Hob with Integrated Extractor: How It Works and Which to Choose

A hob with an integrated extractor is a hob (almost always induction) with the cooker hood built right into the cooking surface, usually in the middle, between the cooking zones. Steam and odours are drawn downwards, straight from pan level, instead of rising towards an overhead hood. It's an excellent solution for open-plan kitchens and islands, where a classic cooker hood would be hard to install or would weigh the space down visually. It does have its limits, which we explain below, so you can decide whether it's right for you.

Space and design matter more and more in the modern kitchen. A growing number of people are choosing a hob with an integrated extractor for an airy, clean and well-organised room: it does two jobs at once, cooking and extracting steam, and does away with the traditional overhead cooker hood. The kitchen feels more open, with no chimney hood and no visible units above the hob.

How a hob with an integrated extractor works

The extractor is built directly into the hob, either in the centre of the surface or between the cooking zones. A fan fitted beneath the hob draws steam and odours from just above the pans, before they can spread through the kitchen. The air first passes through a grease filter, which on many models can be washed in the dishwasher. On most models, any liquid accidentally spilled into the extraction vent collects in a separate container that is easy to empty.

Ducted or recirculating?

There are two installation options:

• Ducted to the outside – the air is carried outdoors through a duct running through the kitchen units, just as with a traditional cooker hood. This is the most efficient option, but it needs a route to an external wall; the shorter the duct and the fewer bends it has, the better it works.
• Recirculating – the air passes through activated charcoal filters and returns to the room cleaned. It's simpler to install, especially in apartments and small kitchens, but the filters need to be cleaned or replaced regularly.

Hobs with integrated extractors: opinions, pros and cons

People searching for "hob with integrated extractor reviews" really want to know whether it's worth it. The honest answer: it is, if design and freedom of layout matter a lot to you, and if you mostly cook with pans and pots of ordinary height.

Advantages

• Minimalist design – ideal for a kitchen with an island or one open to the living room.
• Space gained – you no longer need room above the hob for a cooker hood, so you can fit wall cabinets or open shelves, or simply leave the wall clear.
• Extraction at source – steam is captured right at pan level, before it rises towards your face.
• Easy cleaning – the surface is smooth glass and the filters come out easily.
• Modern features – many models offer touch controls, a timer, flexible cooking zones and automatic extraction start-up.

Disadvantages

• Tall pots are a challenge – steam naturally rises, and the extractor has to pull it downwards. With tall pots, capture is weaker than with an overhead hood.
• It takes up space in the unit below the hob – the motor and ducting use part of the drawer underneath; check the installation drawing for the model you choose.
• A higher price than an ordinary hob and cooker hood bought separately.
• Fewer models – the range is dominated by induction hobs; gas versions are rare.

Hob with integrated extractor, or separate hob and cooker hood?

Criterion	Hob with integrated extractor	Pop-up downdraft hood (rises from the worktop)	Classic wall or island cooker hood
Look	Completely hidden, everything in a single appliance	Hidden when not in use	Visible, can become a decorative feature
Steam capture with tall pots	Weaker	Better than a hob with integrated extractor, especially on the rear zones	The best, as steam rises towards it
Space taken up	In the unit below the hob	In the unit below the worktop, behind the hob	On the wall or ceiling
Suitable for an island	Very	Yes	Only with an island hood suspended from the ceiling
Freedom to choose the hob	The hob comes with the extractor; you don't choose them separately	You choose the hob separately	You choose the hob separately

If you'd also like to compare the option of a hood that rises from the worktop, read our guide to the hidden cooker hood that rises from the worktop.

Which models to consider

The market offers hobs with integrated extractors from brands such as Bosch, Miele, AEG and Franke. Most are induction, and induction is also the fastest and most energy-efficient type of hob, because it heats the pan directly. Some models have flexible cooking zones, a timer, touch controls and automatic adjustment of the extraction power according to how much steam is being produced.

If you prefer separate appliances, you can pair an induction hob with a cooker hood chosen to suit the style of your kitchen. In our built-in hobs collection you'll find 60–80 cm induction hobs with 3 to 8 cooking zones.

For the cooker hood, our kitchen cooker hoods collection includes both decorative wall-mounted hoods and hoods built into the wall cabinet, which remain almost invisible.

Useful tips before you buy

• Check the dimensions of the worktop and the unit below before ordering: the worktop cut-out and the clear depth beneath the hob vary from model to model.
• Choose a model with easy-to-clean filters, ideally dishwasher-safe.
• In small kitchens, the recirculating version is usually simpler to install; factor in the cost of the charcoal filters.
• Check the power supply: an induction hob needs a circuit rated for its power, installed by a qualified electrician.
• Think about the cookware you use: induction only works with pans that have a ferromagnetic base (one a magnet will stick to).

Frequently asked questions

Is a hob with an integrated extractor worth it?

Yes, if you want a kitchen with no visible cooker hood, especially one with an island or open to the living room. If you often cook in very tall pots, a classic hood above the hob captures steam better.

What is a hob-integrated extractor?

It's an extractor built into the surface of the hob that draws steam downwards, through the centre or the edge of the hob, instead of from above.

Does a hob with an integrated extractor need a duct?

Not necessarily. It can work ducted to the outside, via a duct run through the units, or in recirculation mode, with activated charcoal filters that clean the air and return it to the room.

Is there still room for a drawer under a hob with an integrated extractor?

In most cases, yes, but the motor and ducting take up part of the unit beneath the hob, so the drawer may be shallower. Check the model's installation drawing.

Which is better: an extractor built into the hob, or a hood next to the hob that rises from the worktop?

A hob with an integrated extractor is more compact and completely hidden. A hood that rises from the worktop sits higher and captures steam from the rear zones slightly better, and you can choose the hob separately.

A hob with an integrated extractor can make your kitchen feel more open and easier to lay out. Prices vary widely, so it's worth comparing features, installation type and the space you need below the worktop before you choose.