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Housekeeping

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Rayburn - good idea?

18 replies

lexie01 · 17/05/2010 14:23

After many (many) weeks of thinking (procrastinating) I have finally listened to MN advise and started to look at a Rayburn rather than an Aga for my new kitchen. Because I only have one small radiator I need the additional warmth of a rangecooker in the winter but I was very worried about the heat generated by an aga during the summer months (I will have no additional cooking facilities).

I have just been to my local Aga shop and looked at the Rayburns. I was a little bit concerned about the fact that there are only 2 ovens both of which were smaller then a Aga. Does anyone have experience of cooking with a Rayburn (gas). Do you have any problems with it??? Any comments would be much appreciated.

OP posts:
champagnesupernova · 17/05/2010 14:49

where was advice that rayburn is better than an aga?
How big is your kitchen?

lexie01 · 17/05/2010 15:52

In total the whole space is about 22ft long. Part of this will be the kitchen, part breakfast area. But it is a real odd shape with some original cupboards which has made it almost impossible to get a full 'fitted' kitchen. As a result we are having a freestanding kitchen but there is no space for an additional hob or cooker.

The general advice I have been given is that an Aga even with AIMS would probably be too hot in the summer and that a programmable range would be better. Do you have an aga then??

OP posts:
champagnesupernova · 17/05/2010 16:06

Yes, we have a 2 door gas aga and our kitchen is not v big.
Probably 12 ft by 20ft maybe?
but is a rectangle with no funny corners.
Aga is at one end and we have the back door too
It does get quite warm in summer but we live in the country so can leave the door open if it's stifling - been here 2
summers and it's never been a massive problem thus far.

We also have underfloor heating (!) but we switch that off in the summer!

Didn't know that Rayburn ovens were smaller
Are you going to have an alternative cooker of some kind?

lexie01 · 17/05/2010 16:53

No because of space issues there simply won't be the room for an additional cooker. The reason I am looking at the Rayburn more than the aga is because you can actually turn it off and on quite easily (I am told) and it only takes about 30 mins to warm up. Thus during the summer months I could actually turn it off during the day or overnight to reduce the heat. This is the theory anyway but I don't know anyone who owns a Rayburn to actually ask! All the people I know have Agas and an additional cooker for the summer.

OP posts:
FiveGoMadInDorset · 17/05/2010 16:57

We used to have a Stanley which did the heating, water and cooking and just cam on and off on a timer.

lexie01 · 17/05/2010 18:05

I have looked at Stanleys, Esse and Heritage and there are pros and cons for all. I chose Rayburn because I liked it's look (pathetic I know) and also because it is slightly smaller in depth then say the Heritage cookers and would thus fit better in the chimney recess.

By the way I am having a cooker only Rayburn and not the Heatranger which provides heating and hot water.

OP posts:
glacierchick · 18/05/2010 08:49

You're probably already sold on a rayburn/Aga. I've used both (Mother had a oil fired rayburn, we had a gas fired aga in old house) and they are nice and comforting to sit round and once you get used to them they cook beautifully (thoguh most people also have a normal oven as a backup too).

However. They are just about the most inefficient form of heating/cooking/hot water it is possible to have. Environmentally they are a nightmare as a result.

Honestly, I'd get a top of the range fan oven with an induction or gas hob and a bigger radiator.

It'll save you a lot of money in both the inital layout and in bills, is better for the environment and will be much more efficient in heating your kitchen.

Sorry if that's not what you want to hear, but of course feel free to ignore my opinion...

/rant.

lexie01 · 18/05/2010 09:51

Hi glacierchick - thank you for your comments. I don't disagree with anything you have said - I know that they are not the best environmentally (although it could be said that I won't need a seperate toaster, tumble dryer, kettle etc)but I have lived through 3 freezing winters in my kitchen and to be honest the thought of a warm kitchen overcomes all the guilt I may feel.

I have looked at underfloor heating but I have original quarry floor tiles laid on ash so if I took them up I would not only have to lay proper foundations but I would definitely lose some of the tiles as well (ssome are already cracked). I can also only get a radiator in the dining area of the kitchen which wouldn't be enough to keep the whole room warm. We are doing other things like replacing all the windows with solid wood double glazing and the external (drafty) door BUT heating is still a problem...So whilst I do feel guilty I console myself with the fact that I won't be using lots of other appliances, I won't need to heat the whole house just to keep the kitchen warm and because it is a Rayburn I will be able to turn it off more frequently (unlike the Aga)..

OP posts:
lexie01 · 18/05/2010 11:47

Are there any MN who use a Rayburn and can give me some advise on the size on the ovens? Thanks

OP posts:
Merrylegs · 18/05/2010 11:52

Just to put a spanner in the works ... we have an everhot.

It is lush. it has a control box so you can adjust the cooking temp and turn it down if you are away. Big ovens. Nice and toasty. But only is electric.

lexie01 · 18/05/2010 14:27

Thanks Merrylegs - I did look at everhot but I really wanted a gas range. Thxs anyway

OP posts:
lexie01 · 18/05/2010 21:51

any rayburn user out there.......

OP posts:
glacierchick · 19/05/2010 10:47

Well, just to follow up on my comment, I think I would do the improvements you suggest first (draft proofing, new windows etc, all very sensible) and then maybe see what effect that has on the heating in your kitchen before making the huge layout for a range.

Do investigate better radiator options too. I hear your pain, my current kitchen is freeeeezzzzing in winter, but I still wouldn't get an aga or rayburn put in.

I love my fan oven, and the electric induction hob is a complete revelation, it will be tough to go back to gas actually which was my previous favourite.

The heat in summer is definitely a consideration, our place is very hot in summer and I wouldn't add to that

As far as I remember, my mothers rayburn has a more than adequate sized oven.

I suppose it depends what you will mainly be cooking though. For instance, it's big enough for the Christmas turkey, but generally I think she has to cook the veg first, then put them in the warming oven to fit the turkey in (we're a large family) to cook.

Also, if you will be cooking cakes and things, the temperature really varies a lot between the top and the bottom, so you need to keep an eye out.

The temperature control is ok I think, but my mother's also does the hot water and central heating, so it's usually hot anyway, I can't therefore comment on the length of time to heat etc. Of course, like an aga, if you have stuff in the oven, it's difficult to cook on the hot plates for any length of time wihtout affecting the heat.

If you've never used one before beware! It does take a while to get used to.

In summary, I have cooked on both agas and rayburns, they are pretty similar, but there was a reason our grandmothers switched to gas/electric and if it was up to me, I wouldn't install either.

Sorry, maybe that's not very helpful if you really have set your heart on one...

mumdebump · 19/05/2010 11:37

I have a Rayburn (oil). The ovens are smaller than an Aga and the bottom one is on such a low temp it's little more than a warming oven or very low simmer oven so it can be a challenge to get lots of separate things it, especially if you don't use the made to measure cookware designed for it. The top oven is what I mainly use in winter and you have to remember to turn it on about 30mins before or set the timer. It gets very hot on the left side so beware if baking as it burns biscuits and cakes if they are close to that edge and you don't remember to turn them.
You do have to change your cooking styles/recipes/cookware to suit the oven (& I do have a separate hob and useless fan oven that I still use especially if we're just having something like pasta and I can't be bothered to wait for the Rayburn to heat up). That said I love mine and wouldn't change it and have managed a Christmas lunch for 7 people with it.

MrsMagnolia · 20/05/2010 11:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mumdebump · 20/05/2010 19:48

Yes MrsMagnolia, I had to invest in a timer after a couple of instances of forgetting I'd put things in the oven and retrieving a lump of carbon several hours later.

Ours does the heating and hot water too.

And they're not so environmentally bad as you might think because a lot of the enviromental cost is in the maunfacturing process and they last a lifetime. Think of how many cheap cookers and boilers have to be manufactured and get chucked out after a year or two when they don't work anymore.

candios · 08/09/2010 17:16

i have just tuned in here but we are trying to decide between a Heritage (oil) and an Everhot for cooking only. We are getting rid of a converted oil Aga after years of trouble. I favour the Everhot but gather that you do not have anything like the warmth in the kitchen. Can you confrim this. To have the control would be amazing but we don't have a radiator in the kitchen and love that cosiness that I think the heritage would still give us.
Any advice welcomed.

Aliedmunds1 · 27/10/2013 11:53

I've just read through this thread having a similar dilemma. So what was your outcome? did you get the Rayburn? and are you now happy with it?

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