⭐️All Things Aga Related⭐️

[TheRealHousewife]

… From recipes, techniques, tips & tricks.

I have searched MumsNet and there isn’t really an ongoing positive/appreciative thread sharing the joys and tribulations of having an Aga.

My first experience of an Aga was accidental when the holiday accommodation we booked a few years ago had an Aga. As we’d taken our own food I had to crack on. I used it for warming up pre-cooked food in one of the ovens and I did a few things on the simmering & boiling plates including the famed Aga toast. We all loved the soft warmth it brought to the kitchen and to be honest for as big as they are we thought it look homely and inviting. We were hooked! From what I could gather it heated the water in the cottage too.

They have many uses and I’m interested in what other people appreciate their Aga for, their favourite recipes and any hints and tips you can share.

PS - Im not trying to be insensitive in the current energy pricing crisis and I understand that not everyone will see the merit of this thread ❤️

PPS - Photo isn’t my Aga x

Oohh! Can I join?
I'd love a bit of AGA chat.
We have a second hand 2 oven, gas fired AGA in British Racing Green (the colour is the only thing I don't really love).
Got for a steal about 15 years ago and it has become the centre of family life in our kitchen ever since.

It's turned to pilot light between April and September and we use a built in Neff oven/grill/microwave and table top induction hob (sadly not enough space for a proper hob). We get by just fine but have considered a cheapish air fryer for the summer months. Might get one for next year.
I love cooking with it and miss it when off, I know it's often said but everything cooked in tastes so much better. I can't explain it but it's true.

Drying laundry is so easy too.
I'm an obsessive line dryer but also not afraid to dry a load of socks and unders in the tumble dryer in awful weather but do use the AGA whenever possible to dry overnight or to properly air out line dried laundry.
I have two stacking mesh racks (which I got for Christmas the first year we had it), they're absolutely brilliant.

We live in a very small house and it pretty much keeps the whole house warm and dry. The central heating thermostat clicks on in the bedrooms only on the very coldest mornings other than that it never comes on.

I'm well aware that an AGA is a huge indulgence in this day and age but we've decided to stick with it.

Hi @KinshipCorner looks like we have us an Aga Party for 2 🥳😅

British Racing Green is iconic … that said if it’s difficult to live with (funds permitting) you can have them re-enamelled in the colour of your choice 👍 You home sounds very cosy and hygge 🔥 A home to suit and welcome the cooler months.

I agree they are an indulgence… I see our Aga as replacement for the lovely car I used to drive. We no longer have fancy holidays or meals out (pets at home) so our downtime is spent enjoying prepping and cooking lovely meals.

Ours is one of the newer models, all electric and designed to be switched on and off as required although I think at the weekends we are considering having the ovens on for the duration and we won’t need the heating on. It has an induction hob which is useful.

We don't have a tumble dryer, so we rely on line drying, airers and heated floors. It can be frustrating in winter when the outside drying days are reduced. 🥶

Ikea have a fabulous folding wire rack that nestles nicely over one of the domes, perfect for airing a small pile of laundry. Not unlike the Aga laundry rack, not as substantial but does the trick for the princely sum of £3.00.

I recently got the Aga Bible by Amy Willcock to add to my ever growing collection. You can never have too many 😬

For people just starting out these sites are useful:- Aga Recipes

Blake & Bull Aga Family Food Recipes

Mine has been serviced today and is warming up. I can't tell you the absolute joy I feel. Ddog is thrilled too 😂

Its been off since April and my aga engineer is so busy he could only fit me in today, usually we get done in September and 21st October is too long to wait to have my kitchen friend back.

Been on a week tomorrow.

Tonight we're having Spanish chicken traybake (hairy bikers).

Earlier did a batch of baking for dd to take into work.

We've had casseroles, meatballs, cooked breakfast, bacon 😁, curry I've missed aga rice 🙈 I've dried all my washing and just warmed myself leaning against it.

So lovely to have it back, ddog in seventh heaven.

Mine dates from the late 1960s. Four-oven, pale blue, oil fired. It's brilliant. Just hoping I can keep going with it - inherited it in 1983.

I have a red, two-oven oil fired AGA. It's been on now for a couple of weeks. It was in the house when we bought it in 1984 and I love it. It's situated in the middle of the house so warms the room behind it as well as the bedrooms above and the chimney also keeps the loft aired.

However I've never got the hang of cooking some cakes, eg. sponges, in it because you can't be precise with the temperature - so if anyone has any tips... ?

Usually gets turned off completely at the end of April, or when it gets too hot in the kitchen (which has two south facing windows) 😁

I have an electric oven for use in the summer, though this year I bought a cheap air-fryer which has been a quick and efficient substitute for throwing something in the AGA for 5 minutes to crisp it up!

Ours was in the house we bought and I was so nervous using it. It's a reconditioned oil one and is on all year round even in summer. We love we have instant hot water, use the kitchen for drying clothes overnight, drying football boots, and making the kitchen so toasty. I'd love to redesign our kitchen a bit to allow a sofa or love seat as I spend most of my time in there.

We have a spare cooker in the laundry room should it ever be needed but we haven't needed it in the fifteen years we've been here.

Oh joy of joys @Hedgesgalore A very fine day indeed 🔥 They certainly bring a marvellously warm ambiance to a kitchen. Within an hour and a half of being delivered and fitted my 3 pooches were vying for space on the mat in front of it.

Today I have beef ribs in gravy and a tray of veggies in the simmering oven. The veg will be made into a soup. I’m going to chuck a few spuds in in a bit to have with the ribs later 😋

Update - I’ve just returned to thread to find my last post didn’t post 😣

@Hedgesgalore Im loving it! That said, I burnt my first bake which was a Christmas Cake! Did in simmering oven as per Mary Berry’s instructions. Clearly my SO runs hot. 2nd bake perfection 👌.

My OH claims everything tastes better cooked in the iron ovens of the Aga and I just say I agree with him 😬

@Sunnysidegold Sounds a right work horse, not to say fabulous 👌 If you’ve the budget refit sounds ideal; especially as you say you all live in your kitchen 👍

@CastlesinSpain Ive read it’s all about positioning and clever use of your cold shelf. I did a Victoria Sponge the other day and it was well received.

Photo didn’t post.

Loving the recipe inspiration on this thread!

I was very wary of cake baking when I first started using it. I seemed to blacken the top of everything, even when following instructions to the letter.
If it was high stakes - baking one of the children's birthday cakes and not enough time to bake a second one if I got it wrong, then I'd bake it in the electric oven to guarantee results.
I've managed to perfect it now though and the results are much better than in the little electric oven.

OP, Your Victoria sponge looks absolutely lovely! You've inspired me to do a little baking this weekend (kids will be delighted!).

Are you also a fan of Emma Bridgewater things? Your little vase is adorable!
We may have even more in common!

Thank you!

@KinshipCorner Yes it is EB … although I do feel as a company they have gone off the boil. Their stuff isn’t such good quality and the designs are increasingly machine transferred onto the pottery rather than hand sponged. It’s a shame. I preferred the ‘traditional’ items.

I did have a baking day today.
Chocolate cake and lemon drizzle loaf.
Should keep the locusts kids satisfied for a couple of days!

Have you discovered Bake o Glide?
I couldn't do without it anymore. So much easier to clean the roasting trays with it.

I'm not sure that the quality of EB ware has gone downhill. I've been collecting for the last 20 years and I can say that the quality of the newer things is still very much the same as the older ones.

As for patterns, well, I've never really gone for the lithographic designs much. The vast majority of my collection are hand printed.
I also only buy what really appeals to me so it's all a mish mash of colours and patterns here, no lovely curated, colour palette matched displays on a beautiful Welsh dresser here! But that's definitely the way I like it.

Those bakes look very tempting @KinshipCorner 😋😋😋

I did braised lamb shanks, mash & mixed veg today. Went down a treat!

My EB collection is very eclectic as I only buy pieces that I really like ❤️ As the years go by I’m buying less and less. That said this year I’ve bought the tiny tree decorations (mini plate, jug and teapot) Super cute they are. I absolutely use everything I buy and get enjoyment that way rather than have them in a dust collecting display 😬 I have a few seasonal swap outs and store the spares in the garage.

Yes I do have Bake O Glide and agree it saves a lot of mess. Nonetheless my eggs still stuck to it on the simmering plate 😅

Locusts 😂😂😂

Slightly off piste but I have an Everhot. Works a bit like an electric Aga. I have it on all year except when the weather is very hot, then I use its induction ring. I have had it nearly 15 years and the only repair or service it has ever had was when my wheelchair bound husband scraped it with his chair and they sent me free touch up paint. I use Aga-style cooking methods (ie 95 per cent in the oven) and recommend the Roasting Tin book as well as Aga books.
I love it!

Hi @Honu Welcome 🤗 Everhot are similar to Aga, so you’re in the right place. Do you find it expensive having it on permanently? Our kitchen gets to hot when on continuously 🥵

I’ll look for the roasting tin book? Who’s the author?

Having the Everhot on most of the time is my luxury! Heating is oil (no gas here) so electricity is cheapest form of heat.
The Roasting Tin is by Rukmini Iyer.

Thank you 👍

We're mostly electric too (LPG that runs the boiler and is at the opposite end of house to kitchen. About a fiver a day in electric x

Hello

After dreaming of this moment for 20 years, our Aga is being installed this time next week. A two oven in Northern counties cream and I am beyond excited 😄