OPERATING THE AGA13The following points are intended to help during the period of change-over from a previous cooker. The Aga book and thenew user guide video provide a very useful introduction to the cooker.After the Aga has been assembledWhen first used the Aga will emit an odour for a short while. This is simply due to the protective oil burning off the hotplates.Wipe the inside of the lids whilst the Aga is heating up to avoid a film of oil being deposited on the inside of the lids.Also, condensation may occur on the top plate and front plate whilst the Aga is heating up. This should be wiped away assoon as possible.For most effective operation of the cooker the following points should be carefully observed:1. Close the insulating covers whenever the hotplates are not in use.2. Clean the hotplates regularly with the wire brush.3. Utensils with ground flat bases must be used to make perfect contact with the hotplates.4. Have the cooker serviced at regular intervals by your Aga Specialist.5. Take care, when closing the oven doors, to left them on to the catch.6. Cook as much as possible in the ovens, so that heat is conserved and cooking smells and condensation are reduced.The Roasting Oven can also be used for ‘grilling’ at the top and shallow ‘frying’ on the oven floor.Keep the insulated covers down when the hotplates are not in use so that the heat stored in the cooker is conserved.z For optimum cooking performance, use the Aga utensils and cast iron cookware. They have thick ground bases whichgive the best contact with the hotplates.z The Aga pans can be stacked in the Simmering Oven. This is especially useful for steaming vegetables and keepingsauces warm.z Store the Plain Shelf out of the Aga. Use it cold in the Roasting Oven to deflect the heat from the top of the oven,creating a more moderate oven temperature underneath. It can also be used as a baking sheet.z A guide to Aga cooking is given on Page 14. Ask the Aga Specialist for an invitation to an Aga demonstration.Fig. 14 DESN 513946