How bad is it to cook without a hood?

10 years ago

Our hood had to be sent back and it will be a good 5 weeks (assuming they get the hood when they get the new external blower) before we get one. We're moving in on Saturday (weather permitting). We can do some baking and some cooking on the grill (but only DH really knows how to use the grill and he comes home too late to cook for the kids). We don't have cabinets directly above the stove and we have a window, diagonally across from the stovetop.

How bad is it to use the stovetop without the hood? Can I cook some meats on it once in a while (or do I have to cover it)? Are sauteeing veggies OK since there is less oil splatter? I assume it is fine to boil water and steam, is it?

Thank you!

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Comments (12)

Bruce in Northern Virginia
10 years ago
We are cooking with portable appliances in the basement right now because we are in the middle of a kitchen remodel. We are only using a singe burner countertop hot plate and a microwave, but there is still a lot of cooking smell from some foods.

We found that we need to open the back door and a basement window to ensure there is airflow up the stairs and out of the house while cooking. The cooking works okay if we don't do that, but then the entire basement holds cooking smell for many hours afterwards.

Bruce

We are only using a single burner countertop unit and a microwave, so
schoolhouse_gw
10 years ago
For five weeks I shouldn't think it would be a big worry. I have never had a stove hood but the PO cooked heavily and the cheapo fiberboard and wallpapered ceiling was stained and ugly when I moved in 34yrs.ago. Only a couple years ago was I finally able to remodel and still no hood, but a painted beadboard ceiling. My Mom chides me about potential splatter and stains on the ceiling but so far I have not noticed any. I use the splatter guards, the fine mesh covers over my skillets and such. You could do that for a month or so.

As for smells, yes it is a problem.
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schoolhouse_gw
10 years ago
Splatter guard/screen:
User
10 years ago
A kitchen exhaust is a convenience; no serious or permanent harm will be done by not using one. The splatter guards will probably reduce grease on adjacent surfaces far better than you would have to open a window when food burns even if you were running a hood since the hood is normally struggling to draw in fresh air through cracks.

I used a Vulcan-Hart 6 burner restaurant range with a ceramic broiler/griddle in a townhouse for 10 years without a hood. It just required a bit more cleaning and odors permeated the house but opening a window was amazingly effective and it was usually necessary in order to cool the kitchen. I miss it, but not the spinning gas meter.

I have heard appliance sales people tell buyers that an exhaust hood was required by code but they could never tell me what code they were talking about. One is required for a restaurant but so is a hot water grease extractor and a fire suppression system.
worthy
10 years ago
If you love that ancient cooked cabbage smell permeating every older apartment building I've ever been in, no problem at all.
Fori
10 years ago
It's fine for a while, and I've been hoodless for over 2 years. Many people never turn on the hoods they do have, ya know! MANY!!

It's not a big deal. There are things I don't cook on the stove any more though. No lamb, no fish, no exciting curries....and you do have to watch frying.

But learn to use the grill one weekend. It's silly to have the only grill user be the same person who is too late to cook dinner. That's neither here nor there. It's just sense! :)
annzgw
10 years ago
Well, I'm one that never uses the hood I have, but I'm also one that never cooks fried food. The only drawback I have from not using the hood is I have to wipe down the surface of the hood, and the lights that hang above the island, a little more often.
Can't believe I've been cooking all these years and never realized hoods played a role in removing odors. Guess it's the type of cooking I do but I don't find the cooking odors offensive.

I would say to go ahead and cook anything you want, but try to control any frying splatters and wipe the area around the stove afterward.

This post was edited by annz on Tue, Nov 19, 13 at 12:13
schoolhouse_gw
10 years ago
re: odors - lol annz. Me too. I now see where a hood might help with cooking smells but it really never occurred to me before either. I do fry foods and one of my favorites is fried pot/onions(!). One time when I friend came over unexpectedly I apologized for the smell. She said, "Oh, that is a GOOD smell!".But it will linger awhile and even waft into other rooms. It's just not one of those things that I consider horrible.

Would a hood actually stop grease from hopping out of the skillet? There is still going to be splatter, like others say you just have to be diligent. As for boiling foods, I don't see any problem with steam? I also wondered if everyone is going hungry because Dad can't be home in time to cook.
oldfixer
10 years ago
No hood here.
cookncarpenter
10 years ago
This discussion is going on now in the kitchen forum, lots of interesting and differing responses...

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg1114000229621.html?18

This post was edited by ctycdm on Sat, Nov 23, 13 at 19:27
schoolhouse_gw
10 years ago
Ha, I posted the same advice about the discussion here yesterday on the Kitchen forum. LOL
cblanco75
10 years ago
Never had a hood and I cook a lot. I live in my house, it is not a museum...

How bad is it to cook without a hood?

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Bruce in Northern Virginia

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