Why You Shouldn’t Turn Off Your Range Hood Right After Cooking
Range hoods are a staple in modern homes, helping to eliminate odors, smoke, and moisture that arise during cooking. However, using them incorrectly can impact their performance and longevity.
Why shouldn’t you turn off your range hood immediately after cooking?
It’s common for people to switch off their range hoods as soon as they’re done cooking, but this habit can be detrimental. This article explains why it’s best to keep your range hood running for a while after you’ve finished cooking.
Why turn it off immediately? (Photo: Crown Asia)
Range hoods work by sucking in air from the cooking area, filtering out dust, grease, odors, and moisture, and then either venting it outside or recirculating clean air. They keep your kitchen air fresh, clean, and free from food smells. Here are some reasons why you shouldn’t turn off your range hood immediately after cooking:
Complete Odor and Moisture Removal
When you cook, not only do food odors fill the air, but moisture and grease particles do too. If you turn off your range hood immediately after cooking, these elements may not be completely eliminated. To ensure your range hood works effectively, let it run for a little longer post-cooking. Usually, 10-15 minutes is enough to thoroughly remove odors and moisture from the air.
Prevent Mold and Bacteria
Excess moisture in the air provides the perfect environment for mold and bacteria to thrive. This not only impacts air quality but can also be harmful to your family’s health.
By keeping your range hood running for a while after cooking, you reduce moisture in the air, inhibiting the growth of mold and bacteria. That’s why it’s best not to turn it off immediately.
Protect Your Appliance
When you turn off your range hood right after cooking, the remaining grease and dust can accumulate over time and damage the appliance. Letting it run a little longer helps clean the internal parts, reducing grease and dust buildup and thus protecting the appliance and extending its lifespan.
Tips for Efficient Range Hood Use
To ensure your range hood functions efficiently and lasts a long time, consider the following tips:
Use the Right Suction Power
Range hoods have different power levels, so choose the one that suits the amount of smoke and odor produced during cooking. For lighter dishes, a lower setting is sufficient, but for frying, stir-frying, or grilling, opt for a higher power level.
Regular Cleaning
Clean the grease filter at least once a month with warm water and mild soap. (Photo: Contractors)
For optimal performance and longevity, regularly clean the different parts of your range hood, especially the grease filter. Clean the grease filter at least once a month using warm water and mild soap. For other parts like the exhaust duct and fan, inspect and clean them periodically to prevent dust and grease buildup.
Replace the Filter as Directed
If your range hood uses a carbon filter, replace it as per the manufacturer’s instructions. Carbon filters typically need replacement every 6 months to a year, depending on usage.
Keep it Running Post-Cooking
As mentioned earlier, let your range hood run for about 10-15 minutes after cooking to ensure the complete removal of odors and moisture. Some modern range hoods have a timer feature, so you don’t have to worry about forgetting to turn it off.
Use Lighting Efficiently
Some range hoods come with lights to aid in cooking. Use this lighting judiciously and turn it off when not needed to save energy.
Benefits of Using Your Range Hood Correctly
Using your range hood properly offers several advantages:
Health Protection
Proper use of your range hood ensures the complete elimination of dust, grease, and odors from the air, maintaining a fresh and clean kitchen environment. This safeguards your family’s health, especially those with respiratory issues.
A Cleaner Kitchen
Range hoods prevent grease and odor buildup on kitchen surfaces, walls, and ceilings. This not only saves you time and effort in cleaning but also keeps your kitchen pristine and fresh.
A Comfortable Living Space
A kitchen free from odors and moisture creates a pleasant and comfortable atmosphere. This is especially important in apartments or small homes, where the kitchen is in close proximity to living areas.
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Should You Keep the Window Open When Using a Range Hood?
“Range hoods have become an essential appliance in many modern households, but the question of whether to keep the windows open while using them remains a concern for many. “
