What is it?
The extractor, or cooker hood, clears steam, grease and cooking smells from the air above the hob. It sits over the hob and either ducts the air outside through a vent, or filters it and sends clean air back into the room. It keeps the kitchen fresher and stops grease settling on surfaces and units.
Extractors work in one of two ways, ducted out to an outside wall, which clears the most, or recirculating through a charcoal filter where no outside route is possible. Performance is measured by the extraction rate in cubic metres an hour, and the hood should match the width of the hob and how much you cook.
- 1Extractor
What does it do?
Clearing steam, grease and smells
The extractor pulls the air rising off the hob through a grease filter, taking out steam, grease and cooking smells before they spread through the kitchen.
Ducting out or recirculating
It either sends the air outside through ducting, which clears the most, or filters it through charcoal and returns clean air to the room where there is no outside route.
Lighting the hob
Most hoods also light the cooking area from above, giving a clearer view of the pans as well as better air.
Where is it used?
The usual position, mounted on the wall above a hob set into the run.
Built into a wall cabinet above the hob, or into the hob itself as a venting hob, for a clean, discreet look.
Types
Extractors are grouped by how and where they mount, from a visible chimney to one hidden in the hob itself.
Chimney hood
Wall mounted with a visible chimney flue above, the classic style in stainless steel or glass. Powerful and a design feature in its own right.
Integrated and canopy
Hidden inside a wall cabinet above the hob, showing only a slim pull out or nothing at all, for a streamlined look that keeps the units continuous.
Downdraft
Rises up from the worktop behind the hob when needed and drops away when not, avoiding anything overhead. It suits islands and open plan kitchens.
Ceiling and island hood
Suspended from the ceiling over an island, working as a design feature as well as an extractor where there is no wall behind the hob.
Venting hob
Extraction built into the hob itself, drawing steam down through the middle, which removes the need for a hood above entirely. This is the same appliance covered under the hob element.
Typical sizes
Match the hood to the hob width and the size of the kitchen.
| Feature | Typical figure |
|---|---|
| Width | match or exceed the hob, 600 or 900 mm |
| Extraction rate | measured in cubic metres per hour |
| Ducting | commonly 150 mm |
| Mounting height | per the hob maker, higher for gas |
| Supply | a fused power point |
How to specify
Choose the extractor alongside the hob and the kitchen layout, since it must match the hob width and either duct outside or filter and recirculate.
Ducted or recirculating
Decide whether it can duct out to an external wall, which clears the most, or must recirculate through a charcoal filter. This depends on the route available.Style and size
Pick the style to suit the position, wall, island or hidden, and size it to match or exceed the hob width for good coverage.Performance and noise
Choose an extraction rate suited to the size of the room and how much you cook, and check the noise level, since more power usually means more noise.
Other considerations
Interacting elements
The extractor works closely with the hob and the units around it.
- Hob the extractor serves it, unless a venting hob does the job through the middle.
- Wall and ceiling units a hood mounts to or hides inside these.
- Ducting runs from the hood to an external wall on a ducted system.
- Electrics the hood needs a fused power point.
Popular manufacturers
Elica
An Italian company and the global leader in kitchen extraction, making every style from chimney and ceiling hoods to downdrafts, plus its NikolaTesla venting hobs. Strong on design and quiet, efficient motors.
Bosch
A reliable, well engineered range of hoods across the main styles, with features like Hob Hood control that links the hood to a Bosch hob so it adjusts extraction automatically.
Neff
Design led hoods that suit fitted kitchens, including integrated and island models and venting hobs, from the same group as Bosch.