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Venting hobs have two very important tasks: preparing your food, then removing all evidence of cooking from your kitchen. The best venting hobs to go through our test lab do both brilliantly.
A venting hob is an induction hob with built-in extractor functionality. Also called extractor hobs, air venting hobs, or hobs with venting cooktops, these 2-in-1 appliances do away with a separate cooker hood, giving you a sleeker look, more flexibility on where to install your oven and extraction at cooking level.
Already tempted? Read on for our expert buying advice, including how much you’ll need to spend, and our current Best Buy recommendations.
Go straight to our venting hob reviews for the lowdown on all the models we've tested.
These Best Buy induction hobs with built-in extractors are excellent all-rounders, offering speedy heating, effective venting and easy-to-use controls.
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Last updated August 2024
Not found the venting hob for you? See all of our venting hob reviews.
Electric induction venting hobs are the most common type. They contain an element that reacts with your pan to heat it up, which it typically does more quickly and efficiently than any other type of hob.
These hobs tend to be the most hi-tech, but also the priciest. Venting hobs are almost always induction.
Best non-stick frying pans, Best saucepans – find the best pots and pans for your hob
Gas venting hobs are harder to find, as only a few brands (such as Elica) have a range.
These might tempt you if you’re looking to save some money after the huge outlay; £2,500 is around the top-of-the-range price for one. They’re typically cheaper to run than induction models, since gas is currently cheaper than electricity (though electricity is a better choice if you're trying to be green).
With cast iron pan stands, they have a different, more rustic look than the typically sleek and modern induction venting hobs.
Can't decide between gas and induction? See Gas vs induction: which hob type is right for you?
Both types of venting hobs are different from downdraft extractors. Downdraft extractors are separate to your hob and can be popped up when needed to draw smells, steam and grease away from your kitchen at cooking level. They're much chunkier than the neat integral extractor on a venting hob.
Looking for a cheaper kitchen extraction appliance? See our round up of the best cooker hoods.
See how we test venting hobs to find out how we uncover the best models.
Venting hobs are hobs with a built-in extractor, generally positioned in the centre of the hob. These are designed to capture cooking vapours before they’ve had a chance to waft around your kitchen.
Grease particles get stuck on a metal filter, while water and steam collect in a small condensation unit. Underneath the hob there’s a larger safety tank – with around 700ml to two-litre capacity – for any major mishaps (such as pasta water boiling over, or a sauce explosion on the hob). The motor is designed to handle an accidental splash, so it shouldn’t stop your cooking entirely.
When we tested venting hobs, we found models that can cope with grease, steam and odours, leaving your kitchen fresh as soon as you’re plating up dinner. Others failed in one area though, either leaving you with either sticky surfaces, a damp hob, or the persistent smell of last night’s cooking.
How well your venting hob works may depend on whether you extract or recirculate kitchen vapours.
Getting rid of the air is more likely to work best, although it does depend on how well your duct is installed. If there are gaps in the sealant, or it takes a winding route to the outside, then it won’t be as effective.
If you’ll struggle to install an extractor kit, you might be best off recirculating the air. This option requires some carbon filters to be fitted in the cabinet below the hob. They will need changing every four months or so, and filters are usually less than £10 each.
Even if you’re eyeing up a cheaper model, a venting hob is still going to take a hefty chunk out of your kitchen renovation budget.
Sellers advertise this appliance as a 2-in-1 that saves you from buying a separate hob and cooker hood. While that’s true, it doesn’t mean it will save you any money.
If you were to buy both the most expensive cooker hood and the most expensive hob we’ve tested, you could expect to pay around £3,200 – about the same as a top-of-the-range venting hob.
Buy the cheapest products we’ve tested, though, and it’s a totally different story. With a combined price of around £150, the least expensive cooker hood and hob to go through our test lab come in at around £1,000 cheaper than an entry-level venting hob.
So why do they cost so much money? It might be because they’re still a fairly niche product. Much like a boiling water tap or integrated wine cooler, they’ve become symbolic of a luxury, no-expense-spared kitchen equipped with the latest tech.
As more brands bring out their own new models, we might start to see the price come down slightly, much like with induction hobs, which were pricier when they first became popular.
The main thing to measure for your new venting hob is the width and depth. Make sure it fits the unit or work surface you’d like to place it on, and that no cupboards hang over the hob.
Installing a venting hob means losing a large amount of cupboard space to a motor. If you’re really keen to save as much storage as possible, though, it’s worth asking your kitchen fitter for sink drawers. These wrap around the motor and are a decent compromise if you need all the space you can get in a busy kitchen.
You can't have an oven below, as you need cupboard space directly under the hob for the motor.
The flatter, smoother surface of induction hobs means the daily cleaning up of cooking spills is easy. Designs with joins between surfaces can collect grease and grime and will need extra attention.
The grease filter and drip tray lift out of the hob and can be cleaned by hand (double-check the manual to see if they can go in a dishwasher). This isn’t a job to be done every day, but it’s best to keep on top of it.
The larger overflow collector will need unscrewing and emptying occasionally, too, and the carbon filters will need replacing if you recirculate the air. You may or may not find this easier than cleaning a cooker hood – you’re essentially swapping reaching up on your tiptoes for crouching inside a cupboard.
Some venting hobs are easier to clean than others. Read our venting hob reviews.
Yes, it will. You’ll need either a qualified electrician or a Gas Safe engineer, depending on which type of venting hob you choose.
Check if your retailer covers the installation cost or whether you’ll need to pay extra. If you’re buying one as part of a kitchen makeover, involve the kitchen fitter at an early stage, as they might need to adapt your units to fit.
Head to Which? Trusted Traders if you’re looking for a reputable installer.
If your venting hob stops working, or working as well, we recommend calling in a professional, ideally the manufacturer.
While the warranty period lasts, repairs are likely to be done for free. Standard warranties from the big brands (AEG, Neff, Siemens and others) are two years, but others, such as Elica and Ikea, can go up to five years.