Kinds of Chinese kitchen hoods
A Chinese kitchen hood, also known as a range hood or kitchen hood, is an essential appliance for Chinese kitchens. It helps remove smoke, steam, odors, and airborne particles generated during cooking. These hoods come in various types, each designed to meet specific cooking needs and preferences.
- Wall-Mounted Chimney Hoods: Wall-mounted chimney hoods are popular in Chinese kitchens. These hoods are mounted directly on the wall above the cooking position. They feature a wide extraction chimney that effectively captures cooking emissions. Wall-mounted chimney hoods are available in different sizes, designs, and suction power levels to accommodate various cooking styles and requirements.
- Island Hoods: Chinese kitchens with cooking islands often use island hoods. These hoods are suspended above the cooking island and provide efficient ventilation. Island hoods come in various designs, such as chimney-style, canopy-style, and professional-grade models. They offer powerful suction to remove smoke and steam from the cooking area.
- Under-Cabinet Hoods: Under-cabinet hoods are suitable for Chinese kitchens with limited space. These hoods are conveniently installed beneath kitchen cabinets, providing effective ventilation without occupying extra space. Under-cabinet hoods are compact and come in various sizes and suction power levels to meet different cooking requirements.
- Downdraft Ventilation Hoods: Downdraft ventilation hoods are innovative solutions for Chinese kitchens. Unlike traditional hoods, these hoods are installed beside or behind the cooking surface. Downdraft hoods feature retractable vents that rise when in use and retract when not needed. They offer efficient ventilation, making them ideal for kitchens with space constraints or aesthetic preferences.
- Hybrid Hoods: Hybrid hoods combine the features of chimney hoods and downdraft hoods. These versatile hoods can be installed in various configurations and provide efficient ventilation. Hybrid hoods often come with advanced features such as multiple extraction modes, auto-retractable vents, and high suction power levels.
- Professional-Grade Hoods: Professional-grade hoods are designed for serious home cooks and offer powerful ventilation similar to commercial kitchen hoods. These hoods feature heavy-duty construction, high suction power, and multiple venting options. Professional-grade hoods are ideal for Chinese kitchens that involve intense cooking methods such as wok cooking, grilling, and frying.
Function and features of Chinese kitchen hood
A Chinese kitchen extractor hood can handle high oil and smoke volume from intense cooking. Different types of Chinese hoods offer various features:
- Powerful ventilation: Chinese hoods have stronger ventilation than regular kitchen hoods. Powerful motors using large CFM (>600 CFM) can quickly eliminate smoke and odors.
- Multiple fan speeds: Adjustable fan speed helps customize ventilation. Users can increase fan speed for heavy cooking and decrease it for normal cooking.
- Closed design: Many Chinese hoods have a closed design that extends downward. The canopy captures smoke and air above the stove for efficient ventilation.
- Messy kitchen: Chinese cooking often involves intricate food preparation and cooking processes. Woks tend to splatter oil, creating a mess in the kitchen. The Chinese kitchen hood effectively manages the fumes, odors, and grease generated during cooking, making it easier to maintain a cleaner and more pleasant cooking environment.
- Energy efficiency: Many Chinese hoods have energy-efficient motors and LED lights for energy-saving.
- Grease filtration: Chinese hoods use mesh or baffle filters to trap grease. Filters are easy to clean and maintain.
- Integrated lighting: Built-in LED lights illuminate the cooktop for better visibility while cooking.
Scenarios
Hoods for Chinese kitchens are popular because they are powerful. These range hoods can help get rid of all the smells and steam when cooking. They are suited for many cooking environments: professional settings, homes, and international kitchens.
-
Restaurants (especially Asian restaurants)
For kitchens in restaurants that use a lot of Chinese wok cooking, powerful hoods are a must. The ventilators can handle removing all the smoke and heat that builds up due to cooking for many customers.
-
Homes
Hoods are required over stoves to help meet air-quality and building codes. Many homeowners choose more powerful ventilators if they frequently cook using methods that produce a lot of smoke or odors.
-
Commercial kitchens
Kitchens in establishments like catering companies or culinary schools also need range hoods. The hoods help create a comfortable environment by removing smoke, heat, and odors.
-
Wok stations
In some Asian countries, outdoor hawker centers and restaurants use open-air cooking with woks. Powerful hoods are needed to recirculate air and remove smoke, especially in enclosed spaces.
-
Integrated systems
Some Chinese kitchens use cooktops with built-in hoods for convenience. The hoods need to be strong enough to vent smoke and odors from cooking directly at the source.
-
Multi-zone kitchens
Establishments that use multiple cooking stations (like grilling, frying, steaming, etc.) require separate range hoods over each zone. Each hood is tailored to the respective cooking methods' ventilation needs.
-
Spaced kitchens
Kitchens that are large and spread out require more powerful hoods to ensure proper ventilation for all cooking areas. The hoods work together to remove smoke and odors from various zones.
How to Choose Chinese Kitchen Hoods
When choosing a commercial Chinese kitchen hood or an exhaust hood kitchen for home use, there are a few important factors to keep in mind.
- Size: One of the most critical aspects is the size of the hood, which must match the size of the cooking range. Custom kitchen hoods are available in various sizes, including 48-inch kitchen hoods, 60-inch kitchen hoods, and 72-inch kitchen hoods. Selecting a range hood that fits the cooktop with a distance of about 3 to 6 inches is advisable.
- CFM: Kitchen hoods are rated according to their CFM, and the higher the CFM, the more powerful the kitchen hood is. The CFM required depends on the type of cooking and the size of the burners. For instance, a Chinese restaurant range hood with a CFM above 1000 is suitable for heavy-duty cooking, while one with a CFM below 500 is ideal for light cooking.
- Type: There are different types of range hoods, such as under-cabinet hoods, wall-mounted hoods, island hoods, and custom hoods, among others. If a cooking range is installed in an island or peninsula, an island or peninsula hood, respectively, would be best.
- Material: The material of the range hood is essential because it should be durable and easy to clean. Go for a kitchen chimney in a stainless-steel hood, as it is resistant to rust, stains, and corrosion.
- Design: The design of a range hood can elevate the elegance of the kitchen. Chinese range hoods come in various designs, such as cuisinart kitchen hoods, wall-mounted European range hoods, or hoods with intricate Chinese motifs.
Chinese kitchen hood FAQs
Q1: Are Chinese kitchen hoods different from regular hoods?
A1: Yes, they are different. Chinese kitchen hoods have more powerful exhaust systems. They handle higher volumes of cooking grease and steam. They also have robust filtration systems compared to regular hoods.
Q2: How to maintain a Chinese kitchen hood?
A2: Regular cleaning is the key to maintaining a Chinese kitchen hood. Clean the grease filter frequently and wipe down the surfaces. Also, consider professional maintenance service for complex parts and internal components.
Q3: Can one install a Chinese kitchen hood in any kitchen?
A3: Yes, one can install a Chinese kitchen hood in any kitchen. However, ensure it meets the kitchen's ventilation requirements. Check the compatibility with the cooking appliances and space.
Q4: Do Chinese kitchen hoods have heating lamps?
A4: Some models have heating lamps. The heating lamps give out soft and gentle light. They create a warm and comfortable ambiance in the kitchen.
Q5: How to choose a Chinese kitchen hood?
A5: First, assess the kitchen's ventilation needs. Then check the hood's suction power and filtering options. Also, choose a hood with features that match users' cooking habits.
