Stephanie Shine and her AGA eR7 electric range cooker

'My husband wanted to bring that traditional farmhouse look to the kitchen. Obviously the new AGA is very different to what they had before. I was nervous that I wouldn’t be able to cook on it. We went to two AGA Cookery Demos with Penny Zako in Finucane’s Limerick – one before we bought and one after and she convinced us that it would be easy to use.’

What does she love about the AGA range? ‘It might sound cliché but the food tastes better. I love cooking in the slow oven and roasting oven. Everything just cooks really well. When we have it on it heats the kitchen and the sitting room as well as all the cooking. It’s October and I haven’t turned the heating on downstairs. I love the automatic timing function. I have the cooker set to come on at 6:30am and then off at 8:00am, back on at 4:30pm and off at 7:30 pm. It comes up to temperature really quickly as its never really cold as the cast iron holds the temperature really well. Don’t have to start from scratch each time. There’s always a residual heat.’

Have you noticed a change in cooking habits? ‘ I love cooking. I cooker every day. That hasn’t changed. We are now using the cooker to boil the kettle and make the toast. Meat comes out of the AGA really tender. Food is just nicer from the AGA ovens. Heat up times on the cast iron hob are 8 minutes for the simmering plate and 11 minutes boiling plate. My fear was that the AGA would take ages to heat up. That’s not the case at all.’

What features do you love about your AGA Cooker? ‘Love been able to use it for the kettle and the toaster. The control panel on the eR7 is very good and once you get to grips with it very easy to use. Love that I have a simmering oven and warming drawer which I wouldn’t have had before.’

Do they have a particular favourite moment with your AGA? ‘I am looking forward to this Sunday as we are having an early Christmas dinner with the whole family. Turkey and all the trimmings.’