Lacanche vs AGA: an engineer’s comparison
A Lacanche is a modern premium range cooker; an AGA is a cooker for enthusiasts. LE Company engineers repair both in London, and from what we see: the classic AGA was designed many years ago to heat the house as well as to cook, it is very heavy, and its ovens are small. Even the modern AGA made only for cooking has nothing exclusive that would make us tell you to buy one. People who choose an AGA usually want an AGA, often because their parents had one. If you simply want a premium cooker, choose the Lacanche. For repairs, see our Lacanche repair and AGA repair pages.
What is the difference between an AGA and a range cooker?
An AGA is not built like an ordinary range cooker. It is made of iron and very well insulated, and the heat it builds up stays inside it. Its main purpose was not only to cook but to heat the home, which is why the classic AGA always has two hot plates on top that are always hot. The first AGA was invented in 1922 by the Swedish physicist Gustaf Dalén. AGA itself says its older cookers were fully on around the clock, while on today’s models individual ovens and hotplates can be switched on and off as needed.
A range cooker such as a Lacanche heats only when you turn it on. On the Lacanche ranges we usually work on, the left oven is gas, the right oven is electric, and the burners on the hob are gas.
Lacanche vs AGA: ovens and cooking
The ovens of an AGA are mostly very small, so there is little space to cook in. In return, the iron body and good insulation hold the temperature constantly. The ovens of a Lacanche heat up when you need them and switch off when you finish, and its hob has a gas flame that lights instantly and is very beautiful.
Is an AGA worth it?
Only if you want an AGA for its own sake. As engineers, we find nothing special or exclusive in it that would let us say: yes, buy it. Keep the summer in mind too. An AGA holds heat all the time, and if you cook on it in summer, that heat goes into your kitchen and has to go somewhere.
Is a Lacanche worth it?
Yes, if you want a premium range that rarely breaks. There is almost no electronics in a Lacanche: the controls are simple switches and thermostats, which is why our Lacanche oven not heating case came down to one burnt switch. Its oven is painted metal, easy to wipe clean, and its doors are light enough for an engineer to lift off, which keeps servicing simple. For a Lacanche against the other French range, see our Lacanche vs La Cornue comparison, and how to clean your Lacanche oven.
Lacanche or AGA: which should you buy?
Choose a Lacanche if you want a modern premium cooker: gas burners, a gas and an electric oven, simple controls and few repairs. Choose an AGA if you want an AGA: a heavy iron cooker that keeps its heat, warms the kitchen and has two hot plates always ready, and you accept small ovens and a warm kitchen in summer. Whichever you have, regular servicing keeps it going, as in our AGA oven servicing job.
Book a Lacanche or AGA repair in London
LE Company’s call-out is from £175 + VAT and includes the first 30 minutes on site, when the engineer finds the cause of the fault. The cost of the repair is agreed with you before any work starts. Our engineers are Gas Safe registered. Call +44 203 603 7172, or see our frequently asked questions.