AGA cooker facts for kids

A modern-day three-oven AGA cooker. What appears to be a fourth oven door is the door to the burner.

The AGA Range Cooker is a special type of cooker that started in Sweden. It was first made there, but since 1957, most AGA cookers have been built in the UK. In 2015, the company that makes AGA cookers in Britain, AGA Rangemaster Group, became part of an American company called Middleby.

History of the AGA Cooker

How the AGA Cooker Was Invented

The AGA cooker was created in 1922 by a Swedish scientist named Gustaf Dalén. He won a Nobel Prize for his work. Dalén was the main engineer for the Swedish company AGA AB. "AGA" stands for "Aktiebolaget Gas Accumulator," which means "Gas Accumulator Limited."

Dalén lost his eyesight in an accident while working on another invention. Because he had to stay home, he noticed his wife was very tired from cooking. Even though he was blind, he decided to design a new stove. He wanted it to be easy to use and able to cook many different kinds of food.

The Idea Behind AGA Cookers

Dalén used the idea of storing heat. He put a heat source, two big hotplates, and two ovens all into one unit. This was the first AGA Range Cooker.

The AGA cooker came to the United Kingdom in 1929. It quickly became popular in some parts of British society. Many people with large country houses bought them. This led to a fun phrase in the 1990s, 'AGA saga'. This phrase described stories about wealthy, traditional British families.

Where AGA Cookers Were Made

The heavy cast-iron parts of the AGA cooker were made at the Coalbrookdale foundry. This factory was in England. They made parts there for many years, starting in the 1940s. The Aga Rangemaster Group continued to make parts there until 2017. Then, the new American owners, Middleby, closed the factory.

Energy Use of AGA Cookers

How Traditional AGAs Use Energy

Older, traditional AGA cookers are designed to be "always on." This means they stay hot all the time, even when you are not cooking. Because they are always on, they use more energy than a regular oven and hob. For example, a small, traditional two-oven AGA that runs on gas uses a lot of energy each week.

Newer, More Efficient AGA Models

The company that makes AGA cookers has worked to make them use less energy. Many newer AGA models can be programmed. This means you can switch them on and off, just like a regular cooker. This helps save a lot of energy.

For example, the "Total Control" model from 2011 works this way. It still cooks with gentle, stored heat. But you can turn it off when you don't need it. Some oil-burning models can also get a new part called a "pressure jet oil burner." This helps them burn fuel more efficiently and use less oil.

AGA Cooker Models

AGA cooker showing hot plates

Different Sizes and Features

AGA range cookers come in different sizes. You can find models with 2, 3, 4, or 5 ovens. The 4 and 5 oven versions are wider than the others. Traditional AGA cookers have two hotplates. One is for boiling, and the other is for simmering. Newer models might have one hotplate that you can set for either boiling or simmering.

Modern AGA Cookers

While classic AGA models stay on all the time, newer ones are different. Models like the AGA 60, Total Control, and 3 Series can be turned on and off. This means they only use energy when you need them. The hotplates on "Dual Control" cookers can also be switched on and off. This helps save energy while still providing some warmth to the room. The AGA 60 is the smallest model. It is only 60 centimeters (about 2 feet) wide.

Long-Lasting Cookers

AGA cookers are known for lasting a very long time. Many of them are still working well after more than 50 years! In 2009, AGA Rangemaster held a competition to find the oldest AGA cooker still in use. They found a winning cooker that was installed in 1932. It belonged to the Hett family in Sussex, England.

See also

• Aga Rangemaster Group