Open-plan kitchen without an overhead hood
You want to keep the view between the cooking area and living room clear, and can incorporate extraction into your cabinet design.
Who is this choice for?
Renovating with existing cabinets
You’re replacing a hob and need to check the space beneath the worktop before choosing an integrated extractor.
Kitchen without an external vent
You’re considering recirculation with the right filters, without mistaking it for your home’s general ventilation.
What to check
Hob with integrated extractor, ducted
Worth considering: if you can run a dedicated duct to the outside and your cabinet has room for the system.
Bear in mind: the duct and the route through the building can make installation more complicated. A motorised cooker hood must not be connected to a shared air outlet system (Article 14 of the Order of 24 March 1982, Légifrance).
Hob with integrated extractor, recirculating
Worth considering: if there’s no suitable external vent and your cabinet can accommodate a compatible filter setup.
Bear in mind: filtered air is returned to the room. Recirculation doesn’t replace general ventilation in the home, as required under the Order of 24 March 1982 (Légifrance), and filters need to be maintained in line with the model’s instructions.
Hob with a conventional cooker hood
Worth considering: if a cooker hood above the hob works for your plans.
Bear in mind: the hob and extractor are separate appliances. You’ll still need to check the installation, airflow mode and accessories; a separate cooker hood isn’t automatically quieter or more effective.
Hob with a separate downdraft extractor
Worth considering: if you want to avoid an overhead hood while choosing your hob and extractor separately.
Bear in mind: a telescopic extractor sits behind the hob and needs its own space for installation (NEFF France).
For an open-plan kitchen in France, there are four options to compare: a hob with an integrated extractor in ducted or recirculating mode, a hob with a conventional cooker hood, and a hob with a separate downdraft extractor.
| What matters to you | What to check before buying | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Compatible airflow mode | Locate the external vent and establish whether it connects to a dedicated duct or a shared system; check which mode the model supports. | If I’m not sure about the home’s air outlet, I want to know whether it allows ducted extraction before choosing. Around 31% of consumers put the feasibility of air treatment first. |
| Cabinet and dimensions | Compare the appliance dimensions, cut-out size, clearance beneath the worktop and space taken up by drawers. | If I’m replacing a hob without refitting the cabinets, I’ll check the space beneath the worktop before choosing a model. Around 25% of consumers make cabinet compatibility their top priority. |
| Clear sightlines and kitchen design | Choose between an integrated extractor and a separate cooker hood, then check the space needed for your preferred installation. | If I want to keep the living area visually open, I’ll compare a hob with an integrated extractor against a separate telescopic extractor. Around 19% of consumers prioritise clear sightlines. |
| Noise in an open-plan kitchen | Compare noise levels at the same setting and in the same airflow mode; distinguish between noise, extraction rate and grease collection, as Que Choisir Ensemble’s testing protocol does. | In an open-plan kitchen, I want to compare noise levels under equivalent conditions. Around 13% of consumers put a quieter environment first. |
| Maintenance and accessories | Check which filters are needed, how to maintain them, which accessories are compatible and what’s included in the exact package. | To understand what it’ll be like to use the appliance over time, I want to know which filters and accessories the model needs. Around 12% of consumers prioritise maintenance and the full configuration. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming the appliance dimensions guarantee cabinet compatibility
The extractor takes up space beneath the hob, so the stated width alone doesn’t confirm that it’ll fit your existing cabinet or drawers.
Ask a professional to check the full layout before you order, especially if you’re replacing an existing hob. Depending on your plans, you may also need to adapt the cabinet, drawers or worktop.
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Comparing extraction rates alone
Extraction rate, grease collection and noise are different measurements. Que Choisir Ensemble’s testing protocol also distinguishes between installation modes.
Compare appliances in the same mode and at the same setting, then look at test results for the features that matter to you.
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Planning for the appliance alone
Recirculation accessories depend on the model; Bosch says that its cooker hood kits aren’t universal.
Ask for the reference numbers of compatible accessories and check what’s included in the exact package. Depending on your setup, you may also need filters, cabinet modifications and installation.
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Mistaking recirculation for moisture extraction
In recirculation mode, air is returned to the room. Que Choisir Ensemble’s testing protocol assesses moisture extraction to the outside only in ducted mode.
Treat your home’s general ventilation as a separate consideration from your choice of hob or cooker hood.
Brands to consider
Bosch
The brand offers hobs with integrated extractors and separate cooker hoods. The PVQ711H26E is an example of a hob with flexible cooking zones (Bosch Electroménager France).
- The French product information for the PVQ711H26E lists dimensions of 223 × 710 × 522 mm.
- Check which recirculation accessories are needed for the specific reference; Bosch’s general cooker hood advice doesn’t confirm what’s included with a hob with an integrated extractor.
Elica
The NikolaTesla Fit range includes hobs with integrated extraction. Elica says that some configurations are compatible with a 60 cm cabinet.
- The compact design could suit a project where cabinet width is a constraint.
- The range includes different sizes, finishes and references, so check the specifications of the exact variant with Elica France.
BORA
The range includes integrated extraction systems, such as the S Pure PURSU2 in recirculating mode (BORA France).
- The French product information for the PURSU2 in recirculating mode lists dimensions of 580 × 199 × 515 mm.
- Filter maintenance instructions vary by model, and the brand’s performance claims aren’t independent test results.
NEFF
NEFF offers extraction systems integrated into the hob, as well as telescopic extractors that sit behind it.
- This design lets you consider separate extraction while avoiding an overhead hood.
- A separate downdraft extractor and a hob with an integrated extractor are two different designs; make sure your project has the space for the option you choose.
Products available on Joybuy
These models combine an induction hob with integrated extraction, making them worth considering for an open-plan kitchen where you don’t want a separate cooker hood above the hob.
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AEG CCE84543CB, induction hob with integrated extractor, 80 cm
Worth considering if you’d rather combine induction cooking and extraction than have a separate cooker hood above the hob.
The title gives a width of 80 cm and a black glass finish. The product information specifies a 7.6 kW two-phase power supply and professional installation, so check that these requirements suit your project.
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Ciarra ONE CBBEH594BBFF, induction hob with integrated cooker hood, 59 cm
Worth considering if you want to combine induction cooking and extraction in a single appliance.
The product information lists a 560 × 490 mm cut-out and a 32 A connection. It also says that CBEHKIT installation accessories are sold separately and that professional installation is required. Check the requirements for this exact reference and what’s included in the package before choosing.
Frequently asked questions
Does a hob with an integrated extractor in recirculating mode replace home ventilation?
No. Filtered air is returned to the kitchen. Within its scope, the Order of 24 March 1982 on ventilation in homes requires general, permanent ventilation. Cooking extraction and this ventilation serve different purposes (Légifrance).
Can a motorised cooker hood be connected to a shared ventilation outlet?
No. Article 14 of the Order of 24 March 1982 prohibits connecting an individual mechanical device, such as a motorised cooker hood, to a shared air outlet system, whether mechanical or naturally ventilated (Légifrance).
Can a hob of the same width replace the old one without any further checks?
No. Width alone doesn’t confirm compatibility. Also check the cut-out, depth, clearance beneath the worktop and the space the extraction system needs alongside your existing cabinets and drawers.
What should I have checked before ordering, in terms of electrics?
Ask a professional to check the exact instructions, circuit, protective devices and earthing, particularly if you’re unsure about your installation. For the cooking circuit described in its guidance, Legrand specifies conductors of at least 6 mm² and a circuit breaker rated at no more than 32 A. These are reference points, not wiring instructions, and they don’t automatically apply to a three-phase supply.
Is the recirculation kit universal, or always included?
No. Bosch says that the kits for the cooker hoods it describes aren’t universal and that an additional kit may be needed for the first installation. For a hob with an integrated extractor, check the compatible reference and exactly what’s included in the package separately.