Indian kitchen is way different from other kitchens because we use lots of spices; we like to eat vegetables, chicken, and fish. There are families who are pure vegetarians and can’t tolerate even the smell of non-vegetarian items like fish or egg. Other families like to have chicken and fish in every meal. But one thing is common; no one likes the after-cooking smell of fish, chicken or egg in an Indian kitchen. Sometimes when you cook fish or mutton, you like it on your table. But post finishing your meal, you notice a bad smell in your kitchen and in the dining area. Cooking smell, especially of non-vegetarian recipes, is terribly bad for those who don’t eat them (I am one of them). If your kitchen is a little congested and lacks proper ventilation, it will make the matter worse, as cooking smells linger and make it impossible for you to stay and cook inside the kitchen.
The pungent smell of chicken, fish and other non-vegetarian items literally makes you run for cover, especially if you are a new Bengali bride trying to adjust to your new home, and unfortunately, you do not like fish but you have to cook it for your family. You have to think of ways to cope with this unavoidable and unfavourable situation.
I am a Bengali boy who doesn’t like cooking smell of cooking fish, but can’t stop cooking because everyone else in my family likes to have fish for both lunch and dinner. I tried several remedies to get rid of the post-cooking smell from my kitchen, and I am happy to share a few of them with you all. I encourage you to try these remedies, and I am sure you are going to love them.
So are you ready? Here we go.
Ventilation to remove the cooking smell
If you want to remove cooking smell, you have to ventilate your kitchen properly. Just let some fresh air in and let the smelly air out of your kitchen. Open the windows and switch on the chimney or exhaust fans. This strategy will definitely work for you, but your neighbours might not be too happy about it. To neutralise the situation, just cook something good that spreads a pleasant aroma afterwards to make peace with them. Proper ventilation arrangement in your kitchen can help you get rid of after cooking smells of all types in general.
Vinegar, baking soda and lemon to remove cooking smell
Only a strong odour can kill another strong odour, and hence you can use vinegar, baking soda and lemon to remove cooking smell from your kitchen.
In fact, Chef Aloni Matzon swears by this method. And therefore, I’m inclined to believe them, considering their 15 years of experience working in commercial kitchens.
Here’s how you can do it.
keep a small bowl of vinegar or a solution of vinegar and baking soda, and add a slice of lemon into it; set it next to the gas oven, and it will definitely help to reduce the odours from frying fish and other foods with pungent smells. Leave the vinegar out for several hours to make its odour last longer. You may also soak bread or clothes in the solution and let them sit there for some time to get rid of cooking smells and scents.
Clean your utensils after cooking to remove the smell
It is very important to clean the kitchen counter-tops, utensils and frying pans properly, to avoid the awful odour of greasy cooking pans with stinky oil sitting on the gas oven. Feel free to use whichever detergent you use for cleaning to clean your utensils, bowls and plates.
Lemon can also be used to create an all-natural air freshener. Just mix it in the water before scrubbing and cleaning the kitchen counter. You may also scrub salt using a lemon slice on a cutting board to get rid of the chicken or fish smell. It’s important to get the utensils cleaned just after finishing your meal. If you leave it for long hours, then it’s going to smell terribly within hrs.
You can make some coffee or use some coffee beans to eradicate the smell from the kitchen. After cooking fish, make a cup of coffee in your kitchen. Grinding coffee beans and brewing coffee are easy ways to fill a home with a pleasant aroma. You can also try cinnamon, nutmeg or other spices instead of coffee.
This problem is bound to happen, especially if you have some occasions at your home and if you have hired caterers for cooking purposes, then it would be your responsibility to guide them in a way such that proper hygiene is maintained and your kitchen is free from awful smells.
Use spices to remove cooking smells
In India we are blessed with several whole spices and we use them in nearly everything. Did you know you can use these spices like cinnamon, cloves and citrus peels to remove smells from your kitchen? Just simmer these spices in some water to create your own natural air freshener and use it to remove after cooking smell naturally.
Use air fresheners and scented candles to get rid of the smell
I am sure you have already tried it because this is the first thing you can think of. Lighting scented candles is an inexpensive solution to get rid of the fish smell from your house, especially if it’s a day-to-day problem. You can burn a scented candle after cooking fish to eliminate the bad odour from your kitchen. You may also use your favourite air fresheners if a guest is expected to visit your place and you don’t wish to welcome her with a stinky smell.
Over to you
Even for foodies, the smell of fish or chicken or other types of cooking smells can simply ruin your experience post lunch or dinner. Fish and chicken smell good when cooked and served at your tables, but the problem starts the next morning when the awful smell invariably lingers all over the place. I have shared some amazing cleaning tips to help you get rid of bad smells after cooking.
How do you manage to keep your kitchen free from post-cooking smell?
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