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Cooking and baking without kitchen fumes

The guests will soon be arriving for family dinner. The roast beef studded with garlic has been simmering in the oven for hours, the Kaiser vegetables are simmering on the stove and the red wine dessert is being decorated. So that you always have a clear view when cooking and the whole house doesn’t smell of food when the guests arrive, kitchen hoods provide fresh air quietly and efficiently. Thanks to powerful filters and efficient motors, they absorb kitchen fumes, cooking fumes and grease. Hoods are available in different shapes, colors and sizes. You can find out which model is right for your kitchen in the following buying guide.

No smells and clear view

A powerful extractor kitchen hood, also called a chimney, ensures a clear view and fresh air in the kitchen. The fan in the kitchen hood sucks in and filters the fumes, fats and smells that arise when cooking. Almost all models are suitable for both exhaust air and recirculation operation. All devices have at least three power levels so that you can individually adjust the extraction performance. The noise level is low, ranging from 42 to 64 dB. This corresponds to the noise of a modern dishwasher or a running washing machine. The housings made of glass, stainless steel or plastic are easy to clean, and the grease filters made of aluminum or stainless steel are dishwasher-safe.

The model variety at a glance

Regardless of whether you want to buy a completely new kitchen unit or replace an extractor hood or install one later, you have a variety of designs to choose from. Below you will find important information about the performance characteristics of the different types of hood.

Flat screen hoods

Flat screen hoods are hardly noticeable in the kitchen. They are installed in a wall unit above the hob and only pulled out when in use. When switched off, a 3 cm high bar is visible on which all the controls can be found. Flat screen hoods are available in widths of 60, 80 and 90 cm. They are suitable for recirculation and exhaust air systems and have at least three fan speeds and dishwasher-safe grease filters.

Under-cabinet hoods

Under-cabinet hoods are available in widths of 50, 60 and 90 cm. They are suitable for either recirculation or exhaust air systems and have three fan speeds. These under-cabinet models are generally inexpensive and take up little space. They are 11 to 17 cm high and weigh between 4.5 and 11 kg depending on the width, so you can also install these hoods under a kitchen wall unit with a recess for the exhaust hose. This means that the storage space above the cooking area remains largely intact.

Intermediate hoods

Intermediate hoods blend harmoniously into the kitchen design because they are “invisibly” installed in a 60 cm wall unit. To start, you just fold the pivoting, almost 40 cm high front forward. Only then are the controls for the three fan speeds and the light switch visible. These hoods can be used for either recirculation or exhaust air operation.

Wall hoods

Wall hoods not only provide fresh air, they are also an eye-catching design element for your kitchen. They are attached to the kitchen wall above the hob and have a visible and height-adjustable chimney shaft in which the air duct is hidden. These models are available in widths of 60, 70, 80 and 90 cm. They usually have an angular design and are usually made of easy-care stainless steel. Some models are also equipped with a slightly curved glass screen.

Head-free hoods

This hood model is also attached to the wall and can be used for exhaust air and recirculation. Unlike a classic wall hood, however, it has a front section made of glass or stainless steel that slopes upwards. This means you always have free access to the rear cooking areas without hitting your head. The head-free hood also visually lightens up the kitchen unit with its design. Models with a width of 60, 80 and 90 cm are available in various colors.

Island hoods

Island hoods are freely suspended from the ceiling, meaning they can either be used above a cooking island or as an extravagant alternative to a wall hood. They are made of stainless steel or glass. In addition to strict angular designs, there are models with curved or round hoods. Island hoods are suitable for exhaust air and recirculation operation.

Ceiling hoods

Ceiling hoods , which are installed either in a suspended ceiling or drywall, offer professional ventilation performance for catering establishments . They are 100 to 120 cm wide and capture all cooking fumes that would otherwise collect under the ceiling. Since the powerful fans are located far above the cook’s head, they are often quieter than other types of hood. The ceiling hood is controlled by remote control and is usually only suitable for one type of operation (exhaust air or recirculation).

Important features of an extractor kitchen hood

To ensure that your desired model meets your requirements, you should pay attention to the following features when purchasing:

Device dimensions

The extractor hood should be at least as wide as the hob . For wall-mounted models, it depends on the height and width of the niche it is supposed to fit into; for flat-screen, under-counter and intermediate hoods, it depends on the cabinet dimensions.

Performance

The blower output of an extractor hood is given in cubic meters per hour (m³/h) and describes the maximum amount of air flow that is passed through the filters. At maximum speed, the hood output should be at least six to eight times the volume of the kitchen. Simple compact models have a low output of 200 m³/h per hour. 300 to 600 m³/h is sufficient for proper air purification in medium-sized kitchens, 600 to 800 m³/h is suitable for larger kitchens. If you often use all the cooking areas at the same time, you cannot ventilate your kitchen well or you live in an apartment with an open kitchen, a hood with high output makes sense.

volume

The pleasure of cooking should not be spoiled by a loud extractor hood . Particularly quiet hoods reach 40 to 45 dB sound pressure in frequently used normal operation at medium fan speed and just under 65 dB at the highest power level.

Edge extraction

If a harmonious design in your kitchen is important to you, an extractor hood with edge extraction is interesting. The filters are located behind a visually appealing plate made of stainless steel or black, white or transparent glass. The fumes are extracted at a higher flow rate through a narrow gap all around. This also makes cleaning easier.

Filter system

Make sure you have a dishwasher-safe grease filter made of aluminum or stainless steel. Many hoods have a saturation indicator or an operating hour counter for grease and activated carbon filters and will tell you when they need to be cleaned or replaced.

Cooking area lighting

Hoods usually have built-in LEDs, halogen spotlights or fluorescent tubes for hob lighting or as permanent lighting in the kitchen. LEDs are particularly energy-efficient, while halogen spotlights provide a warm, harmonious light. The light from tubes appears a little colder. Lights mounted on the side or all around have a better beam angle on pots and pans than those placed at the front or back. A dimming function is practical, allowing you to vary the lighting mood.

Operating concept

Flat screen, under- and intermediate hoods are usually pulled out or opened to be switched on, all other models have buttons or sensor surfaces to switch on the fan and light. Mechanical buttons are easy to operate even with wet or greasy fingers, electronically controlled touch control surfaces are easier to clean. Some higher-quality extractor hoods come with a remote control or are offered as an accessory.

Efficiency classes

The energy efficiency class on a scale from A or A+ (very energy efficient) to E (not very energy efficient) tells you how much power the extractor hood uses. As a rule, higher-quality models are more energy efficient than entry-level devices because they have more powerful motors.

Special functions

Various comfort features make the difference between a conventional and a higher-quality extractor hood. These include:

• Intensive level: An intensive level for temporarily increasing the fan power with automatic reset after a few minutes is practical for strong fumes such as those found in pasta water.
• After-run: In order to clean the kitchen air of any remaining water vapor and odors, it is recommended to let the fan continue running for a few minutes after cooking. If the extractor has an automatic after-run, the fan switches off automatically after a preselected or fixed time.
• Sensor automatic: If convenient handling is important to you, then look for automatic power regulation via a sensor. This controls the fan power according to the amount of cooking fumes produced. This is not only convenient, but also saves energy, as only as much power is used as necessary.

This extractor hood fits in your kitchen

The kitchen hood you choose should not only fit the size and equipment of your kitchen, but also your cooking habits. Below you will find out what you should look out for when buying:

Occasional cooks and owners of small kitchens

Do you have a small kitchen and rarely cook? Then compact entry-level models with three fan speeds and push buttons are a good choice. There are space-saving under-counter models with a maximum air flow of 380 m³/h. If you also want to visually spice up your kitchen, choose a wall hood for €70 to €100 with an air output of up to 300 m³/h.

Regular cooks and owners of medium-sized kitchens

If you cook every day and have a separate kitchen of up to 20 square meters, you should choose a powerful kitchen hood with one or two additional intensive settings, an air flow rate of 400 to 500 m³/h, a stainless steel filter and an energy efficiency class of A or A+. Flat screen, wall and head-free hoods with the appropriate features are available.

Professional chefs and home kitchen owners

Ambitious cooks whose large kitchen is also the center of their family’s life should choose a particularly quiet and powerful kitchen hood that is the right size for their hob. The decisive criteria include an air flow rate of 600 to 850 m³/h with a noise level of less than 70 dB, interval ventilation, edge extraction and multi-sensor technology.

Care and cleaning instructions

Since kitchen hoods come into contact with grease, oil and food residues, cleaning is important. Regularly wipe down all surfaces and controls with a damp sponge and a little dishwashing detergent. Grease spots and deposits can be removed with a grease remover. Commercial glass cleaner is suitable for glass surfaces. You can prevent stainless steel surfaces from becoming dirty again quickly by treating them with a stainless steel care product.

Depending on usage, you clean the grease filter either according to the filter indicator or every three to four weeks, either by hand with a dishwashing brush and hand washing liquid or in the dishwasher. In recirculation mode, the odor filters should also be changed once or twice a year. The frequency of changing depends on how much the kitchen hood is used.

Conclusion: Cooking without steam and smell

A kitchen hood ensures that you have a clear view while cooking and that the whole living area does not smell of food. The devices produce fresh air quietly and efficiently. To find the right kitchen hood for your kitchen, you should consider the following criteria when making your purchase decision:

• Entry-level models with a fan output of up to 380 m³/h are suitable for small kitchens . If space is limited, under-cabinet hoods are available at prices between €40 and €100, flat-screen hoods. If you have free space above the stove, you can set visual accents with a wall hood.
• If you have a medium-sized kitchen and cook regularly, you can use energy-efficient hoods with additional intensive settings and an air flow rate of up to 500 m³/h. Head-free hoods provide more headroom and cooking comfort, flat screen hoods blend discreetly into your kitchen equipment and wall or island hoods are particularly noticeable in your kitchen.
• Chefs with high demands on efficiency and design choose quiet and powerful hoods made of high-quality materials. Wall, head-free, island or ceiling hoods with edge extraction, an air flow rate of up to 850 m³/h, interval ventilation, multi-sensor technology and LED lighting.