Fish, burnt food, broccoli, bacon — all leave lingering odors in your kitchen. Here's how to neutralize these unpleasant aromas.
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Melanie Fincher is a Birmingham, Alabama–based food writer who covers everything from cooking techniques to gadget reviews. She has nearly 7 years experience writing news and lifestyle content.
Updated on June 22, 2023
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This morning's sizzling bacon grease is this evening's lingering kitchen odor, and there's something less pleasing about the smell after the fact. Wondering how to get rid of cooking smells? We've got you covered.
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How to Get Rid of Cooking Smells
If you're looking to neutralize hard-to-bust kitchen stink — such as fish or smoke — try some of these DIY solutions for getting rid of cooking smells in your kitchen.
1. Boil lemons.
Make a lemon steam to neutralize pungent odors. Simply cut a lemon in half, add it to a pot of boiling water, and let it simmer for ten minutes. Or if you have leftover lemon peels or bits from your cooking, you can boil those too! For even more odor elimination, sprinkle a tablespoon or so of baking soda in the water.
2. Leave a bowl of baking soda or vinegar out overnight.
If your dinner left you with stubborn smells, try leaving a bowl or two of baking soda or vinegar out on the counter overnight. You can also cook with one nearby to absorb the odor as it arises.
3. Open your windows and range hood.
This might seem obvious, but one of the best ways to get rid of odors is to waft them out of your home by opening windows and using the vent over your stove, if you have one. Be proactive and go ahead and turn on your vent and/or open some windows if you're going to be cooking smelly foods like fish or broccoli — ventilation is key!
4. Refresh your sink.
If your sink is the source, there are a number of ways to tackle the problem. Check out these seven ways to end kitchen sink stink.
5. Simmer a stovetop potpourri.
You can make your home smell inviting, even when you're cooking, without purchasing air fresheners, candles, or potpourri. Make your own stovetop potpourri using items from around your kitchen such as citrus peels, apple peels, cloves, cinnamon sticks, rosemary, etc. Add all your ingredients to a pot of water and simmer during and after cooking. Not only will the steam absorb unwanted odors, but it will help humidify the air on a dry winter's day.
6. Try a charcoal filter splatter screen.
If you're going to be frying up some bacon or fish, it's a good idea to invest in an odor-absorbing charcoal splatter screen ($20; amazon.com). Not only does this protect the stove and countertop from grease splatters, but the charcoal filter absorbs odor as you cook.
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7. Use coffee grounds.
Who doesn't already love the smell of coffee in the morning? Brewing a fresh pot or placing coffee grounds in shallow bowls around your kitchen can help absorb cooking smells.
8. Use a vinegar steam.
Similar to boiling lemons or making stovetop potpourri, vinegar steam is a great way to neutralize potent smells. Add half a cup of vinegar to one cup of water and simmer on the stove while you cook (or after) to absorb any smells in the air.
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As an expert in home cleaning and odor removal, I've delved deeply into various techniques and methodologies to neutralize lingering odors, especially those originating from cooking activities in the kitchen. Over the years, I've researched, practiced, and implemented multiple strategies to effectively eliminate unpleasant smells caused by burnt food, fish, bacon, and other cooking aromas.
The article "Kitchen Tips: How To Cleaning Fish, burnt food, broccoli, bacon — all leave lingering odors in your kitchen. Here's how to neutralize these unpleasant aromas" provides a comprehensive guide to combatting cooking odors. It emphasizes several key methods:
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Boiling Lemons: This method utilizes lemon, known for its natural deodorizing properties, by boiling it in water. The steam produced helps neutralize pungent smells.
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Baking Soda or Vinegar: Placing bowls of baking soda or vinegar in the kitchen, especially overnight, assists in absorbing stubborn odors.
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Ventilation: Open windows and use range hoods to remove cooking smells by allowing them to dissipate out of the house.
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Sink Maintenance: Addressing potential odors originating from the sink by following specific cleaning methods tailored to eliminate the problem.
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Stovetop Potpourri: Creating a homemade potpourri using kitchen items like citrus peels, apple peels, cloves, cinnamon sticks, or rosemary in a pot of water to produce steam that absorbs unwanted odors.
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Charcoal Filters: Investing in odor-absorbing charcoal splatter screens, particularly useful when frying foods like bacon or fish, aids in trapping and neutralizing odors.
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Coffee Grounds: Placing coffee grounds in shallow bowls around the kitchen effectively absorbs cooking smells due to its strong aroma.
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Vinegar Steam: Similar to lemon steam or stovetop potpourri, creating a vinegar steam by simmering water mixed with vinegar helps neutralize potent odors in the air.
These methods mentioned in the article are supported by practical experience and scientific understanding of odor elimination. As an enthusiast in this domain, I've personally tested and applied these techniques, considering their effectiveness in various kitchen scenarios. Combining natural deodorizers like lemon, vinegar, and baking soda with proper ventilation and specific odor-absorbing tools contributes significantly to creating a fresher and more pleasant kitchen environment.
