There have been many different and especially unique types of ovens that have been developed over the years, with oven cleaning routines often being tailored to help maximise their longevity.
One of the most unique and long-lasting of these, however, is the Aga, a Swedish-invented combination oven and range cooker that has become an iconic part of British kitchens, to the point that some of the earliest, near-century-old Agas are still in us to this very day.
Whilst it is commonly seen as a symbol of English country living to the point that stories set in these affluent countryside towns were known as Aga sagas, it was initially invented in Sweden and its origins come as the result of an abject tragedy.
Dr Gustaf Dalén was developing a porous substance used to store acetylene gas known as Agamassan for transport. However, when he was testing the maximum pressure for this accumulation system the acetylene exploded, rendering him completely blind.
After leaving the hospital, Dr Dalén could not help himself but try to help develop something to help make cooking easier for his wife Elma, who was reliant on a dangerous, time-consuming range cooker.
He decided to create an all-in-one unit that combined a heat source, hot plates and ovens into a single unit, which meant that the radiant heat could be shared between all of the different parts and the cooker could be used to heat up part of the home as well.
It launched in the UK in 1929 and since 1957 has exclusively been produced in the UK as the original AGA company consolidated itself and focused on its natural gas business.
Whilst there have been changes such as a switch from solid fuel to natural gas and later electricity, the general design has largely remained the same, and the brand saw increased popularity thanks to the chef Mary Berry as well as an increased appreciation for the nostalgic pastoral look of the oven.