1 - The Basics
A kitchen hood also known as an extractor hood, stove hood, exhaust hood or the cooker hood is a device that contains a fan which hangs above the stove in the kitchen. It is used to filter the steam while cooking, minimize the odor lingering in the kitchen hence keeping the air in the kitchen fresher.
- Steam created while cooking can lead to unpleasant stains on the walls and furniture
- In some cases moulds can form on the kitchen fixtures
- When cooking delicacies which include fish, onion, garlic et al the smell lingers around the kitchen for a long time, sometimes it can stay in the kitchen for more then a day.
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Kitchen hoods filter the steam, suck-in cooking oil, minimizes odor and extract airborne grease whilst cooking, making
the air in the kitchen fresher. The remainder is pumped out of the house through a tube or let back in the kitchen again.
That is, kitchen hoods either extract unpleasant air; or filter unpleasant air through grease or charcoal filters present
in the hood, thus recirculating fresh air in the kitchen. They give you a pleasant kitchen environment before, after and
during cooking.
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2 - Features
Listed below are some features of a kitchen hood that are essential to understand prior to a purchase process:
- Extraction/ventilation or Re-circulation: Extracting or vented fans in a hood pull the air through a duct, and the air is thrown outside. A hood with re-circulating fan, guides the air containing steam, oil etc; through filters (such as a carbon or a charcoal filter) present in the hood and re-circulates fresh and filtered air back into the kitchen. If you have the budgets for installation, if you fry onions and food that give rise to a lot of smoke and you have access to an exterior wall or have placed your stove near an exterior wall then you can opt for a hood with an extractor (with ducts), because an vented hood is more effective for removing harmful chemicals and sticky grease from the air. However, if you do not have access to an exterior wall a re-circulator could satisfy your needs.
- Style: Who would want to have a kitchen hood that does not match the décor of the kitchen or which looks bulky and cheap? Just like most electrical appliances the kitchen hood comes in many colors such as; silver, black, gray et al to suit you decorating needs. Most have a polished finish to give the hood an extra edge.
- Grease filter: A grease filter protects the motor of a hood from fats contained in the aspirated or sucked steam. Almost all hoods come with a grease or anti-fat filter, which have to be washed or substituted periodically. There are two types of grease filters; metallic (self supporting, that is they don’t have to be washed) and synthetic (they have to be washed by hands or in a dishwasher). The correct functioning of a grease filter ensures healthier air and greater motor duration of the hood.
- Power: The hood must be powerful enough to re-circulate or extract the air in the kitchen ideally 10-12 times per day. Hence, it is important to know the “volume of kitchen”. To calculate the volume of the kitchen, multiply the length x width x height of the kitchen (in meters) and then multiply that number by 10 (which is the minimum number of times per hour the extractor will filter the air) and you will arrive at a number that gives you the extraction rate expressed in cubic meters per hour (m/h). All manufacturers provide this number. An average kitchen is approximately 25 cubic meters; therefore the extraction rate required for the average room is 200 to 300 cubic meters per hour.
- Variable speed Control: This feature allows you to control the speed of the re-circulating or extractor fan.
- In-Built Lighting: Most kitchen hoods come with florescent lights built in the hood. Some even come with lights with dimmer options, or with separate switches for independent operation.
- LED Display: They show the saturation of grease or fats on filters, so that you know when to replace them.
- Low Noise function: The hood you want to buy should not be too noisy or you would not feel like switching them on. High noise levels can be tolerated for short periods on high speed; low speed should be reasonably quiet, therefore not exceeding 55 Decibels.
- Utensil Rack: Some hoods come with a utensil rack around them, to hang cups and small pans, so that you can easily reach them while cooking.
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3 - Types
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Kitchen hoods come in different types of style, strength and design so it is important to choose one that not only compliments your kitchen décor but also gets the job done. Here are some different types of kitchen hoods which you may come across: |
- Standard/conventional Hoods: This is the cheapest type of hood, and can be fixed to the wall and mostly is about 4-5 inches high. Most contain standard features such as; extractor or re-circulators, fluorescent lights, grease filters et al.
- Chimney/Island Hoods: At present, they are the most stylish and sleek hoods. They can be fixed to the wall and most are about 20-30 inches high. As the name suggests, a chimney hood looks just like a chimney coming down from the ceiling. They vary in size to suit any kitchen and the size of stove. They can be either ducted or re-circulating. They come with standard features like lighting, grease filters but some may also have some extra features like LED display, low noise control. Usually they are much more expensive then other types of hoods.
- Integrated/Canopy Hoods: They can be fitted or fixed between wall units. They are visible only when they are seen from below since they can be concealed behind a casing to mach your kitchen units. Most are 15-25 inches high. They can be pulled open for effective extraction of grease and cooking oils. Most come with standard features while some others may also have other fancy features.
Choosing a Kitchen hood may seem like a daunting job but when you keep in mind your budgets, taste and cooking habits you will make an informed selection. So what would you prefer: a friend or a family member coming into the kitchen with his/her nose covered with a mask and asking you “what are you cooking?”; or him/her coming into the kitchen following the aroma of your delicious food on the stove and asking you “what are you cooking”? So go ahead and buy a kitchen hood and hone those culinary skills that you have without worrying about odors or oils sticking on the walls, while you cook!
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