Aga, ESSE & Everhot Comparison
Compare Range Cooker Models
Saltire Cookers is one of few companies in the UK that can offer all three iconic British range cooker brands: ESSE, Everhot, and Aga Cookers. This puts us in the unique position to provide unbiased advice, focused on your needs and wants.
So, we're here to help simplify it for you.
British Made Range Cookers
All of the cookers we supply are rich in British heritage - from our original 'Coalbrookdale cast' Aga Cookers, to the brand new ESSE models, straight from the historic Ouzledale Foundry in Barnoldswick.
Built for Modern Living
Our Electric Range Cookers are all traditional in their design, with heat storage and radiant heat cooking principles, mixed with gentle integrations for modern life when needed. Benefit from optional induction hob upgrades, WiFi control and digital temperature readouts, without losing the traditional charm of a classic range cooker.
Welcoming Warmth,
The Aga Cookers, ESSE and Everhot models can all operated flexibly, or left on 24/7 if preferred. When left on, the ovens and hotplates will saturate the solid metal and cast iron body of the cooker, then gently radiate warmth into your kitchen
Reconditioned Aga Cookers
A British Icon, For Less
Our Refurbished Aga Cookers were all cast in the original Coalbrookdale foundry in Shropshire.
This iconic 300-year-old foundry was sadly closed in 2017 by the new American owners of the AGA Rangemaster brand.
Newly enamelled, and fitted with brand new parts throughout, our Aga Cookers leave our workshop in showroom condition, with many customers mentioning the indistinguishable condition from brand new.
Our ElectricKit Conversions are the most popular model, and for good reason. They're packed full of features and flexibility, with original cast iron ovens and gleaming vitreous enamel coatings. They are available in 1m wide two or three oven models, as well as the larger 1.5m wide four or five oven models.
Brand new Electric AGA Cookers are available from official retailers in a range of configurations and styles, including fan ovens, steel 'plate warming' ovens and models with a single lid and multi-zone induction hobs.
The AGA Signature starts from £16,500. Our most comparable model fitted with the 'ElectricKit Advanced' conversion starts from £8,900, with a larger colour range and lots more flexibility.
ESSE Range Cookers
Master Stove Makers Since 1854.
ESSE have a rich history in cook stoves, with one of their heritage models proudly sitting in Shackleton’s Hut in the Antarctic since 1908.
In more modern times, the ESSE Range Cookers are available with either electric or wood-fired systems inside.
The electric models feature ESSE's unique patented 'heat surround' elements which coat the thick oven body with heat and perfectly cooks your food using traditional radiant heat principles. Its also this design which allows hugely improved heat up times vs the competitor brands. For example, your ESSE oven will heat in 15 minutes, whereas Everhot ovens heat in roughly 2.5 hours and our ElectricKit systems slightly quicker in around an hour.
ESSE have a company slogan - 'Hardware over Software'. This perfectly encapsulates their approach to engineering, with less tech and a focus towards a more traditional range cooker experience.
Their 1000 and 1600 models benefit from induction hobs alongside their traditional cast iron hotplates as standard. The ESSE range is available with classic circular domed lids on the 'T' models, or a more modern 'square bolster' lid on the 'X' models.
All ESSE cookers are supplied with solid cast iron and metal construction, with the option of 24/7 operation, as well as flexible use when preferred.
Everhot Range Cookers
The Efficient Electric Range.
Everhot cookers were originally designed to be powered from a water mill. This has permeated through their range across the decades, with efficiency at the forefront, without losing the 'feel' of a classic heat storage model.
All models are produced in their carbon-negative factory situated in the Cotswold Hills of South Gloucestershire. Designed to be 'always on' and ready to cook, the Everhot Range Cookers are perfect for those looking to utilise energy from a solar array, whilst feeling the welcoming warmth of a traditional range cooker.
With a digital control panel, your Everhot model has flexibility built-in, with the ability to run just one oven at any temperature in the warmer months, or their impressive induction hobs found on their 'i' models.
Large spring-loaded stainless steel lids house modern insulation and conceal traditional cast iron hotplates and optional induction zones.
Comparing Costs
Although not an exhaustive list of all the models available, the below prices will give you a guide of each range cooker brand pricing.
Reconditioned Aga Cookers
You can find our full price list here, but as a guide, our refurbished models start from £6,150 for the 1m wide 'always on' electric model, to £8,900 for our most flexible 3-oven electric model, or £10,500 for our top of the range 5-oven model.
Cookers are delivered and assembled on-site, with installation starting from £600.
Running costs for our ElectricKit systems are typically around £5 per week when used flexibly once a day, around £19 per week with one oven running at baking temperatures continuously, giving roughly simmering temperatures in the oven below.
Brand New Aga Cookers
Brand new models start from £7,500 for their 60cm wide 'AGA Mini' with two ovens and one hotplate, or £13,500 for the 1m wide 'AGA Classic', up to £25,300 for their largest 2m wide AGA Signature models.
Factory built and delivered in one-piece, delivery is included in the sale price.
Running costs for the AGA Compact is around £14 per week for one oven running at baking temperatures, or £30 per week for all three ovens running on the AGA Signature.
ESSE Cookers
ESSE models start from £6,825 for the smallest 600 model with two ovens and one hotplate, or £10,980 for the 1000T, up to £19,975 for the largest 1600T PRO model.
Factory built and usually delivered in one-piece, delivery/installation starts from £600, or free collection.
Running costs for the ESSE 1000T is around £10 per week when used flexibly once a day (and slumber in-between), or around £17 per week with one oven running at baking temperatures continuously.
Everhot Cookers
Everhot models are available in a range of sizes which start from £7,850 for the smallest 60 model, or £13,600 for the 110i, up to £17,950 for the largest 160i model.
Factory built and usually delivered in one-piece, delivery/install starts from £480, with no option of collection.
Running costs for the Everhot 110+ are around £25 per week with the cast iron hotplates on, and all ovens running at roasting, and simmering temperatures, dropping to half temperatures overnight,
Comparing Heat Up Times
For those looking to use their Range Cooker flexibly, heat up times will be a consideration. All our models have the ability to be used as and when preferred, for example, in the warmer months when an 'always on' range cooker isn't required.
Reconditioned Aga Cookers
Our models converted with the ElectricKit Advanced system have the heat up times below:
The hotplate will heat to simmering temperature in 10 minutes, or boiling temperature in 13 minutes
The oven will heat to baking in 48 minutes, or to roasting in 60 minutes.
Brand New Aga Cookers
The AGA Signature has the below heat up times:
The simmering hotplate will heat in around 8 minutes, and the boiling hotplate heats in around 11 minutes.
The simmering oven will take around 45 minutes to heat, the baking oven around 22 minutes and the roasting oven around 35 minutes.
ESSE Cookers
ESSE models are designed to stay in a low 'slumber' mode and heated up as and when required.
The cast iron hotplate will heat to simmering in 8 minutes, boiling in 10 minutes.
The ovens will heat to baking temperature from slumber in approximately 12 minutes, or to roasting in approximately 15 minutes.
Everhot Cookers
Everhot models are designed to be left on 24/7, meaning no heat up times and welcoming warmth into the room.
From cold, the cast iron hotplate will heat in approximately 20-40 minutes.
The ovens will heat in around 2 to 3 hours.
Real-World Use Comparison
Comparison in day-to-day life
When you're going to be using your Range Cooker day in and day out, you'd likely prefer to know how they compare in terms of usability, control panel operation and cooking performance.
All of the models explained here, use traditional 'Radiant Heat' cooking to create stunningly cooked food, locking in moisture and nutrients.
Aga Cooker Control Panel, Usability and Heating Elements.
New AGA Cookers have a mix of touch capacity control panels or more basic manual dials, all with fixed temperature settings or 'modes'. Our Refurbished models converted to ElectricKit have an easy to use touchscreen display, with visible current and target temperatures, full flexibility and user-set temperatures in degree Celsius increments.
The heating elements can be found under the floors and above the roof of the ovens, as well as inside the independent hotplates. Once the ovens are left on, this heat saturates the sides and back, then radiates into the food.
ESSE Cooker Controls, Usability and Heating Elements.
The ESSE control panel is easy to use and very intuitive. They have large manual dials, with temperature settings and indicator lights to show when the hotplate or oven has reached temperature. There is an optional on/off timer included on their larger models, for automatic scheduling of the ovens. For hotplate use, the physical size of the hotplate is larger than those found on traditional Aga Cooker models, so you can fit larger pans (AGA Hotplate is 36.5cm wide, including the loose expansion ring, whereas ESSE hotplates are 39cm).
The heating elements are inside the ovens, for faster heat up times and beautifully even-cooked food.
Everhot Control Panel, Usability and Heating Elements.
Everhot models have digital control panels, with touch button operation. They have visible target oven temperatures, and indicator lights to show when the hotplate or ovens have reached temperature. You can adjust the temperatures in 5c increments, and choose to connect your mobile phone to the cooker, to remotely adjust temperatures or schedule on/off times. Whilst the control panel comes with a slight learning curve in terms of usability and configuration, it is packed full of features to make your cooker your own. The cast iron hotplate is square, with a depth of 35cm.
The heating elements are located in the floor of each oven. Over time, the heat will travel around the oven, saturate the panels then gently radiate into the food.
Warranty, Spares & Aftercare
With an investment in a heat storage range cooker, warranty and aftercare is an important consideration given the life spans of these british-made cookers.
Reconditioned Aga Cookers
Our Fully Refurbished Aga Cookers are supplied with a 5-year parts warranty.
Spare parts are readily available with many pattern spares at affordable prices, including consumable parts like lid and door liners, rope seals, washers and even electrical parts, wicks and thermocouples.
Oil and Gas models require frequent servicing for safety. Electric systems do not require regular servicing.
Brand New Aga Cookers
AGA Cookers are supplied with a 5-year warranty, with repairs/maintenance carried out by third party company 'RepairTech'.
As with our Refurbished models, official spare parts are available via AGA Spares website, or pattern spares are also widely available.
Electric models require no regular servicing.
ESSE Cookers
ESSE cookers are supplied with a 2-year warranty, with any servicing/maintenance carried out by their own engineers or official retail partners.
There are a range of spares available, including rope seals, door and lid liners as well as electrical spares from ESSE's official website. Their team are very accommodating - if your spare part isn't listed on their website, just get in touch with them directly.
ESSE electric models require no regular servicing.
Everhot Cookers
Everhot models are supplied with a 2-year warranty, with any servicing/maintenance carried out by their own in-house engineers from the Cotswolds.
There are some spares available via their 'sister company' (Everhot Essentials) such as door and lid rope seals, lid springs or oven shelves. Replacement internal door and lid liners are not available.
Everhot Cookers require no regular servicing.
