AGA eR3 Series Review with Naomi Hansell
As an AGA specialist, we couldn't think of anyone better to ask than the brilliant Naomi Hansell herself on what she likes most about her AGA eR3 series model. Here's what she had to say...
What do you like the most about your AGA eR3?
My AGA eR3-160 is my ‘everyday’ AGA in my family kitchen and looks after the 6 of us as well as visitors and guests, and the occasional zoom demonstration.
The cast iron cooking - as with all AGA’s, I love the way the cast iron top oven and simmering oven cook so gently and yet so well - plenty of crispy roast potatoes from the roasting setting, frozen croissants baked perfectly in 12 minutes, as well as, slow cooking a bolognese sauce for a family lasagne all day in the simmering oven. There’s something about the way that radiant heat cooks that means you never have to clean the oven, too.
The flexibility of the separately controllable ovens, the fast heat up times and the timer which I have fitted on the top oven. I like the way it's a different AGA at different times of the year. In the winter both cast iron ovens are on most of the day when I’m cooking, then off at night unless it's super chilly when I would leave the simmering oven on overnight (keeps my small Norfolk terrier, Tigger happy too!)
It's great that the simmering oven can be used on its own, I often start off a risotto, a curry or a big one pot casserole on the tops then leave it to cook gently in the lower oven, handy to not have to run the hotter oven when its not needed. The top oven timer’s really handy, if I’m out during the day I’ll set the timer to turn on the top oven so that its ready to cook for the evening, although it only takes an hour to heat. Even just the warming oven helps make the kitchen cosy, In the spring and autumn I keep the warming oven on all the time for a little AGA warmth in the kitchen, then in the summer I just turn the ovens on for cooking for part of the day as needed, never makes the kitchen too hot and not so many flies!
The speed and simplicity of the induction hob - I love how this can be used alongside the AGA cast iron top plate. It's perfect for quick boiling a kettle, for cooking a simple pasta supper, or for starting off pans of vegetables to move over to the AGA top once its fully heated after a few minutes.
The extra capacity and quick heat up of the fan oven for cooking in the hottest summer days. It's a great oven for cooking 4 large cakes all at the same time and for my family to use when they’re using a non-AGA recipe or heating ready prepared food. Also for the hot summers days when the rest of the AGA is switched off and you have a houseful of teenagers looking for pizza!
AGA Cookery Demonstrations
We are delighted to be hosting our next online AGA cookery demonstration with Naomi Hansell on Thursday 29th September at 10am. To book your place for free, please click here. All the details, including the recipes that Naomi will be demonstrating will be sent one or two days in advance.
Naomi Hansell also provides cookery courses for those who want to be a little bit brilliant in the kitchen. Simply email na.hansell@icloud.com to get in touch. You can also check out Naomi's Instagram page by clicking here.
