Even in our technology-obsessed age, where everyone is desperatefor the latest kitchen gadget, there are still thousands of homes across thecountry where you will find an AGA or Rayburn cooker standing proudly in the centre of the kitchen.
There’s more than one reason why this near 100-year-old designdeserves its place in the heart of our homes, and why you should considergetting one for yourself.
A proud British heritage
The story of the AGA began with a tragedy. In 1922, Nobel prizewinning physicist Dr Gustaf Dalen lost his sight while conducting anexperiment. This wasn’t going to stop the brilliant man in his quest to inventan easy-to-use cooker capable of every cooking technique. Even without hissight, he succeeded in that quest, and the AGA cooker was born.
70 years ago, Dr Dalen’s original design evolved further with thecreation of the Rayburn, which offered both a cooking and heating system in asingle appliance.
Even all these decades later, this design serves thousands offamilies good food and affordable heating daily. Every model is made in asingle factory in Telford, Shropshire, birthplace of the industrial revolution,making AGA one of the oldest and most cherished British brands.
Superior food
As attractive as the AGA is, it wouldn’t have lasted this long ifit didn’t produce exceptional food. And using its cast-iron ovens and theprinciple of indirect, radiant heat, that’s exactly what it does.
The way food is cooked in these ovens locks in moisture andflavour, preserving taste, nutrients and texture. You’d have to try very hardindeed to overcook your Sunday roast in an AGA. It can grill, bake, boil,simmer, roast and toast, so whether you're making fine cuisine or beans ontoast, the AGA is at your service.
Continuing innovation
The AGA company hasn’t been resting on its laurels for the pastseven decades. They use their century of design expertise to constantlyinnovate their flawless base design. This includes incorporating state-of-theart induction hobs and conventional fan ovens to a new range of AGAs, providinggreater flexibility.
The AGA cooker hoodand AGA extractor are also widely available, so your family can use theircooker to their hearts content without worrying about a build-up of smoke,steam and grease.
Variety
AGA cookers may have a distinctive look, but that doesn’t meanthey’re lacking in variety.
The AGA and Rayburn models are now available in sixteen colours, fromgentle neutral shades to bright bold colours, so there’s a type for everykitchen style. There are also many ways to fuel it. You could opt fortraditional propane gas, natural gas, oil or wood, or buy one of the newer generationsof AGA models, which run off electricity for a greener home.
Recycled material in every model
Speaking of green, there’s a reason you will never find an old AGAin a landfill site. Every AGA and Rayburn model – even those made 90 years ago– are completely recyclable, and a large proportion of each model is made fromrecycled materials.
Lamp posts, guttering, factory machinery, car gear boxes, doorhinges and other ovens can all be found inside the beloved AGA.
Warm your entire home
The AGA is not just one thing. Not only does it produce unrivalledfood, but it can also heat your home and heat your water. The first thingyou’ll notice when you walk into a kitchen with an AGA at its centre is howwarm and inviting it is.
Of course, you can buy cooking-only models if you already have aheating and hot water system, but by doing three things at once, the AGA allowsyou to save space on other, less attractive and efficient appliances.
TheAGA is truly a miraculous invention, which is sure to heat our homes and cookour meals for many more decades to come.
