Rayburn vs Aga: What’s the difference? Explore their unique features, cooking functions, and benefits to choose the ideal cast-iron cooker for your kitchen.
What Is a Rayburn Cooker?
A Rayburn cooker is a traditional cast-iron cooker that has heating and hot water options, making it a multi-purpose appliance. First introduced in the 1940s, the Rayburn was designed for rural and family homes where both cooking and heating were needed from a single, reliable source.
At its core, a Rayburn is a heat-storage cooker that uses cast iron to absorb and radiate warmth. It cooks food gently and evenly, and many Rayburn models include separate ovens for roasting and baking, as well as a hotplate and simmering plate on the top. This allows you to prepare meals with consistent results, while also keeping the kitchen warm.
What makes the Rayburn cooker different from a standard oven is its ability to provide more than just cooking. Certain models are designed to connect to your home’s central heating system, making the Rayburn ideal for homes without gas mains or those in colder areas where a constant heat source is needed.
Rayburn cookers come in various models and can be powered by different fuel types, including oil, gas, electricity, and solid fuel. This flexibility allows homeowners to choose the model that best suits their energy needs and location.
With its enamel finish and timeless design, a Rayburn adds a traditional touch to any kitchen. A Rayburn cooker is much more than a cooking appliance, it's a reliable, multi-use system that can heat your home, provide hot water, and cook food, all at once.
What Is an Aga Cooker?
An AGA cooker is a traditional cast-iron range cooker known for its distinctive design and heat-retaining qualities.
First developed in the 1920s, the AGA cooker has become a popular choice in country homes and kitchens across the UK. It's designed to stay on continuously and provide a reliable and consistent way to cook food.
AGA cookers use radiant heat rather than fire or electricity. The cast iron stores heat and distributes it gently and evenly throughout the ovens and hotplates, creating a cooking environment that preserves moisture and flavour - making it ideal for slow roasting, baking, simmering, and even drying.
Since there's a consistent output of heat, you don’t need to preheat the ovens, and you can cook multiple dishes at the same time without worrying about hot or cold spots.
A standout feature of an AGA cooker is its multiple ovens - each fixed at a different temperature. Classic AGA models typically include a roasting oven, baking oven, simmering oven, and warming oven.
On the top, there are usually two hotplates, one for boiling and one for simmering. This layout allows you to cook several dishes at the same time, without needing to change any settings or adjust the heat.
Modern AGAs are available in a range of models and can run on electricity, gas, or oil. Some of the latest designs can be switched on and off as needed, making them more energy-efficient and better suited to modern living.
With their enamel finish, solid build, and timeless appearance, AGA cookers are built to last, easy to clean, and offer a unique cooking experience that many people grow to love.
Heating and Hot Water Capabilities
Both Rayburn and AGA cookers are well known for their traditional cast-iron designs and reliable cooking performance, however, they differ when it comes to heating and hot water functions. The Rayburn is designed as a multi-purpose appliance that can provide cooking, central heating, and hot water, whereas the AGA is mainly focused on cooking alone.
Many Rayburn models can be connected to a central heating system and offer an all-in-one solution for cooking, heating, and hot water. This makes Rayburns especially suitable for rural or off-grid homes, where a single appliance that handles multiple tasks is both practical and efficient. Rayburn cookers are available in different outputs to suit homes of various sizes and heating needs, making them a flexible choice.
On the other hand, AGA cookers are primarily used for cooking and aren't typically connected to a home’s central heating or hot water system. Although they give off gentle background warmth, they aren't designed to heat rooms or supply hot water.
That said, older AGA models may have been linked to hot water cylinders in the past, but this is no longer common with modern designs. Newer AGAs are built with energy-saving in mind and focus solely on cooking rather than home heating.
In summary, Rayburn cookers provide full heating and hot water functions alongside cooking, making it a practical choice for homes needing an all-in-one system. The AGA, on the other hand, is designed purely for cooking.
Cooking Functions Compared
Rayburn and AGA cookers may look similar, but their cooking functions are quite different. Both are made from cast iron, use radiant heat, and are built to last. However, the way they cook food and the features they offer vary depending on the model and purpose of each cooker.
AGA cookers are designed with cooking as their main focus. They have multiple ovens, each set at a fixed temperature, allowing you to roast, bake, simmer, and warm food without adjusting any settings.
Classic AGA models have a roasting oven, baking oven, simmering oven, and a warming oven, along with two hotplates on top. This layout lets you cook several dishes at once, making it easy to prepare large meals.
Rayburn cookers, on the other hand, are designed as multi-purpose appliances, offering both cooking and heating functions. While they still cook using radiant heat and have a solid build, Rayburns usually have fewer ovens than AGAs.
Most Rayburn models have one or two ovens and a hotplate, which can still be used for roasting, baking, and simmering, but with less cooking space and flexibility.
The cooking temperature in a Rayburn can also be influenced by its heating settings, especially if it's being used to heat radiators or supply hot water.
Unlike AGAs, Rayburn ovens can take longer to reach their cooking temperature, especially if the heating system is in use. However, Rayburns are still excellent for slow cooking and baking bread, stews, and roasts.
We supply high-quality AGA and Rayburn cookers across the UK and provide expert advice, servicing, and support. Whether you need a traditional cooker for everyday cooking or a multi-purpose model, we can help you find the perfect solution to suit your home, lifestyle, and preferences.