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Cooking Equipment (rec.food.equipment) Discussion of food-related equipment. Includes items used in food preparation and storage, including major and minor appliances, gadgets and utensils, infrastructure, and food- and recipe-related software. |
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Are Downdraft Systems Really So Awful?
We are remodeling our small kitchen and plan to remove the cabinets
and updraft range hood above the island to open up the room. All the appliances will be replaced and we are planning on installing a gas cooktop in the island. In other posted messages I've read about downdraft systems working poorly and actually taking away some of the heat from the cooking flame. Just about all of the posts have been negative, yet all the major manufacturers make downdraft cooktops & ranges. Are there any effective downdraft systems available? What about the pop up ones? We both love to cook and don't want to make a mistake in our appliance choices. Del |
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Are Downdraft Systems Really So Awful?
Let me put it this way. Yes! We put a downdraft system in when we
installed our new gas cooktop. Actually it is part of the stove. The only time I use it is when my oven starts smoking because if I use it when the cooktop is on, it sucks away the heat. "Del Reha" > wrote in message om... > We are remodeling our small kitchen and plan to remove the cabinets > and updraft range hood above the island to open up the room. All the > appliances will be replaced and we are planning on installing a gas > cooktop in the island. In other posted messages I've read about > downdraft systems working poorly and actually taking away some of the > heat from the cooking flame. Just about all of the posts have been > negative, yet all the major manufacturers make downdraft cooktops & > ranges. Are there any effective downdraft systems available? What > about the pop up ones? We both love to cook and don't want to make a > mistake in our appliance choices. > > Del |
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Are Downdraft Systems Really So Awful?
We had an electric down-draft stove for about five years and it was
excellent, The blower came on automatically when the rear elements were turned on, and it could be manually turned on when the front elements were fired up. Absolutely no splatter on the wall behind the stove, even after 5 years. The installer was very particular about the elbows in the exhaust duct. Don't get too fancy with it or it will restrict air flow. "LIMEYNO1" > wrote in message ... > Let me put it this way. Yes! We put a downdraft system in when we > installed our new gas cooktop. Actually it is part of the stove. The only > time I use it is when my oven starts smoking because if I use it when the > cooktop is on, it sucks away the heat. > > "Del Reha" > wrote in message > om... > > We are remodeling our small kitchen and plan to remove the cabinets > > and updraft range hood above the island to open up the room. All the > > appliances will be replaced and we are planning on installing a gas > > cooktop in the island. In other posted messages I've read about > > downdraft systems working poorly and actually taking away some of the > > heat from the cooking flame. Just about all of the posts have been > > negative, yet all the major manufacturers make downdraft cooktops & > > ranges. Are there any effective downdraft systems available? What > > about the pop up ones? We both love to cook and don't want to make a > > mistake in our appliance choices. > > > > Del > > |
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Are Downdraft Systems Really So Awful?
Del,
Simple physics argues against downdrafts. Hot air raises (and in so doing, carries smoke, grease, etc.) with it. Ever see a [professional kitchen with a downdraft system? No, because they don't work well. Downdrafts were invented purely for aesthetic reasons. Colin Del Reha wrote: > We are remodeling our small kitchen and plan to remove the cabinets > and updraft range hood above the island to open up the room. All the > appliances will be replaced and we are planning on installing a gas > cooktop in the island. In other posted messages I've read about > downdraft systems working poorly and actually taking away some of the > heat from the cooking flame. Just about all of the posts have been > negative, yet all the major manufacturers make downdraft cooktops & > ranges. Are there any effective downdraft systems available? What > about the pop up ones? We both love to cook and don't want to make a > mistake in our appliance choices. > > Del |
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Are Downdraft Systems Really So Awful?
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Are Downdraft Systems Really So Awful?
If you are talking about a stove like the Genair that has a down draft, I
have a Genair. here is my experience: If you set a pot on it that is over a certain height (like most pots that you cook spaghetti in) you cannot expect the steam to go up in the air and for all of it to be pulled down again into the draft -- at least not mine, you can't. You can try to put a lid on it and direct the steam out toward the vent, but there is always the steam then that gets around the open part of the lid and goes off in another direction. My husband feels that while it is sucking all this air out, then there has to be an opening (window open) to replace the air. Consequently in cold weather, we have a kitchen window open -- or elsewhere in the house. Our kitchen was remodeled before we bought the house and there are nice cabinets in it; some of which are above the stove. I could not afford to tear up the kitchen again, so I stick with it. P.S. I put my big electric rice cooker outside to cook. It makes just too much steam that cannot be handled if I place it on top of the stove to cook. If I had an overhead draft, I would be able to cook the rice by placing the steamer on top of the stove and the steam would go up the overhead; but definitely not with the Genair downdraft. Hope this helps. Dee I "Del Reha" > wrote in message om... > We are remodeling our small kitchen and plan to remove the cabinets > and updraft range hood above the island to open up the room. All the > appliances will be replaced and we are planning on installing a gas > cooktop in the island. In other posted messages I've read about > downdraft systems working poorly and actually taking away some of the > heat from the cooking flame. Just about all of the posts have been > negative, yet all the major manufacturers make downdraft cooktops & > ranges. Are there any effective downdraft systems available? What > about the pop up ones? We both love to cook and don't want to make a > mistake in our appliance choices. > > Del |
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Are Downdraft Systems Really So Awful?
"Dee Randall" > wrote in message ... > If you are talking about a stove like the Genair that has a down draft, I > have a Genair. here is my experience: > > If you set a pot on it that is over a certain height (like most pots that > you cook spaghetti in) you cannot expect the steam to go up in the air and > for all of it to be pulled down again into the draft -- at least not mine, > you can't. You can try to put a lid on it and direct the steam out toward > the vent, but there is always the steam then that gets around the open part > of the lid and goes off in another direction. > > My husband feels that while it is sucking all this air out, then there has > to be an opening (window open) to replace the air. Consequently in cold > weather, we have a kitchen window open -- or elsewhere in the house. > > Our kitchen was remodeled before we bought the house and there are nice > cabinets in it; some of which are above the stove. I could not afford to > tear up the kitchen again, so I stick with it. > > P.S. I put my big electric rice cooker outside to cook. It makes just too > much steam that cannot be handled if I place it on top of the stove to cook. > If I had an overhead draft, I would be able to cook the rice by placing the > steamer on top of the stove and the steam would go up the overhead; but > definitely not with the Genair downdraft. > I have a Jenn Air and I agree that the downdraft is very poor at removing smoke and steam. It doesn't even do a good job with smoke from short pans or the grill -- not to mention how it sucks away the heat. I had to do some remodeling because of a small fire. It is possible, and even easy under some circumstances, to remove an overhead cabinet or two. I took out the cabinets above and beside the stove and replaced them. I had an over-the-range microwave that needed to be replaced. I took the opportunity to vent the new one. It was relatively easy for me to cut a hole in the bottom of the soffit and run flexible duct work to an outside wall. I put the cabinet back and connected the new duct to the new microwave/hood. Since I did that, the problem with the smoke has been eliminated. I haven't set off the smoke detector once, even while using the grill. The downdraft gets some of the smoke and the hood gets the rest. |
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