Shall we get rid of our AGA?

[oz2308]

Our electric AGA with companion is about 20 years' old. Beautiful to look at but was costing us around £5K pa in electricity when left on constantly so we had it adapted around 18 months ago and now you have to turn it on and off like any conventional oven. So now our electricity bills are far lower BUT we don't get any of the advantages of an AGA any more and the oven takes ages to heat up and even then I am not sure it is getting hot enough. So I think it is time to change to something else. I would be interested to hear peoples' views on electric (not induction) range ovens (we are rural and don't have gas). Thank you

Try a magnet on the base of your pans. If it sticks you can use it on an induction hob.

Our house had a solid-fuel, converted to gas AGA (already 50 years old) when we bought it 20 years ago.
Best thing was drying the laundry round it and fact it meant we didn’t need heating on until Nov. Was wasted on us for cooking to be honest, and a bit of a pain as never really hot enough.

Once gas prices increased 2 years ago, we knew it had to go, esp as our AGA man said it was no longer possible to get spares for it as too old. We thought it was costing £3-£4 a day to have it on.

It was a sad day when it was taken away in the summer, before we had a new kitchen fitted. Paid about £1k to have it removed - they said it had asbestos in it.
Then had a radiator fitted in kitchen as part on new kitchen. Had a gas hob and electric oven. Must say, I love having control over the temperature of hob and oven and find things cook faster. Don’t miss the AGA for cooking. Do miss it for drying the washing though, but have avoided a tumble dryer and hang stuff from picture rails above radiators in spare room.

To test for which pans are useable on an induction hob, buy a cheap magnet. If it sticks to the underside they’ll be fine.

Mil has an oil rayburn which does their heating as well its awful and very expensive