Canstar Blue’s 2020 rangehood review has seen Bosch, Westinghouse, Electrolux, Smeg and Fisher & Paykel rated on performance, design, features, ease of cleaning, quietness and overall satisfaction.
See our Ratings Methodology.
Bosch has blown the competition away in Canstar Blue’s rangehood review, scoring five stars for performance, features, ease of cleaning and overall satisfaction in 2020.
While you might enjoy the sweet aroma of food cooking in the kitchen, you’re still producing a lot of heat, smoke, moisture and grease during the process. Not only can this damage your kitchen cabinetry and walls, but it’s not ideal for your health either. Thankfully, rangehoods are designed to remove the bad odours and provide ventilation so that these fumes are replaced with fresh air, making it a worthwhile installation in your home.
Rangehoods are not typically the first appliance that many consider when upgrading their kitchen, but they’re important to help keep your kitchen smoke free. From traditional rangehoods to modern canopy designs, they can be a stylish addition to your kitchen aesthetic. So, which brands are keeping Australian families happy and which… suck? To find out, we surveyed more than 400 households for their feedback on the rangehoods they have in their home. Respondents rated their respective brands on important factors such as performance, design, features, ease of cleaning, quietness and overall satisfaction. Manufacturers which met the minimum required survey sample size of 30 responses are featured in our results.
In 2020, Bosch was rated best for rangehoods, receiving five-star reviews in the majority of categories surveyed.
Here are the best brands for rangehoods in Australia, as rated by consumers in Canstar Blue’s latest review.
Bosch topped our rangehood ratings, after earning five-star reviews for performance, features, ease of cleaning and overall satisfaction. However, runner-up Westinghouse and Fisher & Paykel managed to get the edge over Bosch on design, both receiving full marks in that category and for features. Fisher & Paykel also received five stars for performance. Interestingly, no brand received full marks for quietness while operating, suggesting we’ve got a long way to go before making rangehoods ‘silent’.
To help you make an informed decision, read on as we review what each brand currently has to offer in the rangehoods department, followed by some of the things you’ll need to consider before making that final purchase.
Bosch is a well-renowned name in the home appliance world, with the German manufacturing giant synonymous with both quality and technology. Featuring wall-mounted canopy rangehoods, slide-out rangehoods and integrated rangehoods, each model is separated in a specific serie – Serie 2, Serie 4, Serie 6 and Serie 8. Both the 6 and 8 series are equipped with electronic operation displays and boast a quiet operation.
The full range starts from a low $449 for the Serie 4 Telescopic Cooker Hood and its most expensive model − the Serie 8 Induction Hob with Integrated Ventilation − will set you back a cool $6,099. It’s boasted for its AutoOn function which starts the ventilation module automatically in power level 3 and CombiZone which gives you flexibility by combining two cooking zones, for roasters and large pans.
Bosch’s rangehood models include:
Bosch was rated five stars for performance, features, ease of cleaning and overall customer satisfaction. It got four stars for design and quietness.
Part of the Electrolux Group, Westinghouse is a long-standing Australian brand covering more budget friendly options than most. It features fixed, integrated under-cupboard, slide-out and wall-mounted canopy rangehoods. All models have one to two fans, as well as various speed options. There are basic design features such as inter-locked push button controls, LED lighting and just white and stainless steel finishes.
Westinghouse has by far some of the cheapest rangehoods, with prices starting from $149 for a 60cm fixed rangehood. While it might not come with many bells and whistles, if you’re on a budget, this might be one to consider. The rest are around $200 and $400, but it could go up to $1,000 for canopy rangehoods.
Westinghouse’s rangehood models include (but are not limited to):
Westinghouse was rated five stars for design and features and four stars for ease of cleaning, performance and overall satisfaction.
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Perhaps best known for fridges and washing machines, Electrolux is a Swedish brand with a focus on technology and sophisticated designs. In terms of rangehoods, it features integrated under-cupboard, island canopy, slide-out and wall-mounted canopy rangehoods with nine models in total across all types. Expect sleek and stylish touch on glass controls and removable filters for an easy clean. Some models also boast Hob2Hood technology that features sensors to automatically adjust the hood when cooking heat increases.
The Electrolux range starts off at around $500 in price for the under-cupboard models, maxing out at about $1,500 for large glass canopy units. Its most expensive 90cm canopy hood is stated to provide a maximum airflow of 1000m3/hr, while its 60cm slide-out unit is boasted for a low operation noise of 47dB.
Electrolux’s rangehood models include:
Electrolux received four stars for design, performance and overall satisfaction, and three stars for features and ease of cleaning. It got two stars for quietness.
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Smeg is an Italian appliance manufacturer providing ‘elegant contemporary living solutions’ for Aussie kitchens. Smeg’s rangehoods reflect the elegance and style you’ll find with a number of its appliances, including ovens, dishwashers and dryers. There is a wide selection of rangehoods available categorised by design – Classic, Linear, Victoria and Portofino. Installation types include telescopic, downdraft, wall-mount, under-mount and island-mount. On top of this, Smeg offers a variety of colour options whether you’re looking to add a pop of red or a trendy black to your kitchen. Smeg also boasts super-quiet performance with some models stated to have a noise level of 53dB. When ducting is not possible, active charcoal filters are also available.
Smeg doesn’t foray into the budget end of the rangehood segment. Prices start from $950 for the Smeg 60cm Slide-Out Rangehood and reach up to $6,300 for a downdraft integrated model. For the brightly coloured models (Portofino Aesthetic Canopy Rangehood, pictured), expect to pay $2,990. While these might not be for every budget, if you’re looking to add a standout appliance into your kitchen, Smeg might be the way to go.
Smeg’s rangehood models include:
In this year’s review, Smeg was rated four stars for performance, design and features. It got three stars for ease of cleaning and overall satisfaction.
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Founded in New Zealand, Fisher & Paykel is a company that has been around for more than 80 years. It has emerged as one of the most technologically-advanced appliance brands and often a popular choice in Aussie kitchens. Boasting intuitive controls with touch panels, Fisher & Paykel rangehoods are stated to be easy to use and built to perform. There are 10 products in total with built-in options, as well as slide-out rangehoods and integrated rangehoods on offer. If you would prefer an exposed option, you can choose from box, pyramid and glass chimney style rangehoods, designed to add to the aesthetic of your kitchen.
The Fisher & Paykel range is ‘middle of the road’ when it comes to prices, with retail tags between $329 and $2,649. Its slide-out rangehoods are the cheapest of the lot, and most of its canopy range sits above the $1,000 mark.
Fisher & Paykel’s rangehood models include:
Fisher & Paykel rounds out our 2020 review of rangehoods with five stars for performance, design and features. It finished on three stars overall.
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Aside from the major rangehood manufacturers rated in this year’s review, there are several other brands worthy of your consideration, including:
Miele has a reputation as a high-end brand, with its premium prices boasting German craftsmanship. It offers four standard rangehood designs including wall, island, built-in and downdraft to accommodate for a variety of styles, sizes and functions to suit any kitchen. Miele’s units are said to be made for those who are looking for something a little out of the ordinary, with their eye-catching designs. Its built-in models come with a customised kitchen design, so it’s out of sight when switched off to save space, making it a possible solution for minimalist kitchens. Across the range, you’ll find features such as automatic operation, where the required fan output is automatically controlled by the cooktop settings, a 10-layer stainless-steel grease filter and an automatic switch off system for safety.
The Omega range of appliances is aimed to combine classic design elements and quality workmanship with affordability and versatility. Offering a range of appliances from ovens and cooktops, to washing machines and dryers, its rangehood line features fixed, slide-out, canopy and under-cupboard designs to suit a variety of households. Expect stainless steel and black finishes and different sizes from 52cm all the way up to 90cm. The slide-out range features two aluminium mesh filters, stated to be easy to remove and clean in the dishwasher.
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Combining precision engineering and stylish good looks, Blanco rangehoods aim to make a statement in your kitchen. Founded in Germany, Blanco has a focus on innovation and design. The rangehood line-up features under-cupboard, slide-out and canopy models.
Expect some models to come equipped with touch control operation, various speed options to suit the type of cooking, as well as a timer that switches the rangehood off automatically after 15 minutes. The Blanco Clean Air function is also boasted to ‘activate’ the rangehood for 10 minutes every hour to help reduce those lingering cooking odours.
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Chef is part of the Electrolux family, so you might find a few similar aspects to those featured in the range mentioned above. Chef is also one to offer some of the cheapest prices, with just eight models in the full range (at the time of writing).
There are three different styles to choose from – fixed, canopy and slide-out – so you can find what looks and functions best in your kitchen. Expect up to three fan speeds, push button controls and some with slide controls. In terms of noise levels, the Chef rangehoods are stated to produce 62dB when working.
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Robinhood is an Australasian brand, offering both kitchen and laundry products. Robinhood’s products are claimed to be sourced globally from leading manufacturers, and are well-designed boasting modern technology. The range features laundry tubs, ironing centres, waste disposers as well as rangehoods and ducting solutions.
Styles include all canopies, island canopies, compact canopies, tilterhoods, slide-out rangehoods and powerpack rangehoods. Expect touch-screen switches and dimmable lighting, stated to generate very little heat.
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Ilve offers rangehoods for the passionate home cooks, as well as professional chefs. It’s dedicated to bringing the versatility and performance of its unique Italian brand to Australian kitchens. Renowned for continuous technological research and innovation, every Ilve rangehood is stated to be hand-assembled with care, ensuring each one is a work of culinary art.
Styles include BBQ/outdoor, canopy, concealed, island and slide-out hoods with streamlined electronic control panels. Some are also equipped with a twin turbine centrifugal fan to optimise air flow. This additional air consumption will cost you $3,499, but you can also score a 60cm under-cupboard model for around $549.
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Now that we’ve wrapped up the different brands you might like to consider, there are several other aspects to think about when buying a new rangehood, in particular your budget. On average, consumers spend $540 on new rangehoods, our research shows. Our most recent survey also revealed the following insights:
Half of our survey respondents (50%) indicated that they have a ducted rangehood, while 29% own a recirculating type. The difference between the two is that ducted rangehoods – also referred to as extractor rangehoods – offer better performance by extracting the cooking fumes from the kitchen and expelling them to the outside via ducting. Non-ducted or recirculating rangehoods, on the other hand, are designed for kitchens where there is no external vent, thus the rangehood extracts cooking fumes and passes them through active charcoal filters, recirculating the cleansed air back into the room. Once you know which option is suitable for your home, you can consider other key factors such as style, size, power settings and features.
Deciding on which type of rangehood to choose from will depend on your kitchen set up. All rangehood types are typically available in 60cm and 90cm widths, covering off the most common sizes of cooktops. Different styles include the following:
Depending on the type of rangehood, many models come with different lighting fixtures. You can choose from incandescent, florescent, halogen and LED. Some rangehood brands boast dimmable lighting, so you can select the level of light that works for you. It can also be used as mood lighting when you finish cooking!
Noise levels are also an important consideration, although no brand recorded five-star reviews for quietness in 2020. According to our survey, a quarter of respondents (23%) said they often refrain from using their rangehood because it’s just too noisy. Noise level is important because you should still be able to hold a conversation when it’s on.
Typically, there are sliding, push buttons and touch control panels, which are easy to reach and operate. Some retractable models will feature controls on the underside of the hood, and others increase the fan speed the further you pull the hood out. Consider what would be most comfortable and suitable for you when buying.
Rangehoods often have from three to six fan speeds, with some models also offering an automatic variation of speeds. The higher speeds are used when cooking, while the lower speeds can be utilised once finished. Generally, you shouldn’t need more than three speeds, although this will come down to what you plan on cooking for dinner.
Whether you’re after a simple rangehood or one with all the bells and whistles, we hope this guide has been a useful tool to help with your rangehood purchase.
This report was written by Canstar Blue’s home & lifestyle journalist, Tahnee-Jae Lopez-Vito. She’s an expert on household appliances, grooming products and all things grocery and shopping. In addition to translating our expert research into consumer-friendly ratings reports, Tahnee spends her time helping consumers make better-informed purchase decisions on all manner of consumer goods and services, while highlighting the best deals and anything you need to be aware of.
*Prices taken from retailer websites, correct as of September 2020.
Our latest customer satisfaction research saw a number of brands rated best in different categories:
Canstar Blue surveyed 6,000 Australian adults across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction, via ISO 26362 accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics. The outcomes reported are the results from customers within the survey group who have a rangehood installed in their home and have used it in the last three months – in this case, 419 people.
Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included. Results are comparative and it should be noted that brands receiving three stars have still achieved a satisfaction measure of at least six out of 10. Not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The ratings table is first sorted by star ratings and then by mean overall satisfaction. A rated brand may receive a ‘N/A’ (Not Applicable) rating if it does not receive the minimum number of responses for that criteria.
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2019
2018
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Steam ovens are touted as a faster, healthier way to cook. But is a steam oven worth it for you? Find out more at Canstar Blue.
– Read moreFinding ways to cook healthy food without sacrificing taste can be tough. Oven cooking usually requires adding oil or butter to food to stop it from sticking or drying out, which makes it hard to avoid fats. Boiling can boil away the taste and nutrients, and can only work with certain foods.
Steaming is a healthier way to cook because it preserves more of the taste, texture, and nutritional value of foods. However, steaming over a stovetop can be difficult. It’s hard to regulate the temperature, making it easy to over-steam and end up with a soggy, tasteless mess. It’s also harder to steam a lot of food without having to cook in multiple small batches.
There’s an easier way to steam without stress – use a steam oven! Professional chefs and bakers have been using steam ovens for years, but they’ve only recently begun entering home kitchens. Should you get a steam oven for your kitchen? Read on to find out the pros and cons of steam ovens, and why they’re becoming more and more popular.
Steam ovens are ovens that use hot pressurised steam to cook food. They can be purchased as either installed ovens, or as smaller microwave-sized countertop appliances. There aren’t many countertop steam ovens available on the Australian market – most are wall-mounted types.
You can cook almost anything with steam – even muffins! Steam ovens work particularly well for delicate foods, such as scallops and croissants. They’re great for cooking vegetables, fish and meats, and adding moisture back into leftovers. Plus, using moist heat instead of dry heat also means you won’t be burning anything!
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Regular ovens work by heating the air in the oven using a heating element. Steam ovens work by boiling water into steam, which then circulates around the food and heats it. This retains moisture in the food. As water is a better conductor of heat than air, steam ovens can cook faster than regular ovens.
Most steam ovens have a removable water tank, although some higher end models can be connected to a water line. When the oven is turned on, water is fed into a reservoir where it is boiled into a cloud of hot steam. Steam ovens have a valve to release steam pressure, much like a pressure cooker or kettle.
There are two broad types of steam oven:
Different steam ovens can have different temperature ranges, usually from 100°C to 300°C, but some can go even higher.
After each use, the oven should be wiped out and the reservoir emptied. Steam ovens also require regular descaling.
Steam ovens stop food from drying out, which means juicier food, flakier pastries, and softer bread. It can even cook rice, which is something a conventional oven can’t do.
The key drawback to a steam oven is that it can’t brown food. Food cooked using a steam oven will be moist but pale. You can get around this by finishing food off on your cooktop after using the steam oven to get that sear, crisp or caramelisation. This keeps the benefits of steaming while still getting your preferred texture. Another option is to use a combination steam oven.
Combination steam ovens combine steam functions and regular fan-forced heat in the same appliance, giving you the best of both types. These are popular choices as you can get the health benefits of steaming, while also being able to produce that golden roast finish.
A combination steam oven is a more versatile choice, enabling you to cook using a wide range of methods without the fuss of using multiple appliances. They are sometimes marketed as ‘combi-steam’ ovens.
Cooking using a steam oven produces a moist texture and retains more nutrients compared to other types of cooking such as boiling and baking. Many nutrients, such as folic acid and vitamin C, are easily damaged from cooking heat.
As you don’t need to add cooking oil, butter or a salty broth to keep food moist like you do when using the dry heat of a conventional oven, cooking with a steam oven allows you to cook food with a lower fat content.
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The range of countertop steam ovens available on the Australian market is quite small, but it’s worth keeping an eye out as more are likely to appear as the devices gain popularity.
One brand supplying Australia is Panasonic, with its combination steam microwaves integrating steam, grill, roast, bake and regular microwave functions in the one appliance. This type of cooking appliance is likely to cost around $700.
Below is an indication of the price range of steam ovens from various brands. This is not an exhaustive list, and inclusion of these brands over others does not constitute any particular endorsement of these brands of steam ovens.
| Brand | Low End | High End |
|---|---|---|
| Omega | $1,055 | $1,599 |
| Samsung | $1,385 | - |
| Artusi | $1,553 | - |
| Asko | $1,699 | $5,599 |
| Westinghouse | $1,834 | $2,519 |
| Electrolux | $2,149 | $3,849 |
| Smeg | $2,616 | $4,490 |
| V-Zug | $4,499 | $10,999 |
| Miele | $2,209 | $7,999 |
| Fisher & Paykel | $2,099 | $2,249 |
| AEG | $3,299 | $5,999 |
| NEFF | $2,999 | $4,999 |
The average person probably wouldn’t get a whole lot of benefit out of a steam oven that couldn’t be achieved using other, cheaper steaming tools and appliances. However, if you like to steam regularly and in large volumes, getting a steam oven may be a great choice for you.
If you have enough space in your kitchen, you may choose to install a steam oven as a second oven. Otherwise, a combination steam oven may be a good replacement for your current oven, adding the benefits of a steam oven to your kitchen while retaining the functions of a regular oven. A countertop steam oven may be better if you don’t want to deal with the hassle and expense of replacing your current oven, particularly if it’s relatively new.
Whether you purchase a steam oven or not, it could be worth exploring new ways to add more steamed food to your diet.
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