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 may be nonetheless a lot work round this house and this cooker, however I couldn’t wait till the complete kitchen was buttoned again collectively, and since we’re taking fairly a little bit of the renovation right here on this house and some others, it could possibly be months earlier than all of it comes collectively. I’ve dreamed of this cooker for a few years as I pined over outdated English cottage kitchens I might examine in books & on-line that each one had a model of this cooker in them.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 little bit QA kind of weblog to reply among the questions you will have about this cooker, and the way we are able to got here round to carry it to the farm.
What’s an AGA
In case you don’t know what an AGA cooker is or solely acknowledge them from just a few kitchens, let me offer you a short run down. AGA cookers have 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 concept of utilizing forged iron to retain warmth and constructed a cooker that could possibly be left on on a regular basis with out the necessity for adjusting the temperature. All the unit is insulated with just a few completely different layers from inside the physique to the gaskets on the door.
When wanting 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 operating temperature. High proper is the Roasting Oven, backside proper is the Baking Oven, high left is the Simmering Oven, and the underside left is the Warming Oven. The middle door is the place the burner meeting is situated. 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 completely different areas however typically talking these are good temperatures to reference when cooking.
The highest has a warming plate, that’s fairly scorching. You possibly can faucet it together with your hand however you possibly can’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 possibly can prepare dinner immediately on it, so now we have already carried out 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 best way. The worth. 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 property. We had no thought this was a chance so we assumed we might by no means be capable of personal an AGA cooker, however sooner or later with some willpower we found this world of used AGA cookers & so we wished to share that with all of you in case it’s been your dream to have on as effectively. We bought ours from Chef Cargo (link) and had an exquisite expertise. Matt gave us a listing of installers in our areas in addition to comply with on steps after we bought that began us on our planning journey. A fast google search will present you that Model New Forged 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 spread of 70-75% off new value factors. After ours have been shipped, we fell proper inside that vary of 70-75% off model new costs. And for among the Ranges we have been , the extra typical ones, we have been on the identical value level.
How you can 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 return onsite forward of your set up and look over your house. We didn’t do that, and I misplaced a number of sleep over this, however over the telephone and thru the usage of a digital copy of the producers specs and dimensions to get our house constructed out for the cooker.
We have now 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 an excellent widespread equipment, we discovered that wooden range and fireside installers have been essentially the most knowledgable for this utility.
The AGA tough top is 33 1/2 inches tall. We constructed a little bit platform to boost it as much as our counter top. This appears to be regular follow in most kitchens so a little bit step up platform probably can 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 perimeters, again, and backside needs to be a non-combustable materials. So we had cement board, our brick veneer, and high plated the step with a skinny layer aluminum nailed in place.
To put in the AGA you will want to discover a licensed/licensed AGA installer. The AGA when shipped is available in two crates and it’s assembled in place. I feel 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 completely no approach round it, skilled installer required.
We used Rob from The Aga Studio (Link), fortunately he’s from Michigan, however he has been referred to as to put in from Georgia to Mackinac Island, and in all places in-between. The set up takes about 1 1/2 days and had an exquisite 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 effectively with some very-very aggressive costs as effectively.
The place can I discover one?
The dealer we used was Chef Cargo, and our Installer has some as effectively, The AGA Studio. We have now discovered some on Fb Market as effectively for anyplace from $5k-9k. Additionally basic on-line looking is a good suggestion as your space might have them on the market in different capacities too. My suggestion could be to look to see you probably 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, in order 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 readily available. One of the best half about this, is there may be much less arms within the course of, and the installer sometimes will refurbish them as soon as they’ve them.
Are you able to Change the Coloration?
Sure and no. The enamel high and entrance could be recolored and re-glazed, nevertheless our installer was not conscious of anybody in america and solely an organization within the UK. The worth would value to ship it approach and ship it again could be near the price of a pre-owned AGA of a distinct shade.
Why Cream?
We have 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 little bit extra shade into this house. We additionally cherished that cream was the ORIGINAL shade of the AGA cookers so it has that historic appeal to it. We could have no different home equipment close to this house so we additionally had no different equipment colours to work round.
What Prep work did you could do?
- We began with eradicating the outdated kitchen cupboards we had in place.
- Then we eliminated the stone wall that was beforehand put in once we bought the house.
- Recognized the range cove have 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 carry the AGA to our present counter top 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 effectively insulated you possibly can’t actually really feel any warmth. I don’t assume that’s completely true. Whenever you get just a few ft from the AGA you possibly can inform its on. The warming plate does kick out a little bit of radiant warmth. Numerous seasoned AGA homeowners make the most of this to assist dry garments, moist boots, and different issues. Our house is fairly broad open with a number of home windows, we’re at all times catching breezes, as well as now we have a beefy attic fan that will get air transferring. We must see if it creates any un-comfort this summer time, however at this second it isn’t making the complete house hotter, however subsequent to it you possibly can really feel its heat. The doorways, and Hob covers (scorching plate domes) do hold in a ton of the warmth. Once more we’ll shoot this so you possibly can see how how it’s open, closed, close to and much.
What’s left for across the AGA?
We have now 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 high or not.
The flooring in entrance (and all through the kitchen) goes to get up to date as effectively.
Have you ever Cooked on it but?
Sure now we have. As soon as it was put in it took a couple of 2 days to get to temperature. We have now solely had it for lower than every week now, so we’re nonetheless studying the method, however we’ve had household spaghetti, grilled rooster fajitas, and quesadillas. Burgers, Salmon, and Hen 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 objects, in addition to discovering some wholesome baking recipes to do recurrently. 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 can see more about the AGA cooker as we go & more of our kitchen Renovations [HERE]
