Do you want to find the best stainless steel range hood?
Stainless steel range hoods are highly durable and resistant to rust.
In this product review, I will go over...
- My #1 top pick for the best stainless steel range hood
- Tips on choosing the width
- How to pick the right CFM
Let's get started with this guide!
Image | Product | |||
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Top Pick | Top Pick | Cosmo COS-QS75
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| View on Amazon |
Cosmo 5MU30
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| View on Amazon | ||
Best Budget | Best Budget | Broan-NuTone 403004
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| View on Amazon |
Ciarra Wall Mount
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| View on Amazon | ||
Best Look | Best Look | Cosmo Island
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| View on Amazon |
My Overall #1 Rated Pick
- Stainless steel
- Digital touch screen
- Remote control
- 1.5-watt LED lighting
- Four fan speeds
- Twin centrifugal motors
My overall top pick for the best stainless steel range hood goes to the Cosmo COS-QS75. This premium range hood is made out of durable stainless steel for a contemporary look. It also has modern controls with a backlit digital touchscreen and a remote. The steel baffle filters will capture grease and look great. This range hood has four fan speeds with powerful twin centrifugal motors.
Top 5 Best Stainless Steel Range Hoods
Short on time? Check out our top 5 stainless steel range hoods! Keep reading for our full reviews and the buyer's guide.
Introduction
Stainless steel range hoods are a great option for homeowners, and it is far less susceptible to rust than other metals. These steel vent hoods are highly durable and will resist rust, corrosion, and even bacteria. If you want your range hood to stand the test of time, then stainless steel is the way to go.
The secret ingredient of stainless steel that makes it so resistant to corrosion is the addition of nickel and chromium. These elements bind to the iron atoms and keep them from oxidizing.
Stainless steel range hoods also look great. If you want that sleek and contemporary look, stainless steel is the go to option.
Read Also: What Are The Best Under Cabinet Range Hoods?
How To Choose The Width of a Stainless Steel Vent Hood?
In choosing a stainless steel range hood, probably the most important characteristic is the width. The most common sizes for range hoods are the 30-inch and 36-inch.
You want to choose a range hood that is at least as wide as your range or cooktop. If your range is slightly wider than your range, that is even better.
Probably the worst thing a homeowner can do is buy an undersized range hood that doesn't cover all of your cooking area. An undersized hood won't capture all of the smoke and grease that is spewed into the air. The right size range hood is important for good indoor air quality.
Read Also: How To Install a ZLINE Range Hood?
How To Size A Stainless Steel Range Hood in CFM?
Another very important aspect of choosing a stainless steel range hood is the CFM or fan speed.
The airflow rate of the range hood is measured in CFM which stands for cubic feet per minute. It is a measurement of how powerful the range hood is at venting. Most range hoods are rated between around 200-cfm to 500-cfm.
The Home Ventilating Institute (an industry non-profit) recommends having 100-cfm per linear foot of range if it is installed on a wall. So if your range or cooktop is three feet wide, then a 300-cfm wall-mounted range hood would be ideal.
If your range hood is on an island, the Home Ventilating Institute recommends 150-cfm per linear foot.
Read Also: What Are The Quietest Range Hoods?
What Stainless Steel Range Hood Types Exist?
Here are a few of the most common types of stainless steel range hoods....
Under Cabinet
The most common type of stainless steel range hood is the under cabinet type.
This range hood is installed underneath a kitchen cabinet and directly above your range. It is usually screwed into the underside of the cabinet, but it can also be directly secured to the wall studs. I invite you to read my top picks of the best under cabinet kitchen hoods here.
Wall Mount
The 'chimney style' wall mount stainless steel range hood is very popular as well.
These range hoods are installed on the wall above the range, but only when there isn't an upper cabinet in the way. These vent hoods have a 'chimney' or vent pipe that extends upwards from the range hood, and it sometimes goes all the way up to the ceiling.
Island
Stainless steel island range hoods can give any kitchen a really nice look. You can read my review of the best island range hoods right here.
These kitchen hoods are similar to wall mount range hoods in that they have a 'chimney' that goes all the way up to the ceiling. Island range hoods are installed on a kitchen island, and they are fastened directly into the ceiling using a bracket.
Read Also: Do Range Hoods Have To Be Vented Outside?
What Is The Best Stainless Steel Range Hood?
Here are my full review of the top rated stainless steel kitchen vent hoods together with their pros and cons. Check it out below...
The Cosmo COS-QS75 is a premium range hood that is made out of stainless steel. This exhaust hood is rated at 500-cfm and is suitable for medium to large kitchens.
This Cosmo hood has a backlit digital touchscreen as well as a remote for enhanced controls. The stainless steel Arc-Flo baffle filters effectively trap grease and oil. The baffle filters are also dishwasher friendly.
This Cosmo vent hood has four fan speeds and it features powerful twin centrifugal motors. It also includes energy efficient 1.5-watt LED lighting.
Pros
Cons
The Cosmo 5MU30 is a high quality 30-inch under cabinet range hood that is made of stainless steel. The main benefit of the 5MU30 is that it has a space-saving design which is great for small or moderate sized kitchens. This range hood is rated at a max of 56-decibels which is pretty quiet.
It features energy efficient LED lighting for extra cooktop illumination. The fan motor comes with three speed levels and it has push button controls. The two aluminum mesh filters will capture grease and they are dishwasher safe.
This range hood by Cosmo can be vented either in the rear or the top and it uses a 5-inch duct. It can also be converted to a ductless installation with the addition of a charcoal filter.
Pros
Cons
The Broan-Nutone 403004 is my top pick for the most budget friendly stainless steel range hood on the market, and it is rated at 160-cfm.
This under cabinet range hood includes a 75-watt light with protective light lens for extra cooking illumination (bulb is not included). The 403004 vent hood can be vented either in the rear or top, and it includes two fan speed settings
It is also made to be electrically hardwired, but you can purchase a separate wall plug kit as well. The aluminum mesh grease filter is dishwasher safe which makes it easy to clean.
The 403004 is 30-inches wide and it should be installed at least 18-inches above your range.
Pros
Cons
The Ciarra Wall Mount is a really nice range hood that is made out of stainless steel. The steel is made out of premium 430-grade stainless steel to give you a durable finish and a contemporary look.
This kitchen exhaust hood is rated at 450-cfm which is great for moderate to large kitchens. The motor has three speed settings and it features push button control for easy operation.
This range hood is also pretty quiet and it clocks in at 13-sones on it's highest setting. The Ciarra range hood has energy efficient LED lighting that is only 1.5-watts each.
Pros
Cons
The Cosmo island is a beautiful kitchen range hood that is constructed of stainless steel. This range hood is rated at 380-cfm and is great for small to medium sized kitchens.
It features a curved glass visor for a really nice contemporary look. The noise level is pretty low and clocks in at 65-decibels at hits highest fan setting.
The stainless steel baffle filters will efficiently capture grease and they are dishwasher friendly. This Cosmo island hood includes energy efficient LED lighting that is 2-watts each. It can also be converted to a ductless venting hood with the purchase of an additional filter kit.
Pros
Cons
My #1 Top Pick: Cosmo COS-QS75
My overall top rated pick for the best stainless steel range hood goes to the Cosmo COS-QS75. Here's why...
#1. Stainless Steel
This range hood is made out of highly durable stainless steel that makes this range hood very easy to clean, and it also gives it a contemporary look.
#2. Control Options
This Cosmo stainless steel hood comes with a backlighted digital touchscreen as well as a remote for great control options.
#3. Motor
The COS-QS75 has four fan speeds for flexibility while cooking. It is also very powerful and rated at 500-cfm. The hood features powerful twin centrifugal motors.