of water in at the bottom of the oven for streaming. 
8. Remove the baking tray, add a little flour and then place your risen dough onto the tray. 
9. Lightly slice the top of the dough a few times and then bake for 35 - 40 mins until golden brown. 

Once your bread is baked and has cooled, delve in and create delicious sandwiches and toasties. To see how well an Aga cooker makes sourdough bread, take a look at the informative video below. 

Reconditioned Aga Cookers at Range Exchange

If you are wanting to take your baking and cooking skills to the next level and your standard oven just isn’t doing the trick, then you know it is time to treat yourself to a reconditioned Aga cooker. With a variety of ovens that offer cooking versatility for different dishes, you are sure to love cooking with an Aga cooker. Browse through our Aga cooker collection online today to find the perfect model for your kitchen.