Best Downdraft Gas Cooktops

Some people enjoy the smell of food cooking, with the appetizing smell wafting through the house. But, if you’re cooking or fryinga lot at once, the fumes and the steam can get a bit intense. You want to get rid of grease, fumes, and carbon monoxide that builds up when cooking on gas. Also, over time, the residue from the cooking adheres to the kitchen cabinets, making cleanup more difficult. There are overhead hoods supplied with fans that suck the cooking fumes up and away, and they are quite efficient--but they take up quite a bit of space in the kitchen. A downdraft cooktop is an effective alternative, that can be installed in electric, gas, and induction ranges, and take up a minimum of space.

Downdraft gas cooktops have an exhaust fan that either lifts automatically out of the back of the range at the press of a button or is installed into the range top, behind or to the side of the burners. You can use it when cooking, setting the fan speed depending on the amount of cooking you’re doing. When you’re finished, simply turn off the fan, or lower it back behind the range. The results are both efficient and elegant. And the downdraft cooktop doesn’t require a lot of maintenance.

We’ve composed this buyer’s guide to help you make the right decision when selecting a downdraft gas cooktop. It'll help you:

• Choose the right type of downdraft gas cooktop,

• See useful tips about that type of downdraft gas cooktop,

• Read reviews of different downdraft gas cooktop, and what customers are saying,

• Select the right brand of downdraft gas cooktop, and

• Compare prices and find the best deals.

• Telescopic downdraft vent--This design retracts into a cabinet when you’re not cooking. There are downdraft cooktops that descend into the counter at the press of a button. You can find models suitable for a traditional gas or electric cooktop, behind a free-standing or slide-in range, with a drop-in range top, and even with a built-in oven. The General Electric Telescoping Gas Downdraft Cooktop employs such a design.

• Built-in downdraft vent--This has the ventilation system in the range’s cooking surface. You have two options of what to do with the exhaust. You can remove the smoke, steam, and odors and send it outside the house. Another option is to purchase and install a duct-free conversion kit. This will filter the air and recirculate the clean air inside the house. An example is the KitchenAid 36” 5-Burner Gas Downdraft Cooktop.

• Down-side of a downdraft cooktop: In some models where the vent is built into the range top, that will come at the expense of another (fifth) burner. Some ranges put the fifth burner on the side, as in the KitchenAid Gas Cooktop (Model No. KCGD506GSS), but some models will simply suffice with only 4 burners.

• Filter cleaning and replacement: The downdraft cooktop has a filter that must be cleaned periodically--preferably once every 6-12 months. You clean it by washing it in soapy water, and then again in clean water. Let it dry, and reinsert it. Some manufacturers recommend replacing the filter after 5 washings. Note: Do not use the downdraft feature without a filter in place!

• Installation: When dealing with a gas cooktop, there is always the danger of escaping gas, or carbon monoxide produced as a by-product. That makes a good exhaust system to be essential. The installation of the exhaust system and filter should be done by a professional. In fact, there are some states in the US that require the installation to be done by a licensed professional plumber or gas fitter.

• Exhaust rating: Downdraft gas cooktops will differ in the strength and efficiency of their exhaust fan. You will see exhaust fans rated by how much air they can suck in. For example, the KitchenAid gas downdraft cooktop has a 300 CFM exhaust rating. “CFM” stands for “Cubic feet per minute”, telling you what volume of air the fan sucks in every minute. The higher the number, the more powerful the fan. 300 CFM should be able to remove the fumes from searing and stir-frying. But the Kenmore Elite 30” Gas Downdraft Range has a maximum rating of 525 CFM!

• Exhaust installation: Some downdraft gas cooktops have an exhaust pipe running in the cabinet underneath the range. For best results, make sure that the exhaust piping is hard and straight. That ensures that the exhaust gets sucked out efficiently. It will result in an exhaust fan that runs more quietly as well.

• When to lower the fan speed: Many manufacturers make fans that work at three strengths: High, Medium, and Low. If you notice that the burners are being affected by the strength of the fan, simply run the fan at a lower strength. Many customers see that the burner flames are affected only when the fan is on High.

• Keep out cold air during winter months: If you have the exhaust directed out of the house, this might let cold air from the outside seep in during the winter months. In that case, an anti-backdraft damper can be installed in the exhaust vent. That will keep the cold air from blowing into your house.

• Frigidaire--was founded in 1918 by William C. Durant, as makers of the first refrigerators. They later expanded their product line to include all major types of home appliances: air conditioners, ovens, dishwashers, and washing machines.

• Bosch--is a German home goods producer, founded by Robert Bosch in 1886. Today the company is an international conglomerate, that produces a wide range of automotive parts, power tools, home appliances, and more.

• Kenmore--was founded in 1913 in Chicago, Illinois, as a brand of household appliances, such as refrigerators, washers and dryers, ovens, ranges, cooktops, vacuums, air purifiers, and much more. They are a subsidiary of Sears Holdings.

• General Electric—is a conglomerate corporation that markets a wide number of products in the fields of energy, electronics, lighting, locomotives, water technology and more. They were founded in 1892 by Thomas Edison in Schenectady, New York, but presently have their headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts. They make a wide range of ovens, ranges, cooktops, and other cooking appliances.

• KitchenAid--was founded in 1919 as a maker of home appliances, starting with the food mixer. They presently make cooktops, wall ovens, refrigerators, dishwashers, grills, water filters, as well as countertop appliances such as toasters, mixers, juicers, and food processors.