Range hoods are an important part of the kitchen. They help to ventilate smoke and fumes, all the while ensuring that the air around your home remains clean. In other words, they’re your one-stop solution to keeping pollutants away!
Whether you like to get creative in the kitchen or you’re a professional chef, they’re necessary pieces of equipment that will keep your cooking area fresh.
But, out of all of the range hoods, which one should you choose? And how should you begin choosing one in the first place?
This is where we come in! The following guide contains a review of five of the best range hoods, as well as a helpful buying guide. So, sit back, relax, and prepare to discover the range hood your kitchen is missing.
In a hurry? Upgrade your kitchen with our top pick.
Whether you’ve recently moved homes or want to swap out your existing hood range for a new one, this versatile insert is the perfect solution to cater to all your ventilation needs.
It doubles up as both an exhaust fan and overhead light for your stove, while the 2-speed motor stainless steel unit will slot itself neatly underneath your cabinets to provide quality airflow in your kitchen. It’s affordable, longlasting, and the best part? It operates quietly, so you won’t be able to hear that ‘fan’ noise that some hood ranges are associated with.
Here’s why it’s our top pick:
- It comes in a variety of colors and width sizes
- It installs as a non-ducted range hood with a charcoal filter that effectively removes smoke and odors from your cook space
- It comes with a removable combination grease-charcoal filter for cleaner indoor exhaust recirculation.
- The lamp lens will distribute light evenly over the cook-top.
- Features control switches for fan speed and controlling the lighting system
All in all, you won’t be disappointed with the Broan-NuTone 413004. It’s quick and easy to set-up and has a great lighting system that will provide even light across your stove. Thanks to its elegant design, it’ll even add an elegant statement to your kitchen space. We highly recommend it.
Best Range Hood Insert
OUR TOP PICK
Summary
Providing effective filtration and longlasting performance, the Broan-NuTone 413004 Range Hood would make a worthy addition to your cooking space.
Broan is well known for providing exceptional ventilation solutions for every cooking style and kitchen, and the Broan-NuTone is a shining example of this. Made of stainless steel, this high-quality ductless range hood insert will improve the ventilation and lighting over your stove thanks to the non-ducted filtration system that will effectively remove all smoke and odors.
Easy to care for, the charcoal filter is easily replaceable and will keep your kitchen smelling (and looking) clean and fresh thanks to optimum grease capture, while the separate rocker allows you to easily control the light and 2-speed fan.
Plus, ensuring that your cooking space is always well-lit, a protective lamp lens space will evenly distribute light over the cooking-top and is compatible with up to 75W bulb. However, you will have to purchase this separately.
Pros
- It comes in a variety of colors
- It’s made of stainless steel which improves ventilation
- The charcoal filter is able to capture grease better than other kinds of filters, and is affordable to replace
Cons
- Not suitable for those who want a ducted hood range insert
EDITORS CHOICE
Summary
On the hunt for an industry-strength range hood? Look no further than the Hauslane Under Cabinet Range Hood. This ventilation hood features a minimalistic design with a stainless steel body, making it an ideal choice for home chefs or cooking fanatics.
This contemporary under cabinet range hood will grant you all the functionality and convenience you would expect from a premium hood range.
Plus, if you happen to forget to switch it off when you’re done using it, this hood range insert will automatically shut off after a certain amount of time.
The powerful extractor provides 860 CFM and is able to capture grease, fumes, and cooking smells with ease, using dishwasher safe baffle filters to minimize maintenance, while the touch screen panel displays the time and provides a simple control the hood functions, even when your hands are stirring and frying!
Additionally, the versatile extractor fan’s stainless steel surfaces can be wiped clean quickly, while the 3-way venting options offer complete installation convenience.
Pros
- Premium hood range with powerful 860 CFM power capacity, making it ideal for home chefs or frequent cookers
- Stainless steel can be wiped clean in a matter of seconds
- It has 3-way venting options to offer total installation convenience
Cons
- Power capacity may be too much for those who don’t cook frequently
BEST VALUE
Summary
If you’re looking to get your hands on a hood range insert that’s going to provide excellent performance and look the part, you’re in luck with the FOTILE Range Hood.
Upon first inspection, you’ll notice the sleek black design of this hood range insert. It features an elegant touch screen control panel that makes controlling it easy, while its clever delay function will ensure that the hood continues operating for 2 minutes after you’ve finished cooking to ensure all the smoke has been effectively dispersed from your kitchen.
Not only that, but there is also a screen lock function that prevents you from accidentally switching it on while you are cleaning it, too.
Besides making an eyecatching addition to any kitchen interior, the FOTILE Range Hood will also prove to be a useful one. When switched on, it utilizes an automatic open baffle plate that will open to a 90-degree angle to capture smoke and fumes before they escape.
Thanks to its wider design, this hood range will also be able to cover all of your burners on your stove easily, providing an optimum barrier that will prevent you from breathing in any grease or smoke, all the while preventing it from escaping to the rest of your home.
Pros
- It features 2 LED lights to ensure that your cooking space remains well-lit
- Offers 3 fan speed settings
- The stainless steel is easy to clean
- The automatic capture shield will stop you from breathing in any smoke or grease
Cons
- Expensive
RUNNER UP
Summary
If you’re on the search for a budget-friendly range hood insert, we highly recommend the Cosmo 5MU30 Under Cabinet Range Hood.
The Cosmo’s COS-5MU30 is an under cabinet range hood which features a clean and classic style that will suit all types of kitchen decors.
Its brushed stainless steel design looks smart and will be able to remove smells and odors with ease, while the double dishwasher-safe aluminum mesh filters will disperse unwanted grease and smoke from the air.
You can even add a charcoal filter (which you will have to purchase separately) for optimum grease prevention.
In particular, we love its slim profile. Its a great choice for condos and apartments and can be installed either under a cabinet or against a wall. The 3-speed motor will filter your kitchen without the loud ‘fan’ sound associated with other competing range hoods inserts.
Ensuring easy operation with just the touch of a finger, the push button controls operate the fan and lights, while the 3 fan speeds adjust to your needs; choose from high, medium, and low suction to suit a variety of foods and cooking.
If you’ve just moved home and want to save money or you’re on a budget, this is a great choice worth considering.
Pros
- An affordable, budget-friendly option
- The multi-layer filters feature aluminum mesh filters to trap grease and smoke more easily
- Slim, space-saving design
Cons
- HVAC tape is required to install it
RUNNER UP
Summary
The KOBE Range Hoods INX2936SQBF is our final pick. A bestseller, this hood range insert won the 2019 Adex Award for design excellence.
KOBE Range Hoods, based in Arcadia, California, has been committed to providing high-quality quiet kitchen ventilation since 1998. The results of KOBE’s extensive product development are a series of kitchen range hoods that are seamless, elegant, powerful, and quiet.
Offering convenience and reliable performance, this built-in range hood will seamlessly fit itself into custom cabinetry without the need for a liner. It’s high-performing with a power capacity of 550 CFM internal blower, so it’s an ideal choice for anyone who regularly cooks for a small family.
Offering complete convenience, this hood is equipped with a 3-speed mechanical push button which allows you to regulate how quickly you want the fan to spin.
To ensure optimum filtration, it comes with baffle filters and aluminum mesh filters that are dishwasher-friendly, so these particular filters will last longer before needing to be replaced.
Not only that, but this KOBE Range Hood even has a ‘quiet mode’ which operates at a reduced power capacity of 157 CFM, and this unique feature allows the KOBE range hood to operate at a reduced sound level of 61 decibels. In other words, you’re not going to be able to hear it at all!
Pros
- Award-winning
- Made from durable commercial grade stainless steel
- It comes with both aluminum mesh filters and baffle filters
- Available in different sizes
Cons
- White colorway may not be to everyone’s taste
Best Range Hood Insert Buying Guide
Whether you cook frequently or once in a blue moon, a range hood should be a staple in your kitchen.
A home can fill up with smoke and grease quicker than you think and, without proper ventilation and filtration, you’ll be exposing your lungs to these pollutants, all the while risking your home smelling of cooking odors! To ensure that you make the right choice, keep reading to discover some of the key features your range hood insert should have:
Do you want it to be ducted or ductless?
One of the most important considerations is whether you want your hood range insert to be ducted or ductless. If you already have an existing range hood and you’re simply replacing it for a newer model, you may already have ductwork in place, so a ducted range hood will be an ideal replacement for you.
On the other hand, ductless range hood inserts, which use a carbon filter to cleanse and recirculate the air in your kitchen, are ideal for those who do not want to go to the trouble of installing ducts (especially as they can be so expensive) which s why a ductless range hood might be a better choice.
Filters
Next up? Filters! Depending on the model, you’ll likely notice that the range hood utilizes different filters. For example, steel filters are very good at trapping grease and hardly ever need to be replaced, while aluminum mesh filters are cheaper yet need to be replaced more frequently.
Another common type of filter is charcoal filters that can completely disperse smoke, however, their performance quality can diminish quicker than steel and aluminum filters. When making a decision, we recommend checking what filters your range hood uses, as well as deciding on how often you’re willing to replace them.
Power Capacity
The next consideration to think about is the power capacity of your chosen hood range insert. Though you’re likely not going to need an overly strong hood range, you’ll still need it to be powerful enough to be able to easily disperse air whenever you decide to cook.
A range hood’s power is usually measured in cubic feet per minute of displaced air, which indicates the power capacity. Typically, the higher the CFM, the more powerful the hood range insert is going to be.
Lights
This factor quite often goes overlooked, but it is, in our opinion, one of the most important to consider! The best hood range inserts will come with LED lights to ensure a well-lit cooking area, while some of the cheaper options will usually feature singular bulbs that will subtly improve the lighting conditions.
Depending on your needs and how much money you want to spend, it’s vital that you do purchase a hood range that offers some form of lighting. Perhaps you already have LED lighting installed in your kitchen and don’t need it, or maybe you want a little extra light in your cooking area. It’s entirely up to you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do range hoods have to be vented outside?
Some range hoods can be vented outside, although not all of them are built to need this. Many range hood inserts provide the option to recirculate air inside of your home after cleaning the air through a charcoal filter or other smoke and smell-trapping filter.
These recirculating range hoods do not need to be vented with ductwork and are known as ‘ductless’ hood ranges.
What is a range hood, how does it work?
A range hood is a piece of equipment that is installed above your kitchen. Once installed, it is able to help ventilate the air within your home by filtering out any unwanted gas, smoke and grease from cooking.
Range hoods feature internal fans that are able to suck in the air which is then ventilated through ductwork to the outside of your home or filtered through grease and smoke-trapping filters and then recirculated into your home free from pollutants.
Which is better ducted or ductless range hood?
This all depends on your preferences and whether or not you have an existing range hood. However, to break them down, ducted range hoods are often able to utilize larger fans with more powerful motors to create a strong flow of air, as they expel air outside of your home.
Ductless range hoods, on the other hand, use filters that suck in the air and trap the grease and smoke and then recirculate the cleaned air back into your home.
Does every kitchen require a range hood?
Even if you only cook on the weekends or rarely throughout the week, you should still have a range hood in your kitchen. The addition of one will help to get rid of smoke, grease, and unwanted smells from your home.
They’re essential to maintaining a clean kitchen and a pollutant-free environment for you and your family.