The British Countryside Lifestyle: Essentials for Embracing Rural Living

For many, an Aga cooker isn’t just an oven, it’s a lifestyle. They’ve been around for a century, almost everyone’s heard of them, and those who have lived with one often can’t go without!

The Aga cooker is so versatile. It becomes the heart of the home and is a true work horse. The list of possibilities is endless with your Aga cooker, it’s not just an oven.

Reliability of an Aga Cooker

One thing that every Aga cooker owner will agree on is that it can always be relied on. Hosting a dinner party after a day out clay-shooting? You can guarantee the food you serve is full of moisture & flavour.

Got an overwhelming amount of washing to do? The warmth for your Aga cooker will speed things up.

Out all day, and worried about not having enough time to make dinner later? Throw together a one pot dish in the morning, and pop into your simmering oven ready for a hearty, tasty meal later.

Having a bad day? Pop the kettle on & cosy up next to the cooker!

A Symbol of British Culture

Aga cookers have been around for a century, originally invented in the 1920’s. They are one of the most treasured symbols of a countryside house, combining a functional range cooker with a cosy warmth which emits through the home.

They rapidly gained their reputation and popularity when people began to put them in stately country homes back in the 1930’s. They became a renowned symbol of middle class wealth across Britain, and it was certainly seen as (and still is) an achievement to have one in your home.

When World War II began, they became even more popular as they played an important role in keeping families warm and fed. This was a time when traditional heating was far less reliable. The Aga cooker became more and more dependable as time went on, and the demand for them began to quickly increase. They became a staple for a country lifestyle.

However, to this day they fit in with almost any home, and you often see them in shaker style kitchens or in alcoves which were once fireplaces. In country homes, often families gather around the kitchen table near the Aga cooker or dogs lounge in front of them for hours on end.

They help to dry your washing, wet coats, or wellingtons. Farmers often put hypothermic, newborn lambs in the warming oven to bring them back up to temperature before being returned to their mothers.

They can be used to cook the fresh eggs you’ve just retrieved from your hens. You can make batches and batches of your favourite seasonal jam to give to neighbours and friends.

You can make a one pan cooked breakfast to enjoy on a Sunday morning. You can bake the perfect meringue to take over to your friend’s house for dessert. You can make your own yoghurt or ferment your own sauerkraut using the gentle warmth from the cooker. You can dry out blooms which you have just picked from your garden. You can dehydrate your own dried herbs, fruits or vegetables which you’ve grown in your kitchen garden. There are endless things that you can do with the Aga cooker to truly embrace country living.

Today, Aga cookers are now available in a choice of 25 different enamel colours. Originally, they were only available in Cream enamel and it wasn’t until the 1950’s & 60’s that more colours were introduced to the palette. Creams, light blues & greens were the most popular colours for country homes and they still are to this day – the vibrant colours make the Aga cooker the statement piece of the kitchen. They add a charm to the kitchen whilst also being the most used, hardworking and practicable part of the home.

Essentials for Embracing a Country Lifestyle

To truly get the full experience from your Aga cooker and country living, there are a few things we would call ‘essentials’ to get you started.

Winter Warmer

Firstly, it’s not often a day goes by when you don’t stop to have a trusty cup of tea or coffee. We recommend purchasing an AGA kettle, which you can rest on the back of your top plate at all times, ready to use as and when you need. There’s nothing quite like coming in from a long, chilly outdoor walk and then cosying up with a hot drink!

Cooking in Cast Iron

We all know that food is best when cooked in cast iron. The gentle, radiant warmth which is dispersed evenly throughout the surface then cooks the food sumptuously! Invest in a good cast iron pot, like a Le Creuset Cast Iron Round Casserole. They can be used on both the hotplates & in the ovens. You can either serve straight out of the casserole dish, or pop it into the simmering oven to slow cook throughout the day. Your round casserole pot will be used more than any other pot or pan in your kitchen cupboard – they are so versatile! You can even pick a colour to match your Aga cooker! It couldn’t be easier to have prepared, slow cooked hotpot to come home to after a long day outdoors.

A Helping Pair of Hands

Why not use your Aga cooker to help you with your washing? The gentle heat which is emitted from the Aga cooker is perfect for helping you dry your clothes. You can either pop your clothes maiden in front of the Aga cooker or to keep your washing out of the way, you could install a ceiling pulley maiden instead. Not only can they add so much character to the kitchen, but your washing is hung nicely out of the way. A traditional farmhouse kitchen wouldn’t be complete without a ceiling maiden!

Let us know how your Aga cooker helps you embrace country living, and what ‘essentials’ you have with your.

Ready to Embrace British Country Lifestyle? Start your journey with a reconditioned Aga cooker!