Range hoods are an essential but often ignored part of any kitchen. The fan inside a range hood is designed to filter heat, fumes, odors, and other unpleasant emissions when cooking. This can greatly improve the air quality in your kitchen and prevent uncomfortable levels of heat from making your cooking experience a torture. If you're looking to buy a range hood, here are our top three picks for the most reliable range hoods of 2021.
Miele DAR1120
The Miele DAR1120 is a 30 in. cabinet insert range hood that reaches up to 700 CFM and has plenty of essential features. For the budget-conscious, you'll be happy to know that this is the most budget-friendly range hood on this list. It has a stainless steel baffle filter to capture grease, which is dishwasher safe. Behind that is the Miele CleanCover, which has a smooth surface for easy cleaning. The ClearView LED lighting system gives off up to 4.5 W of light that provides optimal visibility of your entire cooktop surface. It also has an Auto-Vent safety sensor that continually monitors the temperature from the cooktop surface-- it won't waste unnecessary energy. The knob controls are easy to operate, ensuring easy control even for those who aren't as tech-savvy. This range hood is handcrafted in Germany, ensuring the utmost care and precision went into the production process.
Thermador UCVM36XS
The Thermador UCVM36XS from the Masterpiece Series is a 36 in. downdraft range hood with a 15-in. vertical rise and is one of the most reliable range hoods on the market. It has a telescopic design, meaning it rises to catch heat, grease, and more. The Powerfully Quiet® system ensures it's both efficient and quieter than many range hoods. It's also recirculation-capable, allowing it to exhaust in different directions, either the front, the sides, or the back. The front filter panel is removable, making for much easier cleaning. The range hood also has four different fan settings up to 1,300 CFM, so you can match the power of the fan with the situation you're in. The fan also has a ten-minute delay shut-off to filter any remaining smells or air pollutants like smoke after the cooking process is completed. The range hood also has the capacity to be low-maintenance with its automatic mode, which adjusts the fan speed depending on the temperatures it senses.
Fulgor Milano F6PC48DS1
The Fulgor Milano F6PC48DS1 from the Sofia Series is a versatile 48 in. range hood with some of the best features money can buy. Its dual motor allows it to reach 1,000 CFM. It has a heavy-duty control panel with three knobs for easy and intuitive controls. It also has a bright and energy-efficient LED system that's perfect for the illumination of your cooking space, especially in the evening. Its stainless steel Pro Baffle filters also capture grease and are dishwasher-safe, making them easy to clean. In addition, the range hood is only 75 dB loud at max power, making it safer for your hearing than some other range hoods out there.
Related Questions
How do I choose a range hood?
Your choice of range hood will, of course, depend on your needs and the kind of features you're looking for. For those with sensitive hearing, you might choose a range hood with a lower noise level. Or if you dislike complex controls, you might find a range hood with an easy-to-use knob system.
What is the best CFM for a range hood?
Generally, the higher the CFM, the more air the hood vents from your kitchen; hence, it is crucial to have at least 100 CFM for every 10,000 BTUs of your gas cooktop. For electric cooktops, hoods should generally provide 100 CFM per 10-in. of stove width.