Okay right here we’re, let’s discuss this stunning elephant within the room. Our new range which is a refurbished Cream 4-Oven AGA cooker. It has been a very long time to get thus far, and there’s nonetheless a lot work round this area and this cooker, however I couldn’t wait till all the kitchen was buttoned again collectively, and since we’re taking fairly a little bit of the renovation right here on this area and some others, it may very well be months earlier than all of it comes collectively. I’ve dreamed of this cooker for a few years as I pined over previous English cottage kitchens I might examine in books & on-line that each one had a model of this cooker in them. So let’s get into a bit of QA sort of weblog to reply a few of the questions you’ll have about this cooker, and the way we are able to got here round to convey it to the farm.
What’s an AGA
If you happen to don’t know what an AGA cooker is or solely acknowledge them from just a few kitchens, let me provide you with a short run down. AGA cookers had been first invented in 1922 by a Swedish physicist named Gustaf Dalén. Dalén was blinded in an accident whereas working with stress vessels, so he got down to create a cooker that didn’t require fixed consideration. He got here up with the thought of utilizing forged iron to retain warmth and constructed a cooker that may very well be left on on a regular basis with out the necessity for adjusting the temperature. The complete unit is insulated with just a few totally different layers from inside the physique to the gaskets on the door.
When trying on the oven every door has a pre-determined temperature, give or take just a few levels, when the cooker is introduced as much as working temperature. High proper is the Roasting Oven, backside proper is the Baking Oven, prime left is the Simmering Oven, and the underside left is the Warming Oven. The middle door is the place the burner meeting is positioned. There’s a little variable right here however roughly the roasting oven is about to about 450-460 diploma, the baking oven at 350 levels, the simmering oven is near 250 and the warming oven is nearer to 150 diploma. I intend on utilizing a laser temperature reader to learn totally different areas however usually talking these are good temperatures to reference when cooking.
The highest has a warming plate, that’s fairly sizzling. You’ll be able to faucet it along with your hand however you’ll be able to’t actually go away it on the waring plate. The middler is the boiling plate, the most well liked a part of the cooker, and the far proper is the simmering plate. The very cool factor concerning the simmering plate is you’ll be able to prepare dinner straight on it, so we’ve got already finished grilled cheese and cheese quesadilla for Copey.
Okay let’s get into the QA for this magnificence.
Aren’t They Costly?
Lets get the large query out of the way in which. The value. We bought this Pre-Owned– sure, Pre-Owned. There’s truly a reasonably substantial marketplace for pre-owned AGA’s that brokers and installers have on-hand right here within the US, capable of be shipped to your house. We had no thought this was a chance so we assumed we might by no means be capable to personal an AGA cooker, however someday with some dedication we found this world of used AGA cookers & so we needed to share that with all of you in case it’s been your dream to have on as properly. We bought ours from Chef Cargo (hyperlink) and had a beautiful expertise. Matt gave us a listing of installers in our areas in addition to observe on steps after we bought that began us on our planning journey. A fast google search will present you that Model New Solid Iron AGA’s promote for north of 3ok, I can completely guarantee you that we didn’t pay that, Pre-Owned AGA’s promote for a variety of 70-75% off new value factors. After ours had been shipped, we fell proper inside that vary of 70-75% off model new costs. And for a few of the Ranges we had been taking a look at, the extra standard ones, we had been on the identical value level.
you go from on-line buy to completely put in?
So as soon as you buy your AGA on-line or in-person, I like to recommend you discover an installer to see if you may get them to come back onsite forward of your set up and look over your area. We didn’t do that, and I misplaced a whole lot of sleep over this, however over the cellphone and thru using a digital copy of the producers specs and dimensions to get our area constructed out for the cooker.
Now we have an Open Flute 4-0ven AGA, which required a B-Vent put in to vent out by means of the roof. There are two variations of those Cookers, the Open flute, which is the uncovered vertical black pipe going up an out of the home, and direct vent, which isn’t uncovered. Fortunately we had a pre-excisiting venting for our earlier hood, that we used to route our new B-Vent comparatively simply. This did require a separate skilled to put in the vent. Whenever you name round you realized this isn’t a brilliant widespread equipment, we discovered that wooden range and hearth installers had been probably the most knowledgable for this software.
The AGA tough peak is 33 1/2 inches tall. We constructed a bit of platform to lift it as much as our counter peak. This appears to be regular observe in most kitchens so a bit of step up platform most certainly might be required. We constructed ours into our Range Cove with lumber and plywood. We lined the highest with factor aluminum sheeting and confronted this step up with full bricks that our masons put in.
The installer did point out that the edges, again, and backside ought to be a non-combustable materials. So we had cement board, our brick veneer, and prime plated the step with a skinny layer aluminum nailed in place.
To put in the AGA you’ll need to discover a licensed/licensed AGA installer. The AGA when shipped is available in two crates and it’s assembled in place. I believe roughly the AGA weights about 1200 lbs, so as soon as its put in its not sliding anyplace. This isn’t a type of, “solely licensed installer” situations, like connecting fuel traces, or putting in a water heater, the place owners with some widespread sense can deal with the duty, that is a fully no means round it, skilled installer required.
We used Rob from The Aga Studio (Hyperlink), fortunately he’s from Michigan, however he has been referred to as to put in from Georgia to Mackinac Island, and all over the place in-between. The set up takes about 1 1/2 days and had a beautiful time studying concerning the set up, components, anticipated service and upkeep, in addition to some ideas and methods as he owns just a few. Rob additionally does refurbish and resell pre-owned AGA’s as properly with some very-very aggressive costs as properly.
The place can I discover one?
The dealer we used was Chef Cargo, and our Installer has some as properly, The AGA Studio. Now we have discovered some on Fb Market as properly for anyplace from $5k-9k. Additionally normal on-line looking is a good suggestion as your space could have them on the market in different capacities too. My advice can be to look to see if in case you have an installer close by and see if they’ve one on the market, or know of anybody promoting. We discovered that some folks buy a house with an AGA that don’t need them, so that they name an installer to take away them or attempt to promote them. If there aren’t any present purchaser the Installers will take away them and buy them and hold them available. The perfect half about this, is there’s much less arms within the course of, and the installer usually will refurbish them as soon as they’ve them.
Are you able to Change the Colour?
Sure and no. The enamel prime and entrance might be recolored and re-glazed, nonetheless our installer was not conscious of anybody in the USA and solely an organization within the UK. The value would price to ship it means and ship it again can be near the price of a pre-owned AGA of a distinct colour.
Why Cream?
We had been going between a cream and a white unit. We chosen the cream for just a few causes. We felt it complimented a brick veneer higher, in addition to begin are transition into bringing a bit of extra colour into this area. We additionally cherished that cream was the ORIGINAL colour of the AGA cookers so it has that historic appeal to it. We may have no different home equipment close to this area so we additionally had no different equipment colours to work round.
What Prep work did you might want to do?
- We began with eradicating the previous kitchen cupboards we had in place.
- Then we eliminated the stone wall that was beforehand put in after we bought the house.
- Recognized the range cove had been the AGA was going. Decided the help under, which we had a full block wall under to help the beforehand put in stone wall.
- My brother, Johnnie Debruin Builders, corrected some structural points and get a brand new header in place that was doubtlessly inflicting just a few points within the ground above. He created a step as much as convey the AGA to our present counter peak and framed the cove and cement boarded the inside partitions to be prepared for the masons.
- There was some electrical ran within the cove that wanted to be re-routed and repurposed, in addition to creating a brand new swap plate finding for the brand new pantry.
- We added a water line for a future pot filler and area of interest to be put in within the cove.
- We then had our masons, Brixstone Masonry, set up brick veneer.
- As soon as the AGA installer was onsite we decide one of the best inlet and placement for the fuel, and put in a model new 1/2 inch line under.
Does it make your Kitchen Sizzling?
I learn someplace that it was so properly insulated you’ll be able to’t actually really feel any warmth. I don’t suppose that’s fully true. Whenever you get just a few ft from the AGA you’ll be able to inform its on. The warming plate does kick out a little bit of radiant warmth. Lots of seasoned AGA house owners make the most of this to assist dry garments, moist boots, and different issues. Our house is fairly large open with a whole lot of home windows, we’re all the time catching breezes, as well as we’ve got a beefy attic fan that will get air transferring. We should see if it creates any un-comfort this summer time, however at this second it isn’t making all the area hotter, however subsequent to it you’ll be able to really feel its heat. The doorways, and Hob covers (sizzling plate domes) do hold in a ton of the warmth. Once more we’ll shoot this so you’ll be able to see how how it’s open, closed, close to and much.
What’s left for across the AGA?
Now we have water ran to the area of interest above we simply want to choose a backsplash tile for the again of the area of interest wall.
We bought some vintage ceiling tin that we plant on putting in.
We try to find out our lighting state of affairs if we want one thing over prime or not.
The flooring in entrance (and all through the kitchen) goes to get up to date as properly.
Have you ever Cooked on it but?
Sure we’ve got. As soon as it was put in it took a couple of 2 days to get to temperature. Now we have solely had it for lower than per week now, so we’re nonetheless studying the method, however we’ve had household spaghetti, grilled hen fajitas, and quesadillas. Burgers, Salmon, and Rooster are on the menu within the subsequent few days. As soon as we get extra snug with it, I’m so excited to do a full Turkey or some bigger gadgets, in addition to discovering some wholesome baking recipes to do repeatedly. Copey is obsessive about baking so we’re on a mission this summer time to make this a routine– he’s actually good with remembering the directions and its simply a lot enjoyable.
You’ll be able to see extra concerning the AGA cooker as we go & extra of our kitchen Renovations [HERE]
