Open shelves above hob - Bad idea?

[MissPollysTrolleyed]

We have a small kitchen with a structural beam running through the middle which means that we can't put in an extractor hood. It looks strangely empty above the hob so I'd like to put in a couple of open shelves and put nice tall glass jars on them for storing baking ingredients, rice, pasta etc but mainly for aesthetic purposes. Extractor hoods need to be 760mm above the hob so I am thinking that my shelves won't be a fire hazard if I put them at this distance.

Firstly, any thoughts on the fire risk? I'd prefer wood to metal shelves.

The second question is whether they will get all sticky and steamy and 'orrible.

If you ever fry anything they will get coated in a thin layer of grease I suspect. Could you have a shallow cabinet instead with glass fronted doors? That way you just have to wipe the doors occasionally rather than wiping all the glass jars etc.

I don't think there's much of a fire risk as long as you don't cook many flambees

I have an open metal shelf from Ikea above my kitchen and my pots live on it. They get cleaned regularly so don't matter about a bit of grease.

The main fire risk would be reaching over the hob to whatever is on the shelves. Things on the shelf just to look nice would be okay, but would get a layer of grease and dirt on them quite quickly (especially if you don't have an extractor).

If you have space for shelves you could fit a recirculating extractor (so probably not really an 'extractor') - it would at least get rid of most of the grease, smoke, and smells.

I would be concerned about reaching over the hot surface to get stuff, or things falling off the shelves onto the hob.

People often keep a row of pans or utensils over the hob though, but this is usually with metal fixings.

I have one shelf over quite high above the hob with a utensil rail under. It's a flat wooden shelf so it can wiped over it gets greasy. It has a few pots and pans on/under it, all things that are used regularly enough not to get too dirty. I can't imagine what would set it on fire as I don't do chip pans.

Fact: whatever is near your cooker will get greasy and need cleaning every few months. Cooker hood, cupboards, shelves, pans, all get the same grease. Some things are easier to put in the dishwasher though.

Thanks everyone. Good advice as always.

The position of the beam means that we can't center an extractor hood over the hob so it's not an option for us.

I'll have a dig around and see what I can find in the way of shallow cabinet. Otherwise, we have some nice Le Creuset saucepans so maybe I'll put them on a metal shelf as suggested by miomio.

How about a nice big clock that can be wiped easily and fill the space better. Not only will the shelves get greasy but, depending what they are made of, they could end up falling apart with all the steam going straight up into them from the cooker.

I love the idea of a big clock. There goes my afternoon shopping online for clocks!

i think i have seen this look in american homes on the houzz.com website. i think they'd have to be narrow and agree pans on shelves might be better idea.

ooh- i just bought a clock, it a pale green one - maybe google thomas kent clocks, gorgeous!

Oh those Thomas Kent clocks are looovely ribeno

Or just a wipeable splashback with a utensil rail on?

(would drive me nuts always reaching across active hob, but would fill the space visually)

Just as an aside, my cooker hood is 600mm above my hob,as per fitting instructions, but its an induction, is it more for gas?

Dolly, I think it's probably different for gas. My hob is gas.

Ribeno, I LOVE those clocks.

Thanks Polly!