How To Reduce Your AGA Running Costs

As previously mentioned, cooking from cold will use more energy to heat to the desired temperature. If you cook a large joint of meat direct from the fridge or freezer you need to draw heavily on the cooker’s heat reserves before any cooking actually starts. The best way is take out the meat to room temperature.

Make sure to defrost slowly on the kitchen table before you pop it in the oven.

Frequently toggling your AGA on and off can lead to higher energy costs. This is attributed to the increased energy required to bring your AGA cooker up to the desired temperature each time it's powered on.

If available, keep your AGA on economy setting/slumber setting to keep costs down.

To maintain peak efficiency of your AGA cooker, it's advisable to schedule regular servicing. The recommended frequency varies based on the type of AGA you own. For example, oil AGA models should be serviced every six months, while gas AGA cookers require annual servicing. Electric AGA cookers, on the other hand, benefit from a check-up every two and a half years.

Should you encounter any complications beyond these routine intervals, don't hesitate to reach out to our dedicated service team. We're here to assist with any emergencies or breakdowns, ensuring your AGA continues to serve you seamlessly.

If feasible, consider integrating renewable energy sources like solar panels to power your AGA cooker. Utilising clean energy can significantly reduce the environmental impact of your cooking activities and lower your overall running costs.

AGA cookers often feature multiple ovens and hotplates with varying heat levels. Utilise this zoning to your advantage by planning your meals accordingly.

Cooking multiple dishes simultaneously on different heat zones can save both time and energy. For instance, you can roast vegetables in the oven while simmering a soup on the hotplate.

Just like you wouldn’t keep your fridge door open when you are prepping vegetables, keep your doors shut when it comes to taking out your dish for turning or stirring etc. Even if it takes 2-3 minutes, once you add up the minutes during the course of cooking, it really put things in perspective how much heat you could waste.

Nothing cools a range cooker faster than a big pan of cold water from the tap sat on the hot plate. Boiling a full kettle is vastly more efficient as it takes an average 4 minutes to boil in comparison to 8-10 minutes it takes for tap water (21°C) to reaching boiling temperature (100°C).

One of the main ways to save money on your running costs is to convert to an electric AGA range cooker. Not only is an electric AGA is more efficient when it comes to average running costs; it requires less servicing and maintenance compared to the traditional.

AGA are currently holding a promotion where you can trade in your old cooker and save up to £1,307* on a new AGA cooker such as the AGA eR7 Series, AGA R3 Series, AGA R7 Series and AGA eR3 Series ranges. This offer ends Saturday 31st December 2022. Terms and conditions apply.

Batch cooking is a great way to save money on your monthly bills. Instead of cooking from scratch every night, by batch-cooking things like curry, soup, roasted vegetables and grains ahead of time, you only need to quickly heat up your dishes before serving.

If from frozen, make sure to defrost it in the fridge overnight and/or take it out to room temperature prior to cooking. Simply heat on the hob or in the oven, making sure to stir now and then until piping hot.

An AGA loses most of its heat through the tops of the lids as the hotplates are up to 600°C directly below them. Insulated chefs pads will cut down this heat loss and help your cooker recover its heat loss a little quicker!

Keeping the lids closed while cooking can also accelerate the cooking process and reduce energy consumption. Whether you're boiling water or sautéing vegetables, remember to close the lids when not in use.

We recommend purchasing an oven thermometer to ensure the temperature of your ovens are kept consistent. Take a look at the optimum temperature for each oven:

Roasting oven – 220°C -240°C

Baking oven – 190°C

Simmering oven 115-140°C

Warming oven – approximately 65°C

Please note: Temperatures may fluctuate slightly depending on the shelf position or the door seals/insulation.

An AGA can take place of other electrical items such as heaters, an electric kettle and a tumble dryer which can save you money on your utility bills in the long term.

By putting out your washing on a drying rack in front of the AGA overnight, everything is dry by morning due to the gentle radiant heat that your AGA emits. If you want to dry your trainers, all you need to do is to simply wrap your shoes in a towel and place it in the warming oven until completely dry.

Carefully folded bed linens and clothes can be placed on top of the warming cabinet which not only dries your laundry, but it also means you don’t have to iron them!