Hidden Pop-Up Cooker Hoods That Rise from the Worktop: How They Work

A hidden cooker hood is one you cannot see when you are not cooking. The best-known version is the hood that rises from the worktop (also called a telescopic or "downdraft" hood): it sits recessed in the worktop behind the hob, rises at the touch of a button when you start cooking and drops back down, flush with the worktop, when you have finished. Other types of hidden hood include the hood built directly into the hob and the integrated hood fitted inside the wall cabinet above the hob. Below you will find how each one works, who it suits and what to watch out for.

In modern kitchens, minimalist design and practicality go hand in hand. A hidden cooker hood combines the two: it keeps the kitchen visually clean, with no chimney hood, and clears away steam and smells when you need it to.

What is a hood that rises from the worktop?

A retractable cooker hood of the downdraft type is built into the worktop and only becomes visible when in use. When it is switched on, the extraction panel rises above the worktop, draws in steam and smells right from behind the pans, then lowers again and leaves the worktop clear. The motor, filters and ducting stay hidden in the base unit below the worktop.

These hoods are usually the same width as the hob they sit beside, 60 or 90 cm, with touch controls, several speed settings and LED lighting. Just like a conventional hood, they can work in extraction mode, venting outside, or in recirculation mode, through activated charcoal filters.

Types of hidden cooker hood

The hood that rises from the worktop (telescopic)

It is fitted behind the hob, in a cut-out in the worktop. Its advantage is that you can choose the hob separately, gas or induction, as you prefer.

The hood built into the hob

Here the hood is part of the hob and draws steam down through its centre. It is the most compact option; we have written about it in detail in our guide to hobs with integrated extractors.

The integrated hood in the wall cabinet

If you have cabinets above the hob, an integrated hood is fitted inside the wall unit, leaving only a slim strip on show. It is the most affordable form of hidden hood and works beautifully in a concealed kitchen, that is, a kitchen closed off behind cabinet doors which, from the living room, looks like a wall of furniture.

The advantages of a retractable hood

• Elegant, discreet design – perfect for kitchens that open onto the living room or for minimalist kitchens, where you want a seamless look with no extra visible elements.
• Extraction close to the pans – steam is captured at pan level, before it spreads through the room.
• Freedom in the layout – it works where a conventional hood cannot be fitted: on an island, under a window or beneath a sloping ceiling.
• Modern technology – most models have metal grease filters that are easy to wash, LED lighting and touch controls.

Drawbacks to bear in mind

• Steam naturally rises, so a worktop hood has to pull it sideways and downwards. With tall pots and on the front zones of the hob, it captures less than a hood mounted above.
• It takes up space under the worktop – the motor and ducting use part of the unit below the hob, so the drawers may be shorter.
• More demanding installation – the worktop cut-out and the duct route need to be planned from the kitchen design stage.
• A higher price than a conventional hood with similar performance.

Worktop hood or conventional hood: a comparison

Criterion	Hood that rises from the worktop	Conventional wall or island hood	Integrated hood in the wall cabinet
Visibility	Hidden when not in use	Always visible	Almost invisible
Steam capture	Good on the rear zones, weaker with tall pots	The best, as steam rises towards it	Good, if fitted at the height recommended by the manufacturer
Where it is fitted	In the worktop, behind the hob	On the wall or ceiling	In the cabinet above the hob
Suitable for an island	Yes	Only the island version, fixed to the ceiling	No
Space taken up	In the unit below the worktop	Above the hob	Part of the wall cabinet
Installation	Planned together with the worktop	Simple	Simple, together with the furniture

Extraction or recirculation?

Like any cooker hood, a hidden one can work in two ways. In extraction mode, the air is carried outside through a duct, which gives the best efficiency; the route should be as short as possible, with as few bends as possible. In recirculation mode, the air passes through activated charcoal filters and returns to the room; installation is simpler, but the charcoal filters need to be replaced or regenerated periodically, following the manufacturer's instructions.

Where a hidden hood works best

A hood that rises from the worktop is ideal for kitchen islands, where a traditional suspended hood cannot be installed, and for kitchens open to the living room, where you do not want the hob to draw the eye. It blends perfectly into modern and minimalist kitchens, where a clean, uncluttered look is the goal.

If you often cook in large pots, for soups or preserves, and you have wall space, a conventional hood is still the most efficient. In our collection of cooker hoods you will find both decorative and integrated hoods.

Tips before you choose

• Choose the hood together with the hob and worktop. The width of a worktop hood must match that of the hob, and the cut-out is made when the worktop is fitted. Take a look at the built-in hobs available too.
• Check the airflow (m³/h) against the size of your kitchen and how often you cook.
• Look at the noise level stated by the manufacturer, especially in kitchens open to the living room.
• Ask for the installation drawing and check how much space is left free in the unit below the worktop.

Frequently asked questions

What is a hidden cooker hood?

It is a hood you cannot see when it is not in use: a hood that rises from the worktop, a hood built into the hob or an integrated hood in the cabinet above the hob.

How does a hood that rises from the worktop work?

It sits recessed in the worktop, behind the hob. When switched on it rises and draws in steam right from behind the pans, and when you have finished it lowers back down, flush with the worktop.

Is a worktop hood effective?

Yes, for everyday cooking in frying pans and medium-height pots. With very tall pots and on the front zones of the hob, a hood mounted above captures steam better, because steam naturally rises.

Can a worktop hood be fitted on an island?

Yes, the island is where a hood that rises from the worktop is most often chosen, because you no longer need a hood fixed to the ceiling.

Which hood should I choose for a kitchen concealed behind cabinets?

The simplest option is an integrated hood in the wall unit above the hob: it closes away with the cabinets and leaves only a narrow strip on show.

If you want an elegant, modern kitchen, a hidden cooker hood is an excellent choice. As well as looking discreet, it clears away steam and smells and makes cooking more pleasant, especially in an open-plan space.