In an open-plan kitchen, first check whether an external extraction duct is technically possible and permitted. It carries cooking air outside, while a recirculating cooker hood filters the air before returning it to the room. If you opt for recirculation, check which filters are compatible and how they need to be maintained. In either case, compare noise levels at the speed you expect to use. Your home's ventilation helps refresh the air, but it does not do the same job as a cooker hood positioned above the hob.
If your cooking regularly creates steam or odours near your living area, first check whether external extraction is possible. According to ADEME, cooking may call for a high ventilation rate; this does not remove the need to check the space available and how the cooker hood can be installed.
If you cannot install a duct or make changes to your home, recirculation is worth considering. Check that the model supports this mode and find out which filters or kit you will need before choosing.
When your kitchen opens directly onto your living space, compare noise levels at the speeds you need for cooking, rather than looking only at the figure for the lowest setting. With external extraction, the route of the duct also matters when planning the installation.
Consider this: if there is a dedicated duct to the outside, or one can be installed with the necessary permissions, to carry cooking air out of your home.
Bear in mind: installation depends on the duct, an air inlet and the constraints of the building. Roblin notes that the duct route and bends affect how the hood works.
Consider this: when an external outlet cannot be installed or is not permitted, provided the hood and its accessories are compatible.
Bear in mind: as UFC-Que Choisir explains, the air is filtered and returned to the room. Filters need to be maintained according to the model's requirements.
Consider this: as an additional way to refresh the air, particularly if your kitchen ventilation has a high-flow setting, as ADEME notes.
Bear in mind: refreshing the air in your home is not the same as capturing air above the hob. Have your existing system assessed before making any changes.
| Feature | What to check before buying | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Steam and odours | Check the intended operating mode. For external extraction, make sure there is a nearby dedicated duct and check its route. | I often cook next to the living area and want to limit the spread of steam and odours while cooking. Around 36% of consumers would prioritise this as their main need. |
| Installation options | Check what work can be carried out in your home. For recirculation, make sure the kit and filters are compatible with the model you have chosen. | Without a usable duct or the option to alter my home, I need a solution I can actually install. Around 29% of consumers would put the option to install without an external outlet ahead of other criteria. |
| Noise in the living area | Compare the stated dB(A) levels at similar speeds, and check the duct route if you choose external extraction. | If I stay in the living area while cooking, I want a cooker hood that will not disrupt how I use the space. Quiet operation would be the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Filter maintenance | Find out which filter is compatible, whether it is readily available, and how it should be replaced or regenerated. | I want to be able to maintain my cooker hood without finding out after buying it that replacement filters are hard to get or tricky to change. Around 14% of consumers would make filter maintenance their main concern. |
A cooker hood designed to send air outside is not suitable for an installation without a usable dedicated duct. Drilling through a wall may also affect the façade or other parts of the building where permission is required.
Locate the duct and have the plans checked before you buy. If you rent or live in a shared-ownership building, check what permissions you need for the work.
Creating an outlet may require drilling, ducting, connectors and, depending on your home, repair work afterwards.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, a recirculating cooker hood returns filtered air to the room, whereas an externally vented hood sends it outside. Your choice of mode affects which accessories you need and what installation requirements to check.
First choose the mode that can be installed in your home, then check the product specifications for that specific set-up.
With recirculation, filter types and maintenance instructions vary by appliance. Elica's documentation, for example, distinguishes between filters that need replacing and certain filters that can be regenerated.
Make a note of the compatible filter reference and check the manual for the maintenance steps and schedule for your model.
The stated extraction rate alone does not tell you how the cooker hood will perform once installed. For external extraction, Roblin highlights the importance of the duct diameter and route, including any bends.
Have the proposed duct route checked before choosing an externally vented hood, and compare noise levels at the speeds you plan to use for cooking.
Depending on the model, Bosch cooker hoods can be set up for external extraction or recirculation.
Elica offers cooker hoods for external extraction and recirculation, with different types of charcoal filter available depending on the model.
Depending on the model and installation, Roblin offers a range of cooker hood styles, including wall-mounted, island and integrated designs.
Siemens offers cooker hoods for external extraction or recirculation, as well as recirculation accessories for selected appliances.
These cooker hoods are worth considering for recirculation if your open-plan kitchen does not have an external extraction outlet; several are also listed as offering an extraction mode. First choose the mode you can install at home, then check the filters and noise levels to make sure they suit the way you cook.
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Worth considering if you want the option to choose between recirculation and external extraction to suit your installation.
Three speeds and a stated extraction rate of 400 m³/h; the product name indicates that a charcoal filter for recirculation is included.
If you plan to use it near your living area, check the noise levels at the speeds you need and the filter maintenance instructions. External extraction requires a suitable dedicated duct.
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A wall-mounted option to consider if it suits the space you have and you are looking for a recirculating or externally vented installation.
Stated extraction rate of 611 m³/h, touch controls and a charcoal filter listed as included.
Compare the noise level at the speed you expect to use for cooking and check the filter maintenance instructions. For external extraction, make sure you have a dedicated duct.
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Worth comparing if you are looking for a 60 cm wall-mounted cooker hood for an open-plan kitchen.
The product name specifies a black glass panel and LED lighting.
For recirculation, check that the CBCF055*2 filters are compatible and find out how often they need replacing. Also check the noise level at the speed you plan to use.
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Its under-cabinet design is worth considering if the space above your hob limits your installation options.
The product is listed with three speeds and an extraction rate of 200 m³/h; this figure alone is not enough to judge how well it will capture air while you cook.
Recirculation requires a cotton filter, sold separately. Check the compatible reference and maintenance instructions, and also check the noise level while the hood is running.
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Worth considering if a 90 cm angled cooker hood would fit the space above your hob.
Four speeds and a stated extraction rate of 620 m³/h; the product name lists both recirculation and external extraction modes.
Before choosing recirculation, check which filter is compatible and what is included with the hood. For comfort in your living area, compare noise levels at the speeds you need for cooking.
No. UFC-Que Choisir advises against connecting an externally vented cooker hood in this way. Plan for a dedicated duct to the outside and have the set-up checked before installation.
For work that alters your home, first get written permission from your landlord, as ANIL advises. If the outlet affects the façade or communal areas, also check the rules for your building before choosing a cooker hood.
According to ANIL, approval at a general meeting is required if the work affects communal areas or the building's structure. Check exactly what your plans involve and consult the building's rules before drilling.
Follow the instructions for the filter compatible with your cooker hood: maintenance methods and schedules vary by reference. Elica, for example, distinguishes standard filters that need replacing from certain regenerable models. Check which type your appliance requires before buying.