10 Tips for THE WIFE: Removing Cooking Odors

Odors from last night’s dinner can become nauseating when the smell just won’t leave the house. Fried fish is a common culprit of this problem as are other exotic foods with strong flavors and spices. To remove the lingering odor we need to remove the source of the smell. If it can’t be found, there are ways to neutralize it. Follow these steps to clear the air.

1. Store Leftovers Properly – As soon as you’re finished cooking and eating, gather all leftovers, place them in tightly sealed containers or plastic wrapping and put them away. Leaving food sitting out allows smells to linger, and improperly stored leftovers can create unwanted odors. Prevent this from happening by storing food effectively and in a timely manner. Don’t leave food sitting out for more than a couple of hours. Also be certain to put away any cooking ingredients you’ve used. Don’t leave ingredients like sauces, seasonings and cooking oil open and out. Seal all ingredients and put them back where they belong.

2. Clean Cooking Dishes Promptly – If you don’t want your kitchen to smell, wash all dirty dishes immediately. Make sure you rinse off all food and wash it down the drain. If you don’t have a garbage disposal, scrape all of the food off of your plate and into the trash before rinsing. Even if you don’t have time to wash the dishes completely, rinse them off at the very least and leave pots and pans to soak in soapy water. Leaving pots full of food on the stove or in the sink will create unwanted odors (and also attract unwanted bugs).

3. Garbage Disposal – If you have a garbage disposal, use it after washing your dishes. Leaving pieces of food in your sink or down your drain is guaranteed to create a foul odor in your kitchen. A helpful trick to eliminate odor from the sink is to put a slice of lemon or lime down the drain while the garbage disposal is on.

4. Tidy Up – Don’t forget to clean the stove and counter tops too. Keep your kitchen stocked with plenty of dish rags, sponges and cleaning products (I use: Mrs. Meyer’s Counter top Cleaner). Wipe down all surface areas, paying special attention to find any food that may have spilled over.  Use a degreasing dish detergent to wipe the area surrounding the stove, especially if the odor is caused from fried foods. If the old grease splatters remain, the smell will stay strong. Remember the vents above the stove, these collect grease and bits of food that can lead to odors.

5. Take Out The Trash – Depending on what you cooked, especially in the case of raw meat, you’ll want to take the trash out the evening you cooked. It won’t take long for food in the trash to smell. Remove it from your house after your finished cleaning your kitchen. Most kitchen odors come from the trash can. Also be sure to clean out trash can bins regularly with an all purpose cleaner and or soap and water.

6. Let Air Circulate – While your cooking be sure to crack open a window or two. Always use the stove top vent/fan when cooking or frying to pull the odor-filled air directly away from the stove and out of the house. Air circulation will help move the odors out of the room, and opening a window or switching on the fan is one of the easiest things you can do. If the weather permits, place a fan in the window to either pull fresh air in or push the odor-filled air out.

7. Refrigerator and Freezer – Sometimes bad odors can come from your fridge or freezer from leftovers gone bad or from other products that have expired.  Make sure you have boxes of baking soda in each and that they are changed out every 3 months.

8. The Aroma of Baked Goods and Coffee  – Grinding coffee beans and brewing fresh coffee after your meal is an easy way to fill your home with pleasant aromas. For a change, try adding cinnamon, nutmeg or other spices to the coffee. Also try Baking cakes, rolls, cookies for dessert, this will eliminate unpleasant cooking smells and is tasty treat.

9. Homemade Air Freshener – A simmering spices on your stove top is an easy homemade air freshener. Bring a small pot of water to a gentle simmer, and add any combination of the following to the water. Allow the potpourri to simmer for an hour or longer, adding water as necessary.