#Top Range hoods

Stylish yet practical

Over-the-range hoods have become as stylish as they are practical. Most now offer the commercial look of stainless steel--and you needn't pay a pro-style price to get a pro-style hood.

Range hoods vs. OTR microwaves

Here's what to consider

Vented or duct-free? We do not recommend a ductless hood as it will take the smoke and odors and disperse them throughout the kitchen and the rest of the house. Venting the hood to the outside is better, but more complicated to install.

Choose the right type. Undercabinet hoods mount to the bottom of a wall cabinet. If the hood is on an exterior wall, ductwork can be routed up through the cabinet and then outside, or for some models, directly through the back of the hood. Otherwise ductwork must be routed through the cabinet to a chase, soffit or ceiling.

Wall chimney hoods can work where there are no cabinets and mount with exposed vent stacks on the wall. Island hoods, which also work above a peninsula, are mounted to and vented through ductwork in the ceiling. These lack a wall of cabinets alongside them to help funnel fumes, so consider one that is at least six inches wider than the cooktop.

Don't down size. This is one time when bigger often is better. Any hood you consider should be at least as wide as the cooking surface it will be installed above. And avoid downdraft hoods, which have been unimpressive in our past tests.

CFM isn't everything. Manufacturer airflow claims tout cubic feet per minute (CFM) of air exhausted. More airflow does mean faster venting but doesn't guarantee better smoke capture and removal.