Ever so “upper-crust” British, the cast-iron range was the brainstorm of Swedish Nobel Prize winner Gustaf Dalen. Blinded in an accident in 1912, the noted chemist became housebound. Wanting to feel useful and helpful to his wife, he designed a multi-purpose unit that would cook meals, heat water and dry the laundry.

Named AGA after the manufacturing company, Aktiebolaget Gas Accumulator, the unit’s claim to fame is solid cast iron that absorbs and retains heat. An ever-present heat source cooks food by radiant heat versus heated air.  True to its original design, a traditional AGA is always on and ready to use, no control knobs or dials are needed.  Heat is transferred to a series of lower ovens and upper hot plates designed to bake, roast, simmer, fry, simmer, slow cook and toast. The AGA website has a fascinating historical timeline that is well worth the read.

There is no doubt that an AGA range is a thing of beauty. A perfect fit for a retro kitchen design, the wide array of glossy enamel colors makes every unit a show stopper.  Hailed as a design icon of the 20th century by the BBC (placing third behind the Coca-Cola® contour bottle and the VW™ Bug) they are, however, a serious financial commitment.

Weigh the facts

  • The AGA cooks slowly and much more evenly than a conventional stove. The food simply tastes better. In all fairness, newer conventional ovens now usually have a fan (convection) that helps foods cook and bake more evenly.
  • Because it is always “on”, the traditional AGA is always ready to use. Keep in mind that this also means your fuel bill will increase. The more modern units have regulators for more efficient energy consumption.
  • The AGA really can be used to dry clothes.
  • If you are a novice cook, an AGA will be challenging, to say the least. Owners do need to learn a whole new way of cooking – you will be hard pressed to find recipes with AGA cooking instructions.
  • Realistically, you will probably need a conventional range as well as an AGA. Having a constant heat source in the middle of summer just does not make sense.

An AGA range is a luxury item that will never go out of style. If you love the look and have the means, indulge yourself, then contact us for some cabinetry design ideas to compliment that beautiful kitchen focal point.