Aga - cooking a chicken in simmering oven?

Counting_Pennies_2

I wonder if you can help?

I am new to an Aga, having just moved into a house with one, and it was turned on yesterday morning, now piping on the outside, and warming the room nicely.

I would like to roast a chicken, and have been told it is possible to pop it in the simmering oven and leave it for several hours and then brown it in the roasting oven.

Would anyone be able to tell me roughly how I go about it according to weight etc.

Many thanks

valk_scot

If you're unfamiliar with cooking with a range cooker of this time you really should buy a book to help you get to grips with the basic methods. Mary Berry has written several for both Rayburn and Agas and they're all great for the methods.

I used to own a Rayburn and what I would do was to use a good thick metal based roasting pan (I had a Le Creuset one which was ideal), pop it in the hot oven to get hot beforehand, add my chicken and leave it in the hot oven for twenty minutes to get the heat through the chicken fast, then transfer it to the simmer oven for...well, at this point it doesn't just depend on poundage, it depends what your cooker settings are (higher in winter than summer, usually, also they all vary a bit) and then leave till almost done, then give it a fast blast in the hot oven again. I had a gas fired Rayburn and it would take around six hours for a large chicken this way, but you MUST check for bloody juices if you're cooking this way and be prepared to finish it off for longer in the hot oven if necessary

I'm probably not explaining this too well tbh, or making you nervous of using your oven. Again, get a good book. There are lots of tips and tricks that can help you get the best out of your AGA and belive me, that can be very good indeed once you get to grips with it.

Counting_Pennies_2

Thank you.

I have three Aga books and frustratingly none have a roast chicken.

I have ordered via Aga on their 3 for 2 sale and hopefully get it in the next week, but the family want a roast as their first meal.

Thanks for your advice, will give it a go