As you’ve been designing, building, and outfitting your North Texas outdoor kitchen, you’ve probably come across the term “kitchen hood.” You may be somewhat familiar with this appliance, often found above the stovetop inside your home. But what is a kitchen hood? Why are they necessary? You’ve got one in your indoor kitchen, but do you need one in your open-air cooking space? In this blog post, we’ll answer all those questions and more as we give you the rundown on this common kitchen appliance. Let’s get started! 

What is a kitchen hood?

Kitchen hoods are also known as range hoods, vent hoods, or barbecue hoods. Essentially, they are large fans designed to work in conjunction with cooking appliances that emit heat and smoke. 

Why are vent hoods necessary?

As you cook on your stove or grill, heat, smoke, toxins, grease, and food odors get released into the air. Kitchen hoods help remove these pollutants and keep them from building up in your cooking and eating areas, maintaining good air quality and reducing the likelihood of kitchen fires. 

Are barbecue hoods necessary in outdoor kitchens?

It makes sense why you wouldn’t want these contaminants collecting inside your home, but your backyard cooking space is outside! Shouldn’t there be enough natural ventilation to keep it safe and clean? 

Not necessarily!  

If your outdoor kitchen does not have a solid covering over it, then you don’t need a kitchen hood. However, if you have a roof of any kind shielding your open-air living space, then a kitchen hood is necessary. This is particularly true if there are walls enclosing the area. These structures help keep you and your appliances protected from the elements, but they also form a barrier that makes it more difficult for heat, smoke, and the other by-products of cooking to disperse. 

Why is that such a big deal? 

It may surprise you to learn that there are quite a few reasons:  

1. For starters, DFW is already hot enough, especially in the summertime. Sweating over a hot stove in one hundred degree heat is not only extremely uncomfortable, but it’s also potentially dangerous due to the risk of heat stroke and dehydration. Kitchen hoods help get rid of the excess heat generated by your cooking appliances, keeping you, your family, and your guests cool and comfortable.
   
   
2. Smoke irritates the eyes, throat, and lungs, and its toxins can be a health hazard when inhaled. Moreover, it might be nice to smell like smoke if you’ve been hanging out by a campfire on a crisp fall night, but no one wants to wear that odor as a perfume on a regular basis. Kitchen hoods do away with smoke, helping keep the air in your outdoor living space breathable.
   
   
3. Frying and grilling foods releases grease into the atmosphere. Over time, grease can accumulate on your outdoor kitchen appliances, cabinets, ceilings, and floors, causing damage and discoloration to every surface. Dirt sticks to grease, creating an icky coating that can be challenging to clean and remove.
   
   Bottom line? More grease equals more costs associated with repairs and replacements.
   
   Thankfully, kitchen hoods are designed to trap grease, protecting the rest of your open-air cooking and eating space from harmful and nasty effects.
   
   
4. If you have a gas oven or grill, kitchen hoods provide the added benefit of preventing gas from building up, thus reducing the chances of carbon monoxide poisoning or fire.
   
   
5. And last, but certainly not least, depending on where you live, there may be specific building codes that require you to have a vent hood installed in your outdoor kitchen. If you live in or near DFW and have questions about coding, don’t hesitate to reach out! We can help you ensure that every inch of your outdoor kitchen is up to code! 

Now that you understand what kitchen hoods are and what they do, here is some guidance that will help you select the perfect hood for your open-air cooking space. 

Which type of kitchen hood do you need? 

Barbecue hoods fall into two categories: wall-mounted and island-mounted. Wall-mounted hoods are, you guessed it, mounted on a wall. If your outdoor kitchen has walls and your cooking appliances are against them, this is the way to go. If you’ve already installed, or are planning to install, cabinets above your cooking appliance, there is a special type of wall-mounted hood called an under-cabinet vent hood that may be a good option for you!  

Island-mounted vent hoods are suspended from the ceiling. Since they are free-hanging and don’t require a wall for support, they’re a great choice if your grill or stove is located in the center of your cooking space. 

How big should your kitchen hood be? 

Your kitchen hood needs to be larger than your cooking appliances so that it can effectively remove all the yucky substances that build up. 

A good rule of thumb is to purchase a kitchen hood that is two to six inches wider on either side of your grill or range. The hood should be deeper than the cooking surface as well. 

How powerful does your outdoor kitchen hood need to be? 

The power of a vent hood is measured in cubic feet per minute, or CFM. In simple terms, CFM measures how much air the hood can move in one minute. 

Grills and other external cooking appliances typically emit more smoke, heat, and grease than indoor ovens. Your grill’s heat output is measured in British Thermal Units, or BTUs. You can calculate the exact CFM you’ll need based on your grill’s BTUs, but in general, aim to purchase a vent hood that provides 1,200 to 2,000 CFMs.

What kind of outdoor grill vent hood should you purchase? 

There are so many products on the market, it can be hard to choose the right one! Worthy Outdoors is proud to partner with and install products from Blaze and BBQGuys, suppliers of high-quality outdoor kitchen appliances. Here are some of their top-rated products: 

The twin motors in the Blaze 42-inch Vent Hood generate about 2,000 CFMs, offering above-average smoke removal. With a deeper hood canopy, flexibility for installation, and four LED lights, this vent hood not only performs exceptionally, but also enhances your outdoor living experience by allowing you to see your cooking surfaces more clearly. 

The Coyote 48-inch Stainless Steel Vent Hood boasts an impressive 1,200 CFM blower. It also comes with a Heat Sentry thermostat that automatically regulates the blower speed based on the temperature. Made of stainless steel, this vent hood is built to withstand extreme weather conditions. Plus, it features four commercial-style baffle filters designed to contain grease. And the best part? You can wash the filters in your dishwasher, so it’s a breeze to keep the hood clean! This is a fantastic feature, because range hoods should be cleaned about twice a month at minimum. 

Finally, the Trade-Wind 48-inch Outdoor Vent Hood produces 1,200 CFM and gives you the option to vent exhaust either vertically or horizontally, allowing the hood to fit smoothly into any kitchen layout. Crafted from stainless steel, this durable hood is smooth faced, adding a sleek look to your outdoor cooking space. In addition, it comes equipped with variable halogen lighting, and is pre-wired to make installation easier. 

By now, you should have a clearer understanding of the purpose of kitchen hoods and what makes a good one. If your open-air cooking space is in need of an outdoor vent hood, Worthy Outdoors is happy to help you with planning, selection, and installation. Contact us today, and let’s work together to make your outdoor kitchen safe and clean for years to come!