Baffle filters vs mesh filters

They catch grease by different mechanisms: baffle filters make grease drop out of the airflow, while mesh filters trap it in the mesh. Baffle filters are made of angled metal baffles (interlocking channels) that force the extracted air to change direction sharply; the air can make the turns, but the heavier grease droplets cannot follow them, so they hit the baffles and drop out of the airflow, draining down (often into a collection channel or tray). So baffle filters separate grease by inertia and drain it away, so the grease does not stay in the filter. Mesh filters are made of layers of metal mesh; the air passes through, and grease is trapped in the layers of mesh as it goes, staying there until cleaned. So mesh filters catch grease by holding it in the mesh. This difference in mechanism drives the differences between them: baffle filters drain grease away (staying relatively clear), while mesh filters accumulate grease within themselves - which affects clogging, held grease, fire safety and cleaning. So the difference is baffles drop grease out and drain it, while mesh traps and holds it. This is general commentary.

Generally yes - baffle filters are usually preferred for grease capture and fire safety. They have several advantages: they capture grease effectively and drain it away (so grease does not accumulate in the filter, keeping it working); they are robust and durable (solid metal baffles); they are easy to clean (in a dishwasher or by soaking, with grease coming off the smooth baffles); and they are better for fire safety (draining grease away rather than holding it, and not clogging and accumulating grease the way mesh does, so they hold less grease near the flames, and their design resists and contains flames). Mesh filters, by contrast, clog more readily, hold grease within the mesh (a fire risk), can lose effectiveness as they clog, and are less durable. So for grease capture and fire safety, baffle filters are generally the better choice, and are standard in most commercial kitchens, while mesh filters are generally seen as inferior and less favoured. So yes - baffle filters are generally better than mesh filters. This is general commentary.

Because they hold the trapped grease within the mesh, near the cooking flames - and that held grease is combustible. Mesh filters catch grease by trapping it in layers of mesh, where it stays and accumulates (rather than draining away as with baffle filters). So a mesh filter in use holds grease within it, close to the cooking and the flames - and that grease is combustible, so a grease-laden mesh filter is a fire hazard (it can catch fire, especially near flare-ups or high heat). This is worse than with baffle filters, which drain grease away rather than holding it, so they keep less grease near the flames. And mesh filters clog with grease more readily, so they can accumulate a lot of held grease if not cleaned frequently - increasing the fire risk. This is one of the main reasons baffle filters are preferred and mesh filters are less favoured for commercial kitchens. It also underlines that mesh filters, if used, must be cleaned frequently to keep the held grease down. So mesh filters are a fire risk because they hold combustible grease in the mesh near the flames. This is general commentary.

Both are cleaned by removing and washing them, but baffle filters are generally easier to clean thoroughly. Baffle filters, being solid metal baffles, can be cleaned effectively in a commercial dishwasher (a warewasher or dedicated filter wash) or by soaking in a hot degreasing solution and washing - the grease comes off the smooth baffles relatively easily, and they can be cleaned thoroughly and stand up to repeated cleaning. Mesh filters can also be removed and washed (soaked and cleaned), but the grease held throughout the layers of mesh can be harder to remove thoroughly than grease on smooth baffles, and the mesh is less durable under repeated cleaning. Both types need cleaning regularly - baffle filters at an interval matched to the cooking (as covered in how often baffle filters should be cleaned), and mesh filters more frequently, because they clog faster. Whichever type, the filters must be cleaned regularly to keep them working (catching grease, not clogging) and to keep the held grease (and fire risk) down. So both are cleaned by washing, with baffle filters generally easier to clean thoroughly. This is general commentary.

For most commercial kitchens, baffle filters are the recommended choice, for their grease capture and fire safety. Baffle filters capture and drain grease effectively, are durable and easy to clean, and are better for fire safety - which is why they are standard and generally recommended for commercial kitchen grease filtration. Mesh filters have real drawbacks (clogging, holding grease, fire risk, less durable) that make them generally inferior, so they are less favoured and in many settings not recommended. So if you are specifying or replacing filters, baffle filters are usually the better choice. If you currently have mesh filters, it may be worth considering baffle filters when replacing them, for the fire-safety and performance advantages (though check what suits your specific canopy and any requirements). Whichever you have, the essential thing is to keep them cleaned regularly - even the best baffle filter, left dirty, clogs, stops working and becomes a fire risk. So for most kitchens, baffle filters are the recommended choice - but keep whichever you have clean. So have baffle filters, kept clean, for most kitchens. This is general commentary; check what suits your canopy.

No - good, clean filters reduce the grease reaching the ductwork, but do not eliminate it, so the ductwork still needs periodic cleaning. The filters are the first line of defence, catching much of the grease from the cooking air before it reaches the ductwork - and good filters (baffle, kept clean) catch grease effectively, reducing how much passes on. But no filter catches all the grease: some grease vapour passes through even good, clean filters and condenses in the ductwork, building up over time. And if the filters are poor (mesh) or dirty (clogged, not catching effectively), even more grease reaches the ductwork. So the ductwork accumulates grease regardless of the filters, and still needs periodic cleaning to remove that build-up (the main fire risk). Good, clean filters slow the ductwork build-up (so the ductwork stays cleaner longer), but do not remove the need to clean it. So the filters and the ductwork cleaning work together: good clean filters reduce the grease reaching the ductwork, and periodic ductwork cleaning removes what still builds up. So no - good filters do not remove the need to clean the ductwork. This is general commentary.