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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to not understand all the hype regarding Aga's?

100 replies

sockmuppet · 09/12/2012 16:48

Just been round to MIL who "adores" her new Aga it just got me thinking, are they all that? The ovens seem small, not sure a turkey would fit and they must cost a fortune to run.

I am willing to be corrected but I don't understand why people like them.

OP posts:
OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 09/12/2012 16:54

YANBU. I don't get it either.

NettoHoHoHoSuperstar · 09/12/2012 16:57

Aga's what?

EverlongLovesHerChristmasRobin · 09/12/2012 16:59

I like them. Nearly bought one but didn't.

Original poster
sockmuppet · 09/12/2012 17:00

Everlong, do you mind me asking what exactly you like about them?

OP posts:
MrsCampbellBlack · 09/12/2012 17:02

I have one and the ovens are deceptively large - they go a long way back. But they cost a fortune to run - a fortune!

I won't be keeping mine when we re-do the kitchen despite having always wanted one.

They are good for somethings though and the new ones are amazing but so they should be for £10k+

ditavonteesed · 09/12/2012 17:03

they are so pretty.

Svrider · 09/12/2012 17:03

Yanbu
It's a cooker
End of

farandawaysheran · 09/12/2012 17:04

I love that they warm the small of your back when you stand against them, that in winter you can warm jumpers, dry socks and keep little animals alive in them.

Bit of culinary/lifestyle Marmite though.

Whenever they get discussed IRL it usually ends up in thinly disguised class war.

Booboostoo · 09/12/2012 17:07

I love them. They make the kitchen toasty and warm, you can pop your wet outdoorsey clothes on them and they make the most amazing slow roasts. We don't have one now but there is a special feeling associated with moving all the heating racks in and out to get just the right temperature for backing that you just don't get with a simple knob! Wink

gail734 · 09/12/2012 17:08

I grew up in a house with a coal-fuelled Aga. It was lovely, it heated the whole house. It must have been hell for my mum though, to keep it alight and topped up with coal. My brothers were sent out to the coal bunker in all weathers to fill the scuttle. I was not sent out - this was a designated "boys' job, ha ha!) The kichen, however, was filthy. I wonder if you can work out what a "sooticle" is?? I wouldn't have one myself, unless I had a maid! And by the way, I'm not talking about the 50s - I was born in 1975!

Original poster
sockmuppet · 09/12/2012 17:12

Nettohohoho Thanks for highlighting my mistake, I did realise as soon as I pressed enter.

ditavon I agree they look nice but I can't see any true benefits that a radiator and range don't give you but a lot of negatives.

Boohoo What happens in the summer when it's hot though? Don't radiators keep the kitchen toasty and warm and dry wet clothes without the hygiene issues? I don't understand.

OP posts:
higgle · 09/12/2012 17:12

They give a lovely deep warmth to the house, you can lean on them if you are cold. They make heavenly porridge and rice puddings. They encourage you to be laid back and releaxed in your cooking style. You can surprise everyone with toast when they didn't think an Aga can do that. they look lovely, you can dry your clothes on them and ......most important of all...dags love sleeping by them and seeing your dogs asleep by a nice warm Aga is the bestest thing you can imagine.

Original poster
sockmuppet · 09/12/2012 17:15

Higgle
Honest question, why does porridge taste better from an aga rather than a range?

OP posts:
FrothyOM · 09/12/2012 17:18

They are a lovely warm status symbol.

Original poster
sockmuppet · 09/12/2012 17:19

a status symbol? Why on earth would an oven be a status symbol, genuine question?

OP posts:
FreyaFridays · 09/12/2012 17:20

Toast never surprises me all that much, even if it comes from an Aga. Toast from a toaster suits me just fine... I can't really see why these over-expensive contraptions are any better than a regular stove/radiators. But then, I suppose it's got to be to do with something you have a passion for, like baking, which I absolutely do not have.

ditavonteesed · 09/12/2012 17:21

to be fair if I had an aga I wouldnt have anything else in my kitchen (very tiny offshot), pil have one but as a secondary cooker. also i remember leaning onn one at the stables when we had been out with the horses all day, dont think you can beat that although definatly not posh.

Notoutorabout · 09/12/2012 17:22

They are warm. At this time of year they make the house cosy. You can dry clothes on them.
They cost a fortune to run, are highly inefficient and more suited to slow cooking rather than rapid feed-the-kids-in-15-minutes type food.
My resolution for 2013: Learn to love the sodding aga.

Weissdorn · 09/12/2012 17:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
sockmuppet · 09/12/2012 17:27

Ok please can someone answer these 3 questions for me

  1. why is drying clothes on them is a benefit, can a radiator not be used the same?

  2. What happens in the summer when it's really hot?

  3. The ones I have seen have 3 smallish ovens that are deep but would not accommodate a large turkey for example. Or a large flat pizza? How do you cook these items in them?

OP posts:
Flatbread · 09/12/2012 17:27

I don't have an Aga, but we have an Esse. We love it. It is not expensive to run as it is wood-burning. It cooks really well and we can make lovely crisp roast potatoes the same time as warming our house.

I am thrifty so love the idea of two-in-one cooking and heating. Plus there are few things as deeply satisfying as a lovely hearth, where you prepare meals for the family and gather around to stay warm.

In summer we gather around the BBQ Wink

MistletoeAndTomHardyPlease · 09/12/2012 17:29

I have no idea what an aga is.

fivefoottwowitheyesofblue · 09/12/2012 17:31

They needn't cost a fortune to run. We isolated ours from the heating and now only turn it on when we are going to use it. You just have to be a bit more organised and remember to turn it on an hour before you will use it! I love mine and think it helps to give a lovely atmosphere in the kitchen,

MoomieAndFreddie · 09/12/2012 17:31

pffft

exH (ds dad) has got one of these in his massive posh house

DS always goes on about it for some reason Confused when he comes home from visits, just makes me feel more inadequate about our tiny council house with an argos electric cooker

aga's - pffft, even the NAME sounds posh Envy

fivefoottwowitheyesofblue · 09/12/2012 17:34

  1. Can fit more clothes on top of an aga than a radiator (and flat for jumpers etc). This is certainly not a reason to buy one though Grin

  2. See my post. I turn mine off in the Summer.

  3. The ovens are huge - I have never struggled with a turkey or pizza.

HTH

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