Preparing your AGA for Christmas

Christmas seems to arrive earlier each year, doesn't it? One moment it's autumn, and suddenly we're into December with just a few weeks until the big day. If your AGA hasn't crossed your mind yet amongst all the other preparations, now's the time.

AGA cookers truly come into their own during this season – those reliable ovens radiating warmth, the smell of something wonderful slowly cooking, drawing the whole family to gather in the kitchen. A bit of preparation now means everything runs beautifully when you need it most. 

Alex, our technical director, has been servicing and installing AGAs for over two decades. Here's his guidance for getting your AGA prepped and ready for the festive season.

Book your service now

One of the most important things you can do is book your pre-Christmas service. We check everything's running as it should – thermostats, seals, burners on oil and gas models, elements on electric ones. For electric AGAs, we carry out a full electrical safety check. 

If you haven't booked yet, please get in touch. We go above and beyond to fit everyone in before Christmas, but these next few weeks do get busy. The sooner you call, the easier it is for us to find a time that works for you. (We also run a breakdown service between Christmas and New Year if you need us!)

Give your AGA a thorough clean

Start with the ovens. If you have an electric AGA, turn the ovens to full heat for a day or so before Christmas Day – any spillages from recent cooking will carbonise and burn off, so you won't get smoke when you're roasting the turkey.

If you have a traditional oil or gas AGA, spillages burn away gradually during normal use, so there's nothing special you need to do.

Whilst you're at it, deal with any recent spillages on the enamel surfaces. Wipe them away with a soft, slightly damp cloth. A word of caution: never use generic oven cleaners on your AGA – they're far too abrasive and can ruin the enamel coating. AGA's own enamel cleaner is gentle enough to use on warm surfaces and won't smear. 

Now for the hotplate lids, which can accumulate grease and build-up on the inside over time. Alex's favourite method for cleaning them is wonderfully simple: turn your hotplates to full heat (or leave them as they are if you have a traditional AGA that's always on), throw ice cubes directly onto the hot plates, then close the lids immediately.

The ice will melt rapidly, creating steam that loosens any stubborn grease without the need for any chemicals at all. Once everything's cooled down, you can wipe the inside of the lids clean. It's one of those techniques that feels like magic the first time you try it.

Brush off any carbonised residue off the hotplates themselves and wipe with a damp cloth. If you want to give them extra protection, you can add a thin layer of cooking oil when they're completely cool – though make sure they're thoroughly dry first to avoid rusting.

The AGA e-cloth is particularly good for all of this – it removes over 99% of bacteria and comes with a three-year guarantee. The AGA YouTube channel also has detailed cleaning videos if you'd like a visual guide.

Check your fuel levels

If you have an oil or LPG AGA, now’s the time to check your tank. You'll be using more fuel over Christmas – with your AGA often working harder with all that festive cooking. 

Order fuel well ahead. Delivery schedules can be unpredictable in December. Better to have fuel waiting than to be checking levels on Christmas Eve.

Have your flue swept

For oil or gas AGA cookers with a conventional flue, regular sweeping keeps everything running efficiently and safely. If you can't remember the last time your flue was swept, now would be a good time to get that booked in. A clear flue is particularly important when your AGA will be working continuously for several days.

Check your cookware

Make sure everything you'll need is clean and in good condition. If anything's seen better days or you've realised something's missing, it’s better to spot that now than on Christmas morning!

The night before

If you have a traditional AGA – whether oil, gas, or solid fuel – turn it up slightly on Christmas Eve. This stores maximum heat in the ovens for Christmas Day, so they'll recover quickly between dishes when you're managing multiple courses.

Electric AGAs maintain their heat constantly throughout heavy use, so there's nothing you need to adjust.

Learn from the experts

If you're looking for guidance on the big day itself, our Christmas dinner timing guide walks you through cooking turkey and all the trimmings on your AGA.

Two people very much worth following on Instagram are Na Hansell, @nahansell and Penny Zako, @penny_zako. Both are authorised AGA demonstrators who regularly share cooking tips, recipes and techniques. Their Christmas content is particularly helpful – practical guidance from people who cook on AGAs every day.

The AGA YouTube channel also has cooking demonstrations that might inspire your festive menu.

Get in touch

If you'd like to book a pre-Christmas service, or if you have any questions about getting your AGA ready, please get in touch – we'll make sure everything's exactly as it should be before the big day.