Elica’s YouChef technology turns every home cook into a culinary chef
Elica brings professional-grade cooking solutions to home chefs with its innovative YouChef system and All-in-One Lhov oven, hob and kitchen extraction system.
Kieron is a freelance writer and Digital Consultant who doesn't consider himself a design lover but a user of design - which to him is more than enough.
LinkedinItalian appliance manufacturer Elica, founded by Ermanno Casoli in 1970, has always aimed to improve people’s quality of life. The company debuted its first duct-out hood in 1972, quickly gaining recognition for reshaping kitchen ventilation. Fifty years later, Casoli’s vision continues to drive the brand, which has evolved from its initial focus on hoods to transforming the cooking experience itself, infusing a design-forward approach into a new generation of kitchen appliances.
This evolution is embodied in the launch of Elica’s latest hero product, Lhov, an All-in-One appliance (oven, hob and extraction system), which features YouChef—an intelligent cooking technology developed by Elica that draws inspiration from professional-grade solutions. YouChef serves as the backbone of Elica’s extensive collection of cooking appliances by transforming advanced culinary techniques into easy-to-use features, enabling modern cooks to achieve exceptional results with simplicity.
Elica’s YouChef technology isn’t exclusive to the Lhov model—it extends across the company’s full range of appliances, enhancing everything from cooktops and wine coolers to ovens and downdraft cooktops, with the same intelligent cooking control. By incorporating YouChef across their product line, Elica ensures that advanced culinary precision and user-friendly functionality are available throughout the kitchen, catering to a variety of needs and enriching the entire cooking experience.
For Elica, appliances are designed to enhance and simplify life in the kitchen. That’s why the company has developed cutting-edge functions, directly inspired by the professional world and adapted for the home kitchen. The result? Automatic, intuitive modes that ensure top-quality results, just like in the kitchens of renowned chefs. Elica’s cooktops, ovens, and wine cellars guarantee the highest quality in food preparation and optimal wine preservation.
The Lhov All-in-One kitchen appliance
With YouChef technology at its core, Elica’s Lhov kitchen appliance—designed by Chief Design Officer Fabrizio Crisà—seamlessly combines a powerful ventilation system, a high-performance induction cooktop, and a spacious oven in a sleek black glass design. Perfect for open-plan kitchens, its advanced ventilation system, for the first time ever, removes odors and vapors not only from the hob but also from the oven, maintaining a fresh environment even when cooking with the most aromatic ingredients.
The induction cooktop offers five zones with precision modes, making it versatile for various cooking needs. The oven’s bigger cavity—30% larger than traditional ovens—accommodates two trays, while steam integration promotes healthier cooking options. Completely flush with standard kitchen units (90×36 cm), the Lhov fits effortlessly into modern layouts, and is enhanced by the digital display that offers an ergonomic, interactive, and connected interface, enabling effortless management of Lhov and its advanced features with a single touch.
Users can also select and set the internal temperature of the food using an intelligent sensor probe: the oven automatically switches off when the desired temperature is reached. Additionally, it allows sequential programming of cooking modes, ensuring preparations rise, bake, and gratinate to perfection.
YouChef empowers kitchen novices
With YouChef, Lhov features precise temperature control and automatic cooking modes that allow for effortless transitions between different techniques such as baking and steaming, while providing chef-level results with minimal effort. The technology provides precise control over food moisture, helping to create dishes tailored to individual preferences—whether that means juicy meats or perfectly baked goods.
A standout aspect of YouChef is its automatic cooking modes, which optimise appliance performance across the entire range of Elica products. Cooktops equipped with YouChef feature specialised modes like melting, warming, and simmering, simplifying the cooking process while ensuring optimal outcomes.
Lhov exemplifies this innovation as the first on the market to combine an oven, hob, and kitchen extraction system into one sleek, All-in-One unit, marking what the company describes as a ‘new era’ in culinary design. With its integration of YouChef technology, it not only streamlines cooking tasks but also elevates the overall kitchen experience.
Supporting Stars: the Virtus Combi Steam MW TFT and Veritas Wine Cooler
Elica’s elevation of the culinary experience doesn’t stop at Lhov. With a wider collection of appliances, including the Virtus Combi Steam MW TFT oven and the Veritas wine cooler, the brand continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the kitchen.
The product embodies a compact yet powerful solution for modern kitchens, offering steam and traditional cooking options that enable versatile meal preparation. This oven caters to a variety of culinary needs, making it an essential tool for both novice cooks and seasoned chefs.
Key features include an electronic steam valve, which provides precise moisture control—perfect for achieving the ideal texture in baked goods, especially for bread and pastries. The smart probe eliminates the guesswork in cooking, ensuring dishes are cooked to perfection every time, allowing users to focus on creativity rather than timing.
With its sleek design, the model features a sturdy stainless steel interior and an effortless hydro-cleaning system, ensuring longevity and ease of use. It also enhances functionality while elevating the aesthetic of any kitchen.
It works to simplify maintenance and therefore allows it to maintain its contemporary aesthetic. Beyond its practical advantages, its professional-grade features make it an essential appliance for home chefs looking to enhance their culinary experience.
Elica also recently unveiled the Veritas BI36 wine cooler, a minimalist kitchen addition designed for wine enthusiasts. This cooler combines style and functionality, ensuring that your favourite vintages are stored under the best possible conditions.
Key features for wine preservation include dual-zone technology, which allows for perfect storage of red and white wines at separate optimal temperatures. With UV protection and anti-vibration technology, it creates ideal conditions for preserving the flavour and quality of your wines.
The Veritas wine cooler operates quietly, enhancing the home environment without disturbance. Its oak shelving and soft LED lighting create a premium showcase for your wine collection, turning your kitchen into a sophisticated space for both storage and entertaining.
Extraordinary cooking
Elica’s dedication to blending Italian design and high-performance technology is evident in its broader catalogue, which includes innovative products like the NikolaTesla extractor hobs introduced in 2016. It’s an evolution that underscores Elica’s transition from a ventilation specialist to a leader in integrated cooking solutions.
The brand’s foray into cooking solutions represents a continuation of Ermanno Casoli’s founding vision to improve people’s quality of life. This evolution redefines the kitchen experience, delivering professional-quality results, innovative design, and smart technology that enhance both cooking and living spaces.
By building on its commitment to creativity and technological advancement, Elica pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in modern culinary design, transforming the home into a unique space and embodying its current vision of “extraordinary cooking.”
