Cooking with an Aga 602

We have a range. Not an Aga, a Nobel; AIUI made by a company when Aga patents ran out. About a thousand cheaper when new and many parts interchangeable. Like the Aga, cooking and hot water only; some types do central heating as well. Aga says it cools the range too much. Our choice was a new Nobel immediately or a second hand Aga with a six month wait. Some differences but we're very happy with it. Very basic although more sophisitcated versions available - ours just has an oil control valve to change temperature.

Needs heavy pans on the top but any good pans work well, I use a mixture of sorts - ali, stainless steel, cast iron, induction; if I want to cool the pan I just move it slightly off the plate.

Cbutteroles - fine. I find that the slow oven of the 2-oven stove (they come in 2- and 4-oven versions) is too hot to cook any normal cbutterole overnight. Roasts and pies good. Top of hot oven good for browning tops of things; it's the only "grill". I don't "grill" much so can't give a useful comment.

above the cake to stop the top browning too much. You have to turn cakes around part way through but they don't fall. Rich CHristmas cake, I've had some trouble adapting the cooking schedule of a family recipe but am just about there now. Scones superb. Yorkshire pudd ok. Don't do any other sort of cake. Well, welshcakes on a griddle on the top; cooking directly on the plates is too hot.

Veg. Boil on top as usual or you can often start them on top then transfer pan to the oven (need the heatproof handles) to finish. Wok. I use a Meyer (fairly heavy base) wok for a sort of stir frying but it's probably not the same as "real" wokking.

Toast. Put bread directly on the plate and turn it over with a knife; just

Bread. HE says it's good (HE makes the bread).

On the plus side it's a "heart of the home" keeping the kitchen a warm friendly place and keeping the whole house tempered. Oven always available to pop something in. You never clean the oven; things just burn off.

And the negative, expensive on fuel. Some ranges may be cheaper to run; find out about the relative costs of the various types. Also the top gets stained unless you are willing to (a) cook with a damp dishcloth in one hand to wipe up splashes intantly, and (2) wipe the top before you serve (Aga demonstrator suggestion - I prefer to get the food served hot).

Servicing. Regular (annual) service done by normal local heating company when they do our CH boiler. Aga demonstrator was definitely "sniffy" when I asked her questions about the Nobel.

Happy to give more details if you want them.

Cheers Jane

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