If you’ve never thought about adding a new range hood insert to your kitchen space, now’s the perfect opportunity. A ventilation unit is usually one of the last items people will consider when shopping for kitchen appliances; however, it’s one of the first things guests will notice when they step foot in your kitchen. Because range hoods are often installed at eye level, they are easily noticed and incorporated to make a design statement in your kitchen arrangement.
These appliances work to remove smoke, grease, and other odors during meal prep while also filtering the surrounding air. They often provide LED lighting as well to help illuminate your cooking surface, with some models featuring accent lighting to create a soothing ambiance. Insert range hoods are an even smarter choice if you want to add a range hood to preexisting cabinetry without any extra renovations. Insert range hoods provide a flexible option to create a seamless design to match your cabinets and kitchen’s flow. To show you why adding this type of ventilation unit in your kitchen will instantly make a positive and lasting impact, we’ve put together a guide on the best range hood inserts and why they’re a must-have for any culinary space.
At a Glance:
Benefits of a Range Hood Insert
Best Overall: Whirlpool® 35.88" Stainless Steel Custom Hood Liner
Best Value: GE® 20" Custom Wall Hood-Stainless Steel
Best Splurge: Miele DA 3698 36" Stainless Steel Insert Range Hoods
Best 28 Inch Range Hood Insert: Zephyr Core Collection Twister 28” Stainless Steel Insert Range
Best 30 Inch Range Hood Insert: GE® 30" Stainless Steel Custom Ventilation
Best 36 Inch Range Hood Insert: Zephyr Monsoon Connect 36" Stainless Steel Insert Range Hood
Best 48 Inch Range Hood Insert: Whirlpool® 47.88" Stainless Steel Custom Hood Liner
Benefits of a Range Hood Insert
An insert range hood plays a vital role in your kitchen both functionally and technically. A range hood insert will keep the air in your kitchen free of any harmful chemicals, contaminants, grease, and other dirt while you cook. You should consider investing in range insert, especially if you cook on a frequent basis or prepare stir-fry, pizza, steaks, and other delicious foods. You won’t have to worry about airborne dirt and grease building up on your counters, other appliances, and of course, the walls. To further explain how these nifty kitchen appliances benefit your kitchen, here are the primary reasons why adding a ventilation unit like a range hood insert can be a worthwhile investment.
Removes Smells
If you’ve ever prepared roasted cauliflower, broccoli, or any type of seafood, we know how fast you’d prefer to get rid of the lingering odor away from your kitchen. This is where a range hood insert can eliminate most of the cooking-related smells that come from your oven and stove.
Removes Smoke
Whether you’re known to occasionally put too harsh of a crisp on meals you prepare or enjoy feasting on foods like bacon for breakfast, the smoke that comes with it can quickly fill your entire kitchen space. You can try opening every window in the house and turning on every fan in hopes of preventing the smoke alarm from ringing ― or you could easily solve that problem with a range hood insert. The ventilation from the hood removes smoke and circulates clean air to keep your kitchen fresh.
Removes Grease
Speaking of breakfast foods, most morning meats can leave a greasy residue on your pans and cookware, cabinets, curtains, and kitchen walls. Without a reliable ventilation unit like a range hood insert, grease particles will stick to every kitchen surface and can leave awful stains. Thankfully, range hood inserts trap grease in their built-in filters and prevent it from spreading throughout the rest of the kitchen.
Light Up Your Cooktop
If you need some extra light to guide you when cooking, a range hood insert will often come with additional lighting to help illuminate your cooktop and kitchen in general. It's a very functional addition that also provides a sleek touch to your overall kitchen aesthetic.
Our Best Range Hood Inserts
Best Overall: Whirlpool® 35.88" Stainless Steel Custom Hood Liner (UXL6036YSS)
This custom hood liner from Whirlpool took the cake as our best overall selection and features a hidden ventilation system mounted to the inside of a vent cover which offers a uniquely streamlined look to your kitchen. This best range hood insert from Whirlpool is designed to withstand some of the highest heat outputs up to 108,000 BTUs and the power to tackle even the most lingering cooking odors.
Key Features:
- Four energy-efficient Halogen Lights with Night-Light setting
- Three fan speed settings
- Hidden, seamless slide controls
- Auto On (High Heat Sensor) Feature
Best Value: GE® 20" Custom Wall Hood-Stainless Steel (UVC7300SLSS)
If you’re in need of a reliable and affordable insert range hood, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better deal than with this GE custom range hood. This GE range insert has one of the most attractive designs with a powerful 90-CFM blower and features Wi-Fi Connect that allows you to control it with a smart device from anywhere or simply from the sound of your voice when in the kitchen to provide the ultimate cooking convenience.
Key Features:
- Wi-Fi Connect
- Dual LED dimmable lighting options
- Convertible venting options
- Dishwasher-safe filter
Best Splurge: Miele DA 3698 36" Stainless Steel Insert Range Hoods (DA 3698 SS)
For an absolutely premiere ventilation unit that will serve as the focal point of your kitchen, look to the power of this Miele range hood insert. This 36 inch range hood insert comes equipped with a 10-later stainless-steel grease filter that guarantees the highest level of grease removal to keep your cooktop looking cleaner than ever. And with the state-of-the-art filter saturation indicator, you’ll be alerted immediately when it’s time to clean or replace both the grease and active charcoal filters to ensure your hood is consistently working to the best of its elite capabilities.
Key Features:
- Energy efficient Economy Motor
- Stainless steel grease filters
- Automatic blower run-on
- Active AirClean Filter
Best 28 Inch Range Hood Insert: Zephyr Core Collection Twister 28” Stainless Steel Insert Range Hood (AK8000CS)
This powerfully quiet Zephyr range hood insert is extremely adaptable for any custom hood and includes two aluminum mesh filters for optimal capture of grease and smoke. This 28 inch range hood insert from Zephyr also comes equipped with bright and pristine dual-level LumiLight LED lighting and a unique angled design for the ideal fit in your kitchen.
Key Features:
- Dual-level LED lighting
- Aluminum mesh filters
- Mechanical slide controls
- Optional adjustable-depth liner
- Vertical and horizontal ducting
Best 30 Inch Range Hood Insert: GE® 30" Stainless Steel Custom Ventilation (UVC9300SLSS)
If you’re looking for a top-quality range hood that will help pay dividends for your kitchen, GE has the perfect choice. With this 30 inch range hood insert, you’ll enjoy optimum visibility in the kitchen with a well-lit cooktop and surrounding surface thanks to triple LED modules. Plus, an ultra-high-speed 610-CFM venting system will remove all smoke, odors, moisture, and grease to provide a pristine cooking area.
Key Features:
- Wi-Fi and Chef Connect
- Triple LED dimmable lighting
- Electronic backlit controls
- Adjustable CFM blower
Best 36 Inch Range Hood Insert: Zephyr Monsoon Connect 36" Stainless Steel Insert Range Hood (AK9434BS)
If your kitchen’s range hood needs to be as innovative as the rest of your smart home appliances, then this 36 inch range insert hood from Zephyr is a match made in heaven. Equipped with dual 1300-CFM PowerWave™ blowers and stainless-steel baffle filters, you’ll have one of the most powerful and performance-driven range hoods that’s also super easy to clean. And with wireless remote-control options and the exclusive Zephyr Connect that allows you to connect to various smart speakers, these groundbreaking features make this range insert hood from Zephyr one the most intelligent and energy-efficient hoods on the market.
Key Features:
- Compatible with Zephyr Connect App
- Compatible with Smart Speakers
- LumiLight LED Lighting
- Proximity Touch Controls
- PowerWave™ Blower
- Airflow Control Technology™
Best 48 Inch Range Hood Insert: Whirlpool® 47.88" Stainless Steel Custom Hood Liner (UXL6048YSS)
For those looking for a more luxurious range hood with some length, this model from Whirlpool has everything you need to elevate your kitchen’s design. The hidden ventilation system remains flush with your existing cabinet and cooktop space, fitting perfectly with some of today’s more modern kitchen setups. Plus, this 48 inch range hood insert from Whirlpool comes equipped with a versatile dual centrifugal blower motor design that allows you to choose between two levels of ventilation performance for uncompromising results that will keep your cooking space looking fresher than ever.
Key Features:
- Dual centrifugal blower motor
- Withstands heat outputs up to 108,000 BTUs
- Three fan speed settings
- Auto On (High Heat Sensor) Feature
Shop Range Hood Inserts at Aztec Appliance
As always, don’t forget to shop local! At Aztec Appliance, we take pride in providing the most reliable brand-name appliances at the best prices. If you have any questions about our large selection of top-rated range hood inserts and other kitchen appliances, feel free to reach out to our team at (858) 987-5777 or visit our showroom in sunny San Diego, CA. More accessible than ever, our experts can also be reached via chat!
Learn more: The 5 Best Under Cabinet Range Hoods for Your Kitchen