To ask is an Aga worth it?

[bobstersmum]

We have currently got a range cooker but it is on its last legs. When looking for a replacement I keep seeing Aga's. I don't know the first thing about them though, can you fill me in? We do have a very long cold kitchen extension so the thought of that being warm in winter is appealing! Are they a pita though?

I have a 1930s Aga which was originally coal fuelled but was converted to Oil in the 1950s ( we don’t have gas).

I love that it’s been used continuously for 90 years.

Its the only cooker I have except for a plug in induction hob which I use when the aga is off eg when we come back from holiday.

Those who say that they struggle with gauging the temperature on an Aga need to go go a cookery demo and learn properly (and they are great)

Got a 2nd hand gas Rayburn (for less than a “range” oven) which looks brand new. Just had to have igniter replaced so without it for a week and it was sorely missed.
It is different to the older type in that it has a proper burner in it which is 15 kWh so only takes 20-30 minutes to heat up hot enough to roast.
Takes about 4 hrs to go completely cold again.
This means it’s a lot more efficient than the always on type.
However it’s in a modern extension that is well insulated so I think our plan b, to fit an electric fan oven, will be bought into play for the summer.
However very pleased we fitted the Rayburn and would do so again.

Top tip is buy yourself a temperature “gun” from Aldi/Lidl it takes away the guess work as the oven door thermostat is a bit vague.
Our temp control goes to all the way to 10 but set at 3, the oven is at 220’C.