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Combi microwave as summer replacement for Aga

PostPosted:Wed May 15, 2019 3:52 pm
by defcribed
Would like to turn the Aga off for the summer soon.

Has anyone any experience of using combination microwaves?

My thinking is that a combi microwave plus a freestanding induction hob could sit on top of the Aga (with the plate covers removed).

Our kitchen is big enough to put in a separate hob and conventional oven, but the layout is not conducive to it without major work.

Re: Combi microwave as summer replacement for Aga

PostPosted:Wed May 15, 2019 4:07 pm
by Flyin'Dutch'
In our previous dwelling we had a big enough kitchen to have a his and hers cooking facility.

Mine was a lovely 6 ring gas hob with a separate oven; hers a bliddy Aga. Unbeatable for cakes and stews but rubbish for anything else.

I was glad when I could turn the thing off in May only to light it again at the end of September.

Re: Combi microwave as summer replacement for Aga

PostPosted:Wed May 15, 2019 5:22 pm
by malcolmfrost
We've had one for many years, it's brilliant, baked potatoes in 25 minutes! Ours is a Sharp R-959M-A

Re: Combi microwave as summer replacement for Aga

PostPosted:Wed May 15, 2019 5:28 pm
by JoeC
I have owned two and never used the grill option as it is just too weedy so they have just become bog standard microwaves.

The in/laws have a counter top halogen oven that works for them.

Re: Combi microwave as summer replacement for Aga

PostPosted:Thu May 16, 2019 7:28 am
by stevelup
Probably breaking a forum rule here but... I've got a brilliant one for sale if you're interested:-

https://www.panasonic.com/uk/consumer/h ... 8sbpq.html

Contrary to the post above, the grill on this one is amazing - it uses four quartz tubes. Heats up very quickly and gives a powerful and even coverage. The same tubes are used to assist in rapidly heat the oven - it reaches working temperature in just a couple of minutes.

The microwaves are actually emitted through the base of the machine so there's no rotating platform taking up space, and you can use the whole of the interior.

Was bought to form a temporary kitchen along with a portable induction hob whilst we were remodelling our house last year. Boxed complete with all accessories etc.

PM me if interested. I'll take half the original retail price so £150. Yes, you can buy a new carpier one for the same money but it'll be -much- carpier...!

Re: Combi microwave as summer replacement for Aga

PostPosted:Thu May 16, 2019 7:52 am
by Flyin'Dutch'
stevelup wrote:Probably breaking a forum rule here but... I've got a brilliant one for sale if you're interested:-


Terrible! :D

Is that one available as a built in appliance as well?

Re: Combi microwave as summer replacement for Aga

PostPosted:Thu May 16, 2019 8:22 am
by stevelup
Sort of... certainly the Panasonic turntable-less inverter microwave technology is licensed by all the BSH group (Bosch Siemens, Neff etc) but they all seem to have old school grills.

Saw a Miele one which had a really good infrared grill, but that appliance alone would have taken 10% of the kitchen budget!

Re: Combi microwave as summer replacement for Aga

PostPosted:Thu May 16, 2019 10:52 am
by defcribed
It might be an option. Whereabouts are you?

Do you find it large enough to function as a primary oven? 27L seems to be standard microwave size, and there are some bigger ones out there but with mixed reviews.

I love the Aga, BTW. Brilliant in every respect except the kitchen getting outrageously hot during the summer.

Re: Combi microwave as summer replacement for Aga

PostPosted:Thu May 16, 2019 11:13 am
by stevelup
We used it completely as an oven replacement for nine months. Often even using two shelves at once.

Clearly you are not going to fit a 30kg turkey in there ;)

I'm by M4 J15 and commute to M4 J12.

Re: Combi microwave as summer replacement for Aga

PostPosted:Thu May 16, 2019 12:55 pm
by Rob P
Having owned an Aga in the past I would suggest the word "Summer" in the title is entirely superfluous.

Rob P

Re: Combi microwave as summer replacement for Aga

PostPosted:Thu May 16, 2019 1:16 pm
by Trent772
Our AGA was oil fired until the EU robbed the oil of all its goodness, so we converted to a simple electric option.

Not AGA, manufacturer in Cornwall - has been superb ever since and sucks our solar panels dry !

Our kitchen is large enough that we can open a window and it keeps the temps down, also we have no other heating in the kitchen, so in the winter, we need the AGA.

I have a free standing Lodge induction hob which is used for jams, jellies etc and if I am doing a lot of cooking to augment the AGA,

We have a microwave but have tried the grill one before and gave up.

What a domestic lot we are...... Do hope that our Doris's are watching this thread :lol:

Re: Combi microwave as summer replacement for Aga

PostPosted:Thu May 16, 2019 2:19 pm
by avtur3
defcribed wrote: ... Would like to turn the Aga off for the summer soon....


We're just having the same conversation for the first time having inherited our (gas) Aga with the house move last summer. Mrs Avtur loves it.

When we first moved in at the end of June last year it was too hot to think of turning the Aga on. So we made it up as we went along. We already had a microwave/grill combi, we bought a single place induction hob and used the gas BBQ which we positioned immediately outside the back door.

The microwave/grill combi is an older Panasonic model and to be honest the grill performance had never lived up to expectation. All our cooking, for 3 adults, was done using the microwave, single hot plate and BBQ which functioned as both grill and oven depending on how the food is loaded into it.

Mrs Avtur was quite happy with this combination through into October last year when the Aga was serviced and lit. I'll watch this thread with interest to see what other options are discussed. :thumleft:

Re: Combi microwave as summer replacement for Aga

PostPosted:Thu May 16, 2019 2:34 pm
by defcribed
avtur3 wrote:We're just having the same conversation for the first time having inherited our (gas) Aga with the house move last summer. Mrs Avtur loves it.


We inherited ours (LPG - the cost!) with the house move in November last. Both Mrs defcribed and I love it.

Re: Combi microwave as summer replacement for Aga

PostPosted:Thu May 16, 2019 2:42 pm
by defcribed
Trent772 wrote:Our kitchen is large enough that we can open a window and it keeps the temps down, also we have no other heating in the kitchen, so in the winter, we need the AGA.


Likewise, although we've not had a really hot day yet so the case here remains unproven. There is only one window to open unfortunately, unless we open the door to the pantry and open the window in there, but that would warm the pantry and also allow the dog to go a-snacking.

We too need it in winter as there is no other heating in the kitchen. In fact, between the Aga in the kitchen and the woodstove in the sitting room that takes care of all the heat the house requires in all but the coldest weather. Only when it gets really cold (below zero) do we need to put the central heating on. It's a nice combo of two-foot thick stone walls and modern double-glazing.

Also on the jobs list is to saw the kitchen door in half and turn it into a stable door - so the Aga heat can spread through the house during the night but the dog is still shut in the kitchen.

Re: Combi microwave as summer replacement for Aga

PostPosted:Thu May 16, 2019 5:18 pm
by Trent772
defcribed wrote:
Also on the jobs list is to saw the kitchen door in half and turn it into a stable door - so the Aga heat can spread through the house during the night but the dog is still shut in the kitchen.


Did that ages ago - works really well