How To Get The Look Of A Traditional AGA Oven With Modern Convenience

AGAs are British-made ranges known for their iconic design that provides timelessness, a rustic flair with glossy enamel finishes, cottagecore vibes, and quirky configurations that include griddle toppers and warming chambers. These vintage-style kitchen appliances can be used to tackle baking a pie, warming a pair of wet socks, and heating the kettle all at once. 

Although AGAs are completely stunning, they aren't considered practical in many modern American homes. For one, they run heat from gas power continuously, meaning they never turn off, which is not ideal as many of us try to reduce our energy consumption. This also heats your home up, which is a problem in the summer if you're trying to save on your AC bill. 

AGA's old-world design is based in old-world cooking practices in which the ovens are held at varying but stable temperatures, so you can't just turn them up and down as needed. Given their massive size and somewhat unique design, shipment and installation can be tricky for AGA owners. Despite their charm, the unique characteristics of AGA stoves often make them less suitable for the fast-paced, energy-conscious lifestyle of today's households.

But that doesn't mean you have to give up on your AGA-style dreams. You'll just need to look for a modern alternative. We found several models that maintain the classic, rustic charm of the original, but that are also less expensive, more practical and energy-efficient than the real deal AGAs. 

It can be difficult to narrow down what to look for when choosing the perfect range oven for your kitchen, especially if you've fallen in love with the AGA look. One of the features that make an AGA so distinctive is its enamel-covered cast iron build, as well as its rounded edges, which contrasts with most modern models that feature clean lines, stainless steel, and plastic. One brand that offers similar charm is Lacanche, which produces multi-compartment ranges with vintage-style knobs, available in a variety of eye-catching, non-conventional colors. Lacanche's stoves can be ordered as gas, electric, or dual power. Best of all, Lacanche ranges are completely customizable, meaning you get to select the number of oven compartments and their function, the color of stove and its finishes, as well as the stovetop configuration. However, it isn't easy to see these ranges in person before buying, as they are made-to-order, and it can be difficult to find qualified service technicians for this French-made stove. 

Another British range maker called Esse provides a solid electric alternative to the behemoths that are AGA ranges. These ranges tend to be on the smaller side, which is great for modern homes that don't have quite as much room as country estates. Esses maintain that super cozy cottage charm with windowless oven compartments and playful color options,  as well as fun stovetop options similar to AGA, such as an induction burner and collapsible lids.

If these alternative models still don't appeal to you, the good news is that AGA continues to make new models, and it has actually come out with one line in particular that may suit the modern cook with the eR7 100. This is a fully electric model, and each section of the oven can be turned on and off, which means you won't be wasting fuel when the range is not in use, and it won't contribute to unnecessarily heating your home. Plus, electric stoves are usually more efficient than gas. 

Unlike its predecessors, it also includes a digital touchscreen control panel that allows you to choose from a range of cooking temperatures, which is great as this means there's far less of a learning curve when acclimating to AGA cooking on this model. You can order this model of AGA in a variety of colors, from off-white to blush pink and British racing green. Visually, it looks pretty much identical to the classic always-on models, with beautiful, high-gloss finishes, vintage charm, and lots of compartments, truly making this a wonderful blend of modern and classic sensibilities.