You can find more Smeg kitchen appliances in our roundup of the best toasters on the market. What is the difference between a cooker hood and an extractor fan? An extractor fan is a standalone appliance - a fan that can be built in to your kitchen's wall or ceiling (like the style we'd typically have in our bathrooms), to keep steam, cooking smells and grease at bay. A cooker hood is a much larger appliance that sits above your cookertop, and is likely to feature an extractor fan, hence why you may find the two terms being used interchangeably. Cooker hoods tend to also feature lighting, and the option of a fan that recirculates or extracts the air, so they're grander, more multi-functional appliances. Types of kitchen extractor fan You could easily spend a whole lot more on a kitchen extractor fan that won’t perform any better than this model. As long as you’re prepared to put up with the noise, the Zanussi ZHC62352X comes highly recommended. This hood couldn’t be easier to use – tap the fan speed button of choice and, well, that’s it. On the far right, there’s another button to turn on the two ultra-bright 4W LEDs.

It’s easy to work this out yourself. Simply multiply your kitchen’s width, length and height in metres to get your kitchen’s volume in m³, and then multiply the result by ten. Make sure that whichever hood you choose has a flow rate that matches or is above that figure, as that will allow the hood to filter all the air in your kitchen at least ten times per hour. With the models here ranging from around 350m³/h up to 500m³/h, you will find something to suit all but the very biggest of kitchens. Anything else I should be aware of? Extractor fans and exhaust fans are the same things. The term “extractor fans” is used more commonly in the UK, whereas “exhaust fans” is used in the US and around the world. Does an extractor fan use a lot of electricity? Key Specs – Type: Extraction and recirculation; Canopy size: 60cm; Extraction rate: 368m³/h; Noise level: 47dB At 89cm in width, the Bosch Serie 6 uses a powerful EcoSilence drive motor to draw steam, greasy air and cooking smells towards its large recessed intake and out of the kitchen. Aside from being commendably quiet (the claimed noise level is 53dB), the Serie 6 also features a Perfect Air sensor that constantly monitors the air quality, automatically adjusting the suction power accordingly. Alternatively, a simple tap of its DirectSelect touch control panel provides three manual power levels and two intensive settings for frying sessions – the hood remains on until the sensor detects that all kitchen vapour and smells have left the room. As to be expected, it also comes with two bright 1.5W LED lamps to illuminate the entire cooking area. Going for a full kitchen revamp? Browse the best kitchen taps and the best electric ovens on the market.A built-in range hood is a necessity for modern kitchens, but installing one into an older house or an existing building that perhaps wasn’t designed for cooking is a big task. Poor ventilation while cooking can set off smoke alarms, let odors linger, cause grease to build up on surfaces, and worst of all, lead to a wide range of potential health problems. The flat-shaped Neff D64BHM1N0B is designed for wall mounting and comes clad in easy-to-clean brushed stainless steel for added flair, plus an adjustable height chimney for painless installation. Its standard airflow rate is an excellent 368m³/h when ducted and 270m³/h when recirculated, and that’s enough power to deal with the steamiest of cooking sessions. However, if things get out of hand, there’s an “intensive” button to ramp up the suction to a whopping 605m³/h – enough oomph to clear even bigger kitchens. There are several different types of kitchen extractor fan and the one you choose needs to suit your kitchen as well as the type of hob you will be using it above. Here we explain the various styles of cooker hood to help you make the right choice. Or even What are the Top 10 affordable (best budget, best cheap, or even best expensive!!!) Portable Kitchen Extractor Fan available? Etc.

Chimney cooker hoods: These are made up of a canopy hood and a chimney. They are usually wall-mounted and are a great option for large hobs. Downdraught extractor: Fairly new to the scene, they slot into your base units and lie flush with the top of your worktops, rising up when needed. Key Specs – Type: Extraction and recirculation; Canopy size: 60cm; Extraction rate: 500m³/h; Noise level: 69dB

Integrated extractor fans are hidden by kitchen cabinets so they're a great option if you're all about a stylish kitchen with a uniform design. You will also want to make sure that the cooker hood matches the width of your hob, so it can efficiently and effectively remove steam and smoke from all of your bubbling pots and pans.

Here at Homebuilding.co.uk we like to get our hands dirty and trial as many products as possible, but in the instances where we aren’t able to, such as with the best kitchen extractor fans, we leave no stone unturned to provide you with the crucial information you need to know before buying.Related: Best Air Purifier for Small Bathroom What is the difference between an extractor fan and an exhaust fan? The Cookology Integrated Telescopic Cooker Hood is designed to be fitted into a unit above the hob. The front section can be pulled out to extend the hood, revealing its controls and lights. If you would rather go down the simple route and avoid having holes drilled into the wall, perhaps consider a recirculating model like this fine canopy example from the house of Bosch. The Serie 2 simply mounts to the wall above any 60cm hob (cooker style or integrated) and recirculates cooking vapour through its charcoal filter at a rate of up to 350m³/h. Canopy cooker hoods: Similar to integrated kitchen extractor fans, these sit flush with the underside of the kitchen wall units — they often have an extendable telescopic section at the front.