Can we store things in a cabinet where the range hood vents?

August 30, 2019 8:44 AM

We just moved to a new place! Most of our stuff showed up yesterday! Now it's time to organize our kitchen. The new place has this cabinet that hosts the vent for the range. I'm wondering, can we store anything safely in these cabinets?

My first guess is that exhaust heat may be an issue. So maybe not things that can't tolerate heat, like oils or spices or plastic storage containers, but what about things like dishes or servingware we don't use often? Other suggestions for kitchen/dining-related items we can safely store there? Are there other reasons to not use these cabinets for storage besides my initial presumption that heat may be a problem? (Am I right that heat may be a problem?)

posted by Pandora Kouti to Home & Garden (19 answers total)

As you note, heat can be a problem, but also humidity. We stored glass and heat-tolerant cooking implements in ours when I had a range hood with that configuration.
posted by tomierna at 8:47 AM on August 30, 2019 [5 favorites]

I always did. I never noticed it being hot and stored what ever I would in my regular cabinets.
posted by beccaj at 8:47 AM on August 30, 2019 [5 favorites]

We store dishes and boxes of Ziploc bags in a similar setup, and we've never had a problem (going on a decade in the house). I don't recall that pipe ever being noticeably warm.
posted by Etrigan at 8:48 AM on August 30, 2019 [2 favorites]

I kept cookbooks there because the shape was suited for it. I didn't notice that cabinet getting warm at all, it's pretty high above the range.
posted by momus_window at 8:48 AM on August 30, 2019 [3 favorites]

On a related note, we discovered that the ancient vent duct above our range hood was no longer connected, as the hood was the type to filter and recirculate directly back into the kitchen.
posted by turkeybrain at 9:04 AM on August 30, 2019

Most range hoods don't vent outside, you're lucky! It will not only suck out aromas but also heat which can be great in summer. I've never had one of these but I think you should just store metal, glass, or ceramic stuff in there until you figure out how hot it gets.
posted by mareli at 9:05 AM on August 30, 2019 [2 favorites]

Yes, first check that it's even hooked up to anything! But we have this setup and we just store some of our less-used pots and pans there. They're obviously heat-tolerant (though agreed, we don't find that the cabinet gets very hot) and unlikely to be bothered by humidity either.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 9:07 AM on August 30, 2019 [1 favorite]

My situation is similar to yours. Don't store anything that you wouldn't ordinarily store above the stove, and you should be fine. The air going through the pipe is just the air that is coming off your stove, so it won't be any warmer than the underside of the range hood. I don't store melty things like chocolate chips, but have no concerns storing anything flammable, including cookbooks and cereal boxes.
posted by yuwtze at 9:21 AM on August 30, 2019 [2 favorites]

We also have the exact same setup. I have my dutch ovens up there and other bulky items I don't use often.
posted by BlahLaLa at 9:27 AM on August 30, 2019

I use that area for my stupid collection of mason jars and lids, some older metal and glass water bottles, some koozies, and for some reason a single container of Hershey's baking chocolate. That last one should probably be relocated.
posted by komara at 9:30 AM on August 30, 2019

I've put seldom-used items such as odd-size baking dishes, flower vases, and serveware in cabinets similar to that.

I agree it doesn't seem like a good spot to store spices, oils, or dry goods, but backstock of canned goods might be ok, if you need more space in your pantry.
posted by slenderloris at 9:38 AM on August 30, 2019 [1 favorite]

I store paper napkins, rolls of foil and plastic wrap, ziplock bags etc up there and have never had a problem—I’ve lived in this house for twenty years.
posted by bookmammal at 10:04 AM on August 30, 2019

We had cabinets like that for years. Never had any issue with storing stuff up there. It might be slightly warmer than your other cabinets but I don't think it would matter for most things.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 11:53 AM on August 30, 2019

I have candles up there (why???) and they've never melted, so I guess it doesn't actually get hot.
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:38 PM on August 30, 2019

We store less frequently used corning ware.
posted by kathrynm at 1:37 PM on August 30, 2019

We put our weirdly shaped beer glasses in ours. No troubles ever noted!
posted by just_ducky at 3:06 PM on August 30, 2019

Depends how high it is, but for me my pan lids and sieve live there (mostly where I need them), and they have never complained about it. Also, given the amount of heat a range puts out and the amount of air the fan draws in, heat is not likely to be a problem.
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 6:53 PM on August 30, 2019

Is there an upstairs neighbor? We have a vent like that, and because the area around it isn't waterproof, that's where the water came in when the upstairs neighbor had a water problem.
posted by zompist at 11:32 PM on August 30, 2019

That’s my dads liquor cabinet.
I store small appliances up there.
posted by SLC Mom at 9:25 AM on August 31, 2019