What’s Cooking? How to Choose the Right Aga Cooker Based on Your Lifestyle
What’s Cooking? How to Choose the Right Aga Cooker Based on Your Lifestyle
Aga cookers have evolved greatly, especially in recent years. There are now Aga cooker models suited for everyone, whether it’s for a solo household or a large family & entertainers. There is no household too small nor too large which an Aga cooker cannot provide for.
Where To Start With Choosing The Right Aga Cooker For You…
When looking to purchase an Aga cooker, there are a few questions which need to be answered first.
First and foremost, what type of room is the Aga cooker going to be in? Is the room south-facing, or does it have underfloor heating? Or is it a cooler, slightly draughty room which needs as much additional heat as possible?
Secondly, have you had an Aga cooker before, perhaps a gas, oil fired model or possibly even a 13Amp model? Did you enjoy the way the cooker was running all the time, emitting a gentle, radiant heat into the room, and ready to cook with as and when desired?
Perhaps you live a busy lifestyle, and would benefit from some degree of flexibility?
Are you energy conscious, and would you like to aim to reduce the running costs of the cooker if possible?
How often do you cook, and are you cooking for just yourself or multiple people in your household?
In Answer to The Starter Questions…
If the kitchen is already on the warmer side and doesn’t necessarily require additional heat, then perhaps a model which allows you to turn each of the ovens off as and when desired would suit you best, such as the Total Control Aga cooker. However, if your kitchen is cool and needs all the extra heat it can get, then an Aga cooker model which is designed to perform like the traditional oil & gas models may be better suited, such as a Dual Control Aga cooker. The Aga cooker will be ready to cook with as and when desired, and it also emits a nice gentle heat into the room.
If you live a busy lifestyle, then the Total Control model may be better suited to you as each of the ovens are controlled independently from one another. This means that you don’t have to have all of the ovens running at the same time, and you can use your baking oven by itself to bake something simple like a mid-week, no-fuss Shepherd Pie. Once you’ve used the oven, it can be completely switched off or left in a ‘slumber’ setting to reduce the heat up time of the oven it you plan to use it the following evening.
If you’re energy conscious, then the good news is all of the new generation Aga cookers now have independently controlled hotplates. The hotplates are to be turned on or off, as and when desired which significantly reduces the overall running costs of the cooker. Not only this, but it means that when cooking on the hotplates, heat isn’t lost from the roasting oven, and the temperature of the Aga cooker stays consistent.
Last but not least, whether you’re an avid cook or perhaps just like to bake on the weekend, a least one of the new generation Aga cooker models will be suited to you. The Aga cookers range from 60cm to 210cm wide, so there is a size suitable for everyone! Some of the models have a hot-cupbaord which comprises of a warming & slow cook oven, perfect for larger families or entertainers – you needn’t worry about serving your guests cold plates ever again!
A brief description of each new generation model type and their functionalities
Which model is for you?
Total Control
The Total Control is perfect for those who prefer flexibility and live a more modern lifestyle. It is designed to suit your lifestyle, rather than the other way round. Each of the ovens & hotplates have their own heating elements so can be controlled independently from one another. Each oven is pre-calibrated, so there is no need to worry about setting oven temperatures – simply turn on your desired oven using the state-of-the-art control panel and wait for it to come up to temperature. The cooker also comes with a handset, which allows you to program the cooker with up to two cycles per day. The cooker still provides radiant heat transfer which Aga cookers are famed for, as there are heating elements behind each of the 5 walls of the cooker. The cooker also has a slumber setting, which leaves the 3 ovens in a low temperature – this quickens the heat up times of the ovens to full temperature.
Dual Control
The Dual Control is the Aga cooker model which is most similar to the oil, gas & 13Amp electric models which ran 24/7. The Dual Control is ready to cook with as and when desired, as it’s designed to be left on. The three main ovens work simultaneously off one heating element like the traditional models, and they are pre-calibrated. This cooker emits the most radiant heat into the room and provides a cosy atmosphere for the kitchen. The cooker also has a slumber option which the cooker can be set to – this reduces the oven temperature of all the ovens to reduce energy consumption. The roasting oven can still be used to cook with, as it will run at about 180 degrees when in slumber. The slumber setting is also great for the months when it may be a little warmer and the Aga cooker doesn’t need to run at full temperature.
Aga 60
The Aga 60 cooker is perfect for those who may live by themselves or don’t have a huge amount of space for a larger model as it’s the smallest of them all. This cooker provides all benefits and features that you would expect from a larger Aga cooker, it really is quite special. The ovens can be alternated between roasting, simmering & baking. The top can then be available as a traditional, single hotplate which can be alternated between boiling & simmering, or it can be available as a 4-burner gas top. The 60 still provides the cosy ambient heat when left on, or can be turned on as and when desired.
ER7
The ER7 Aga cooker is similar to the Total Control model, as it offers the user flexibility. The difference being that the roasting and baking ovens have multiple heat settings. The roasting oven offers five different heat settings, and the baking oven offers four. The simmering over is set to one temperature and is perfect for slow cooking. The ER7 also features embossed oven door backs and a branded handrail – these additional touches make this cooker extra special.
R7
The R7 Aga cooker is similar to the Dual Control model, as this too is designed to be left on like a traditional Aga cooker. However, the R7 has two additional settings than to the Dual Control. In addition to the normal temperature setting and slumber mode, the R7 features a ‘boost’ which increased the over temperature of the cooker, and also a ‘low’ temperature setting. The ‘boost’ is brilliant for when you’re entertaining and want to retain the temperature of the cooker, and the ‘low’ setting is ideal for reducing energy consumption, for example, overnight. The R7 also features embossed oven door backs, and a branded handrail.
eR3
The eR3 Aga cooker is designed to provide the user with a mixture of traditional Aga cooking and conventional cooking. The eR3 models feature an induction hob, as well as an alternating hot plate. The induction hob allows you to turn the cooker off entirely if you wish. The ovens have their own heating elements, so can be controlled independently from one another or on together, depending on whether you want the gentle heat from the cooker. They come in a range of sizes, from 90cm to 170cm and some of the models are also available with a 90-litre fan oven, depending on which size you go for.
R3
The R3 Aga cooker is similar to the eR3 in the sense that they look the same, however, this model is best suited if you would like the cosy, ambient heat which Aga cookers provide. This model is available with either twin hotplates, or a single hotplate with an induction hob alongside. The cooker has an additional infrared grill, the first of its kind in the Aga cooker world. The cooker is designed to be left on, but has an additional ‘e’ setting which can be used when you’re not cooking to reduce the overall running costs of the cooker.
Last but not least, each of these new generation Aga cookers are cookers are internally vented into the room, which allows for flexible installation, and negates the need for any plumbing through to an external wall.
There is at least one Aga cooker model designed to suit everyone, if not more. If you need any guidance, then please get in touch as we would be delighted to help you out with some further information.
