Cooker hoods play and important role in every kitchen. In addition to their main purpose, contemporary cooker hoods are also a decorative element. Cooker hoods come in various shapes, colours and sizes. You can also choose the type of material, one of the most popular being stainless steel.
Cooker hoods play and important role in every kitchen. In addition to their main purpose, contemporary cooker hoods are also a decorative element. Cooker hoods come in various shapes, colours and sizes. You can also choose the type of material, one of the most popular being stainless steel.
Stainless steel is perfect for commercial kitchen equipment. It is completely safe, as there is no reaction with food. In addition, it is resistant to corrosion, mechanical damage and permanent deformation. Taking into account the above features, a stainless steel cooker hood will last for many years, provided we remember about regular maintenance. Fortunately, stainless steel is also easy to keep clean. Here are some proven home methods to clean your stainless steel cooker hood.
Cleaning your stainless steel cooker hood
When cooking or frying, different types of odours, moisture, vapours, greasy deposits or even microorganisms are inevitable. Fortunately, cooker hoods absorb all of the above, so that they do not spread throughout the kitchen. However, in order to make sure it works properly and effectively, it is vital that you know how to clean your cooker hood.
Cleaning the cooker hood is often considered one of the most difficult and unpleasant of all kitchen tasks. One of the reasons is the type of dirt you will be cleaning, such as grease covered with dust, getting into each element of the hood – from the cover to the filters.
Cleaning a stainless steel cooker hood should be done regularly, as the fresher the dirt, the easier it is to remove. Therefore, if you use it daily, you should clean it once a week, while if you cook less frequently then you should clean the hood at least twice a month.
Before you start cleaning, disconnect the cooker hood from the power supply. It is also important to ensure that there are no dishes on the hot plate below that could make access to the hood difficult. Then dismantle the necessary parts and clean them thoroughly using a suitable detergent. In the case of stainless steel, you can use ordinary washing up liquid, but for more stubborn dirt, consider trying one of a few proven methods.
Cleaning the cooker hood with vinegar
One of the most popular ways to remove dirt is with water and vinegar. Fill a sprayer with a 1:1 mixture of both liquids, which will make it easy to spray onto dirty elements. Leave it for about 12 minutes, then thoroughly scrub each element, for example using the rough side of a kitchen sponge, and then wipe them dry.
Cleaning with vinegar is great for stains inside the hood. It is also good for dealing with thick layers of fat, which are quickly dissolved by the mixture of water and vinegar.
Cleaning the cooker hood with baking soda
Another natural method is cleaning with baking soda. For this, you will need about 1 litre of boiling water, into which you pour three-quarters of a glass of baking soda. Then, after mixing it all together, put the dirty ventilation grate into a dish with the boiling mixture and, depending on the amount of grease and other dirt, leave it for a few minutes. When the dirt has dissolved and the cooker hood is clean enough, you can take it out and wait for it to dry.
Cleaning the cooker hood with oil
Before you start cleaning your stainless steel cooker hood, it is good to remember that fat dissolves grease. An efficient cleaning method is using cooking oil (or olive oil). Apply it onto the dirt with a sponge, and then wipe it off. Additionally, you can soak dried fat with hot water. After that, you only need to collect the remaining bits of dirt (e.g. using a paper towel) and polish the cleaned element to a shine. Using oil is therefore very simple and extremely effective.
Using oil to clean the cooker hood works well for both the ventilation grates and the cover. An additional advantage is the fact that cleaned in this way, the cooker hood will retain an impeccable shine.
Cleaning the cooker hood filter
One of the most important parts of any cooker hood is the filter itself. A clean cooker hood filter is paramount, as this is where most of the dirt accumulates, so if not regularly removed, it could make air filtration difficult, or even prevent it. Some cooker hoods have carbon or paper filters, which can be replaced after use (they are easily available and dedicated to specific models), as well as metal filters that require regular cleaning.
Knowing how to clean cooker hood filters is important, but luckily it is a simple process. Warm water with kitchen detergents will be best here. Standard washing up liquid will quickly and effectively remove greasy residues. Place the dirty filter fully under water with washing up liquid, and leave it for about half an hour.
Then, using a brush or the rough side of a kitchen sponge, thoroughly clean both sides of the filter. In the case of stubborn dirt, you can use the previously mentioned methods – baking soda, vinegar or cooking oil. Many modern types of filters can be washed in a dishwasher, which is obviously very convenient and time-saving.
When cleaning cooking hood filters in a dishwasher, make sure they are placed on the lower shelf and the temperature is set at no more than 50 degrees Celsius.
Cleaning your stainless steel cooker hood – summary
You should regularly clean the cooker hood, since it absorbs all the fumes and smells generated during cooking, and has more contact with dirt and greasy residues than the rest of your kitchen equipment. While dirt on the casing is clearly visible and easy to get rid of on a daily basis, the interior and the cooker filter require special attention. And remember – the more you cook, the more often you need to clean it.
How and what can be used to clean the cooker hood depends on the material it is made from, as well as its construction. In the case of stainless steel, normal washing up liquid will do, and for more stubborn dirt you can use the methods recommended earlier. Regular cleaning of a stainless steel cooker hood will not only prolong its use, but a clean cooker hood will also look good for many years to come, and serve as a decorative element in your kitchen.
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