Do I really need a range hood?
SEE OUR FINISHED KITCHEN HERE!
I need to tell you my deepest darkest kitchen secret:
I do not like a range hood.
I hate them all.
I particularly detest the massive monument-to-wasted-space that has become a bizarre status symbol; like mounting a Range Rover over your stove.
Sure, you can choose one that is low-profile, but that would be in direct opposition to the opportunity to install an oversized jet-engine, directly in the place your face goes while standing at the stove.
Although obviously, (like any sensible person) I would trade a good portion of my soul for this kitchen.
Those sentences above areĀ the beginning of a post I started months agoā¦ Back when I thought I could withstand the scorn of the internet if I chose to not waste money and space onĀ an appliance that I will never use.
However.
I have since begun to fear the wrath of the Appropriate-Cooking-Evaluators: a band of angry militants who patrol the internet for violations which offend them personally; and who believe that forgoing a direct-vented range hood is akin to voluntarily injecting yourself with Ebola virusā unbelievably stupid.
Like this kitchen below– so terrible! Let’s take a moment to reflect on how badly we feel for these people that their kitchen is so subpar!
Iām practically BLIND FROM HOW HORRIBLE THIS IS.
So whyĀ would I considerĀ an about-face from hood-denier to herd-animal; when my preferred response to scorn and judgment is always to dig in my heels and run forward towards the executioner?
I guess the internet has broken me.
Specifically, a particular element to the internet that pervades every single topic that people can possibly form an opinion about: the mindset that there is ONLY ONE GOOD ACCEPTABLE WAY to do something that has zero impact on anyone else’s life.
The ONLY ONE GOOD ACCEPTABLE WAY people believe ONE THING, and then that is ALL THEY BELIEVE and they make it their lifeās work to make sure anyone not doing THE WAY is immediately disqualified from life, clapped in irons, and dragged to the town square to be flogged for idiocy.
Which, upon reflection, is the source of all human conflict through history: your own opinions are fine, but other peopleās are moronic and intolerable and deserving of the flaming cannonballs with chains.
Unless they happen to agree with you, in which case they are well-informed.
The ONLY ONE GOOD ACCEPTABLE WAY peopleās initial input is well-meaning! (If bordering on didactic and unhinged.)
But if you fail to PROPERLY HEED THEIR WARNING AND APPRECIATE THEIR WISDOMā¦they become enraged.
WHY! Why would someone WHO HAS BEEN WARNED!! Fail to instal a direct-vent range hood???
Look at THESE IDIOTS! Living without a range hood!
Imbeciles!
Ā
I am thinking specifically of a kitchen-chatboard thread, where a woman explained that it was IMPOSSIBLE to direct-vent her range hood. And she wondered if (seeing as how she couldnāt direct vent,) could she just skip the questionably-effective-substitute-which-is-essentially-just-a-fan and install a light fixture she had fallen in love with.
It was the light fixture of her dreams! A design element that would bring her peace and joy and goodwill towards all! A lamp that would improve her very existence on earth and she could die happy because SHE HAD THE BEST LAMP.
The responses variedā¦ but there were an ALARMING number of respondents who were EXTREMELY BOTHERED by the fact that this woman was not gutting her kitchen to the studs and reconfiguring everything towards the goal of direct-venting the range hoodā¦ and she should probably just go out and rent a bulldozer THAT VERY NIGHT and knock it all down to the ground while flagellating herself for having considered any other option.
Ā
They basically went on to suggest that she was a filthy, squalor-dwelling subhuman moron.
And as I read on and on and onā¦ I have to tell you that I was AMAZED at the PASSION total strangers were bringing to disparaging this woman and her lamp… I mean, who has time for lengthy screeds decrying other people’s DESIGN CHOICES?
And then I was EVEN MORE AMAZED at how these people do not realize that they look like flaming lunatics.
My FAVORITE response was from a woman who wrote:
This one time, we didnāt have a range hood, and we had to THROW AWAY ALL OF OUR BELONGINGS INCLUDING THE FURNITURE after one monthĀ BECAUSE THEY SMELLED SO FOUL AND HORRIBLEĀ from non-vented cooking odors.
I donāt know about youā¦ but that does NOT sell me on a ventā¦ it DOES, however, make me wonder WHAT THIS WOMAN IS MAKING FOR DINNER.
Anyway. All of this is to explain that I do not want a range hood.
But that I am thinking about it anyway.
Because of the internet.
And I am mad about it.
The way Iāve decided to deal with this irritating anxiety that MY kitchen in MY house designed to MY preferences might draw the ire of some random stranger on the internet is to turn it over to you.
Here’s what you need to know: our township construction code does not require one. I will not have an eight-burner stove outgassing 67 billion btu’s/therms/whatever other specs.
Ok! GO FOR IT!
This is your chance!
I WASH MY HANDS.
And if you fail to draw me out from the cave and convince me of the shadows on the wall, then you must return to your war room and inform the other ONLY ONE GOOD ACCEPTABLE WAY-ers that your method is flawed.
Please make a good argument! Definitely do not include information like this: you NEED a hood!
Because: SURPRISE! I do not!
I can prove that to you because we HAD a hood! It was direct-vented!
And I NEVER USED IT.
I never used it SO MUCH that I had Paul take it out.
Every single night I was likeā WHY IS THIS THING RIGHT IN MY FACE?
Until eventually I was like– Plague of nonsense, BE GONE!
p.s.ā save some outrage for the post where I explain how Iām thinking of not having a freezer.
xoxo,
VEB, squalor-dwelling subhuman moron, esq.
June 29, 2017 @ 10:18 am
Moved into a house without a range hood and turns out we don’t need one. Our home doesn’t smell and we rarely cook anything with a lingering smell. Doesn’t create a mess, there isn’t even grease on anything except the range itself. Not sure how your homes are getting so smelly and filthy? Maybe clean more.. .
May 28, 2018 @ 10:16 am
How rude.
July 22, 2017 @ 6:10 pm
Hello Victoria, depending on your cooking style, I would I vote in favor of a hood fan. Cleaning kitchens with no hood fans, I have found ocer time that upper walls, cabinetry and open shelving becomes sticky and caked with airborne grease and dust. The hood fan will help keep your kitchen cleaner can smelling fresher. Also, have you considered a temporary installation of a laundry tub outside your kitchen area for prep while you’re kitchen sink is out of commission in the kitchen remodel? I wonder if a tented outdoor temporary kitchen might be worth putting together, of course dependent on time of year for the remodel. Meanwhile, completely love your blog and send love and prayers to you and Paul that the home gets completed soon. So fun to see your progress!
July 23, 2017 @ 7:03 pm
I have had vent hoods in previous (rented) places we’ve lived, and I almost never used them. The house we bought is older and has no hood above the stove, nor any room to put a hood. I’ve been told, though, that if we were to remodel, the building code supposedly DOES require a hood, so I have to either live with the kitchen as is or put one in. (I have no problem with the lack of hood. I don’t really fry anything, but steam just rises and dissipates. I haven’t noticed any strong food odors, but if you think food stinks that badly, I wonder what that person is eating, lol.)
August 30, 2017 @ 12:58 pm
I have a range hood and hate it so I do not use it. We live in the South so when possible we cook anything that would need frying or leave an odor on the grill. We sautƩed shrimp kabobs with veggies last night. No smell inside. Quick cleanup. Beautiful kitchen.
September 8, 2017 @ 10:28 am
I love this post. I just found it while googling “do you need a vent over an electric stove”. I honestly didn’t even know you didn’t have to have one, but I love the idea of removing it. I actually have a hood vent, but its old and doesn’t work. I never have any food odor issues. I usually put a lit over pans to reduce splatter. I might just take it out tonight. Thanks, Amy
September 8, 2017 @ 7:50 pm
We are doing our kitchen over and we are NOT putting in a new range hood or havimg a down draft with the slide in stove. The range hood we had for 30 + years was not vented but had filters that we were to replace. I NEVER used it. Never any problems. Go with what you like and do not let the internet intimidate you.
September 8, 2017 @ 7:54 pm
We are doing our kitchen over and we are NOT putting in a new range hood or havimg a down draft with the slide in stove. The range hood we had for 30 + years was not vented but had filters that we were to replace. I NEVER used it. Never any problems. Go with what you like and do not let the internet intimidate you.
September 18, 2017 @ 10:22 pm
I LOVE reading your posts. You are so funny-and so talented!
September 27, 2017 @ 4:44 pm
Just going through remodel ourselves, and have decided on no vent! We shall see, but we hardly use the one we have now and my range is on an island with a beautiful view.
March 10, 2018 @ 9:33 pm
We had an over the range microwave and my wife hated it, and had me remove it. She never used the fan. She does not want a range hood because it sticks out past the cabinets. I am thinking about mounting a 12ā by 30ā sheet of 1/4ā thick stainless steel on the bottom of the cabinet to make it a little easier to clean and because of fire concerns.
March 15, 2018 @ 3:16 am
Your awesome. I think we could be friends. Xx
March 28, 2018 @ 2:32 pm
Just found your blog and couldn’t stop laughing. I totally hate range hoods, and have used mine about once a year. I’m going to have it removed! Thanks for the beautiful hood-less examples and the fun read.
April 5, 2018 @ 3:31 pm
Love this blog. I have a 48″ dual fuel range with NO range hood. Our home doesn’t smell and our kitchen isn’t covered in grease. If I need to vent any cooking aromas I open a window. That’s what windows are for. Stick to your guns. Just say no to that ugly range hood.
April 9, 2018 @ 7:49 pm
Why can’t all blogs be so delightfully sensible? I have cooked almost every day for 10 years in my kitchen without a range hood. EE GAD! Doing a remodel and took down my upper cabinets today which were too close to the ceiling to get in the nooks and crannies for cleaning. Mild greasy dust only above the cabinets on either side of my stove. Barely anything. I’m thinking some of these people don’t clean often perhaps. I came across this article because of course with the remodel, the question of the range hood comes into question and I, like the author abhor the obstruction while cooking. So thank you! Thank you very, very much. I feel validated and will continue to live an unobstructed life while enjoying my new kitchen! xoxo
April 12, 2018 @ 8:05 pm
BAHAHA! I LOVE this post! Iāve been so torn about whether or not to put a damn hood in my little cabin kitchen. My rich mother in law thinks itās more than necessary, my modest mother says she uses hers daily, but…Iāve never had one and I think it would take over my small-ish kitchen. Still torn, but this sure helps me feel a whole lot better about that perfect wall light I found as an alternative ;0)
May 12, 2018 @ 10:51 am
Good for you!!! I have been stressing about this with my remodel and have not had a hood fan for two years. My kitchen is fine, my house does not stink, and tbe walls are fine, even the ceiling, (which if I had to can wipe down). You still have to clean the hood fan and change out the filters. If you cook something stinky open a window and run your ceiling or ventilation fan, it really has not been a problem. My mom never had one, neither did grandma and they cooked, did preserves, stc all tge time!
May 22, 2018 @ 7:18 am
Oh my goodness! I so love this! It made me laugh so hard, because itās so like I feel about the comments people have on the internet AND because I too donāt give a daāabout a hood! I came because my husband is in that category of people who think itās necessary to have one and Iām trying to convince him otherwise! Lol šJust know this, for as many idiots there are out there who hate you because of your design choices (lolš) there as many (if not more) who are rising up with you against this tyranny! Iām so happy because I have found the courage to also go against the massive crowds and go without (dare I say it?) a VENT HOOD! Bring it on people!
May 22, 2018 @ 2:17 pm
My house had the circa 92 cooktop in the island with direct downdraft to the crawl space. I wanted a smooth surface island- so I put a slide in all in one oven/range where the wall oven was. So I have no vent hood. There isnāt grease all over because I donāt use grease for cooking- occasionally there is a need to vent- I open the window & doors. I also think the giant hoods are ridiculous & unnecessary. Oh well… Chocolate & Vanilla… which reminds me- Haagen Dazs Wjite Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Ice Cream in the freezer…. mmmmmm
May 28, 2018 @ 10:13 am
I have a hood that vents to the outside. I like that it has a variable speed exhaust fans that are quiet, a cleanable filter, good light, and that its mounted higher than most so I don’t feel claustrophobic in front of the stove.
Have a hood or don’t, it’s entirely up to you.
There are 2 reasons I want one. First of all, it prevents the whole house from smelling like whatever you’re cooking at the time you’re cooking it and then lingering for days. The second reason is closely related to the first. It keeps your kitchen and house cleaner and fresher smelling in general. it keeps the steam and contents of that steam, including grease, from layering itself on the walls and ceilings and light fixtures, and everything else. Ugh.
I do actually cook in my kitchen. Though its part of a larger space and I don’t like it to *look* utilitarian and antiseptic, it’s not just there to look pretty. It must be practical and functional. Such is the nature of a kitchen. For me.
May 28, 2018 @ 12:24 pm
We just did our kitchen ourselves we had two downdraft that did absolutely nothing to suck put any polluted air so when we took them out well we just left it without anything we have a whole house fan in the hallway that has the power to suck and filter the whole house in 30 seconds. I am glad we opted out of a ugly vent Hood it looks souch better!!