How to Get Rid of Cooking Smell: 5 Smart Solutions to Try

Cooking is such a delight. But the mess, especially the smell, that comes after it is a little bit taxing to remove. Fortunately, there are effective methods that can manage this irky problem.

Many think that the kitchen is the safest place when it comes to foul smells. After all, this is where the sumptuous, mouth-watering recipes are brought to life. Sure, the smell of these delicacies is nice at first. Let a few hours or days pass, and your nose would say otherwise.

Once the smell kicks in, you would wish that it would be gone for good. But the thing is, unlike dirt and pet hair, you can't simply wipe off odors. Hence, you need to go the extra mile to remove them totally from your space.

Fortunately, there are simple but effective methods for this, such as the use of high-quality air purifiers. As long as you can implement these odor-removing strategies, your kitchen will become a pleasant part of your abode, even after a weeklong cookout! 

Where Does the Smell in Your Kitchen Come From?

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One should know that the smell in your kitchen originates in a single source: your cooking.

Every time you prepare food, the raw scent of the ingredients is released into the air. At first, you'll not notice them. But sooner or later, they would accumulate to become a pungent odor that you can't ignore.

The dishes in the drain, the leftovers on the table, and the grease on the stove will eventually contribute to the foul smell in your kitchen's air. At the same time, the garbage disposal also emanates its own smell, especially if you don't chuck its content.

The longer you allow the smell to perpetuate, the harder it is for you to remove it. Using AHAM-certified air purifiers could help with severe kitchen odor. 

Is Cooking Smell Normal?

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Of course. The smell that emanates from the food that you cook is natural and should not be considered a threat. That's pretty absurd. In fact, the scent of the food adds to its overall savoriness and flavor. After all, they said that the flavors your tongue can't taste are being relished by your nose.

Cooking smell becomes a problem if it perpetuates uncontrollably. Once it settles and sticks to your kitchen, it becomes difficult to remove. The problem becomes worse if the odor gets out of the kitchen and spreads throughout the different parts of your house. After all, picking up a pungent kitchen scent in your living room or bedroom should never be treated as a normal occurrence.

Can Cooking Smell Be Dangerous?

Some think that cooking fumes are harmless. While it is true in most cases, you shouldn't take things too lightly.

Keep in mind that cooking generates an intricate mixture of chemicals and compounds. Some of these residues are said to be unhealthy pollutants. Specifically, the main airborne contaminants related to cooking are these particulate matters.

Particulate matter is the general term that includes various microscopic solid and liquid matters composed of various compounds. They are the very reason why you wouldn't want to inhale the fumes coming from the exhaust of your car, as they can aggravate asthma and allergy symptoms. 

Almost all cooking releases particulate matter through the form of char and aerosols. For instance, a burning smell means that particulate matter is released into the air. As long as there is a flame involved, particles are present.

Fortunately, cooking only releases small quantities of these particulates. But if no proper cleaning is done, they can cause health problems and aggravate existing conditions.

Common Causes of Cooking Smell

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Does your kitchen smell? There's a possibility that the following sources are the ones that emanate the pungent odor that your nose is picking.

Drain

Every time you pour oil and grease into the sink, these liquids eventually stick to the drain and pipe. Sooner or later, the grease would decompose and trap other debris inside the drain. This composition would cause a rotting smell that diffuses eventually to the kitchen.

Garbage Disposals

It is also worth noting that food leftovers, gunk, and other residues that go into the disposal also cause unwanted smells. They would rot and produce an odorous scent. This problem is further aggravated if you put hot water into it or if you don't run any water at all. If your garbage disposal is already old, its efficiency in processing rubbish also decreases. 

Trap

If the smell in your kitchen is quite akin to rotten food, then it is possible that the source is the sink's trap. , the latter is either a U- or P-shaped pipe that sits under the sink basin. If the smell comes here, there's a probability that it is already faulty or there is some stuff that has been trapped there.

Stoves and Countertops

Of course, there's a big chance that the foul smell in your kitchen emanates from the countertop and stove. After all, these are the spots where food preparation takes place. They are often plagued with oil, grease, food scraps, and meat residues. If they are not cleaned immediately, they will rot and produce an unwanted scent.

Why is Cooking Smell Purification Important?

You need to remove the after-scent of your cooking to ensure that your kitchen remains fresh. A smelly kitchen isn't a good place to create your favorite delicacies. It simply ruins the "flavor" of your cooking.

Furthermore, it is essential that the smell would be dispersed as early as possible. Otherwise, removing it would be a lot more difficult. Odors tend to emanate for prolonged periods, especially if you are not going to take out their source. There's also a possibility that the smell would spread to your entire house, making things more complicated and annoying.

Adding Air Purifiers to Get Rid of Cooking Smell

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How to get rid of the cooking smell in your kitchen? The best answer to this question is an air purifier. 

With this device, you will be able to get rid of various airborne contaminants, such as dust, pathogens, and allergens. But many are not aware that specific air purifiers are exceptionally impressive when it comes to removing odor-causing substances and chemicals.

Read on so that you can learn how these air purifiers help in odor removal.

Why is an Air Purifier Important to Improve Air Quality?

Indoor air pollution is a problem that you should pay attention to. According to various authorities, such as the World Health Organization, indoor air pollution has more severe effects than its outdoor counterpart. The reason for this is due to the concentration of contaminants in enclosed spaces. 

Furthermore, there are numerous sources of pollutants that could breach your home. And some of them aren't from outside; they are already inside your home, permeating various stuff that pollutes the air you breathe. For instance, food with strong scents can pollute your air with unwanted odor. It makes breathing your indoor air a lot difficult.

Air purifiers are designed to address indoor air pollution problems. These devices can capture different foreign bodies that reduce the air quality of your homes and buildings.

Air Purifier for Cooking Smell

As mentioned, air purifiers are capable of removing odor-causing elements in the air . And that includes the smell generated by the food you cook in the kitchen.

In fact, it is recommended that an air purifier should be present in kitchens. As long as this appliance is present in your cooking haven, you will never have to worry about food odors anymore. And the best part about this is that you don' t need to run these air purifiers all the time. You'll only be going to need them during and after making meals and delicacies.

Are Air Purifiers for Cooking Smells Safe?

Yes. Air purifiers are safe to use as they don't generate harmful emissions. They only use filters to capture airborne contaminants, chemicals, and VOCs. 

One thing that you need to be wary about, though, is these ozone generators. Ozone generators are variants of filter-based air purifiers. Instead of filters, they generate ozone to "neutralize" particles in the air.

While the concept seems noble, keep in mind that ozone is a lung irritant. Exposure to this gaseous compound could trigger respiratory illnesses. Furthermore, there's no study that proves that ozone generators are effective in removing indoor odor. 

How Do Air Purifiers Work to Remove Cooking Smell?

The process is pretty much simple. Air purifiers have a filtration medium called an activated carbon filter.

This filter doesn't capture dirt and microscopic contaminants, such as how HEPA filters work. Instead, it implements the process of adsorption to capture the substances, compounds, and chemicals into its body. It is an essential procedure that helps remove odor in the air.

Because of this, it is essential that the air purifier you get has an activated carbon filter. Without this filter, you will never be able to get rid of the foul smell lingering in your kitchen.

Removing Cooking Smell by Air Purifiers: Step-By -Step

As mentioned, the process of removing indoor smell chiefly involves these carbon filters. Here's the specific procedure on how food smell is being removed from the air.

1. The air purifier uses its fan to draw the air into it. 
2. Once the air passes through its inlet, it will pass through the filters. Most probably, it will pass through the pre-filter first before going to the HEPA and carbon filter. 
3. When the air reaches the carbon filter, all the odor-causing substances are trapped on its porous surface. 
4. The air exits the device and diffuses it back into the room

This process is repeated until such time no more pollutants are present in the air.

How Long Does It Take for the Cooking Smell to Settle After Removal?

It doesn't require too much time before the air purifier can remove the pungent smell in your air . Of course, this matter also depends on the quality of your air purifier. Keep in mind that not all air purifiers are the same. Hence, some can produce better effects than others.

This is also the very reason why you need to be prudent when it comes to choosing an air purifier for your kitchen. We gave a briefer about this in the following section.

Things to Consider When Buying an Air Purifier for Cooking Smell

The thing is, it is not that difficult to choose the ideal air purifier for you. You simply have to identify your needs and requirements so that you can arrive at the best option for you.

For odor removal, you should consider the following factors:

• Room size - Before you buy an air purifier, you need to identify the size of your kitchen first. As much as possible, the air purifier you get should be able to cover the square footage of your kitchen. For instance, if the area has a size of 200 square feet, the air purifier you need must have an effective range of at least 200 square feet. The bigger the coverage, the better. 
• Fan quality - The air purifier you should get must possess an optimal airflow. In this way, it can capture air efficiently--not missing a spot. At the same time, the air purifier should have a powerful fan that evenly distributes the air it cleans throughout the room. 
• Activated carbon filter - It is essential that the air purifier has this type of filter. Without this filter, odor removal is quite impossible. Activated carbon filters vary in size and form. So you should pick an air purifier that offers guaranteed protection against VOCs, chemicals, and gaseous substances. Most of the time, they are the ones that generate odor. 
• HEPA filter - It would also matter if the air purifier you have has an effective HEPA filter. After all, cooking produces particles that could trigger your allergies and other respiratory illnesses. Only HEPA filters can capture these particulates, as they are microscopic in size.

Air Purifiers That are Best for Removing Cooking Smell

The following are some of the most notable air purifiers for removing the pungent odor coming from the food you cook. You should check these air purifiers first before searching for other options:

1.  HisoAir Model HA-1968

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To get rid of the cooking smell in your kitchen, you might need to invest in the HisoAir Model HA-1968. This particular air purifier is quite efficient when it comes to dealing with smells caused by food, chemicals, and other substances. It is due to the presence of an innovative carbon filter in its system. The said filter traps the odor-causing elements, ensuring that they won't bother you at all.

At the same time, the HisoAir Model HA-1968 is designed to work in large spaces. It can cover areas up to 1,900 square feet, which indicates that it can do whole-house indoor air purification. It has rugged and effective filters, as well. Its HEPA filter, for instance, is quite effective against bacterial and viral threats. It's one reason why this air purifier is used in commercial and industrial settings.

2. HisoAir Model HA-1601

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The HisoAir Model HA-1601 is also an exceptional air purifier, especially if you are looking for an effective means to keep your kitchen fresh. With the activated carbon filter of this air purifier, various odor-causing elements would be removed from the air. It has a powerful fan and motor, as well, allowing it to absorb large quantities of air at the same time.

Because of this quality, the HisoAir Model HA-1601 is usually meant for areas that require extensive air purification. This means that you can use this air purifier for expansive spaces. For example, if your kitchen is spacious, this air purifier is the ideal air cleaner for you. Aside from its carbon filter, this device is also equipped with a HEPA filter, pre-filter, and UVC-light. They enable this air cleaner to conduct comprehensive air filtration.

3. HisoAir Model HA-W400

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You can also opt for the HisoAir Model HA-W400 as your kitchen air purifier. This wall-mounted air cleaner is designed to work on single-room applications. Unlike other HisoAir air purifiers, this device is only designed for small to medium-sized spaces. Specifically, its maximum effective range is about 538 square feet. But definitely, it can accommodate most household kitchens.

This air purifier provides optimal air circulation. It absorbs air efficiently so that it can gravitate toward its filters. This one ushers a guaranteed improvement in your indoor air quality. If your problem is a bad smell, this air purifier can certainly help. Thanks to its carbon filter, no odor-causing substances, chemicals, and VOCs can escape. It can even neutralize the smell of your cooking!

How to Prevent Cooking Smell After Removal?

You would want your kitchen to become as spotless and odorless as possible. So aside from cleaning, you might do the following odor-prevention tips:

Put lemons on your garbage disposal - Most of the time, the smell in your kitchen comes from the garbage bin. After all, this is where you put all the unwanted stuff. This mixture would eventually generate a smell. To prevent this from happening, slice lemon rinds and put them in the disposal garbage. They can help reduce the funky odor emanating there. Citric acid is effective in breaking grease and gunk.

• Dry your sponges - Seriously, wet sponges can be pretty annoying, especially since they are susceptible to getting stinky. Once bacteria grow in your sponges, a foul odor will start to emit. You can prevent this from happening by squeezing them after use. At the same time, you should store them in an area with good airflow for natural drying.
• Steaming - This trick is efficient in preventing post-cooking odor. After you prepare something that is pungent, bring a saucepan to your stove and fill it with at least a cup of water. Mix it with three tablespoons of white vinegar. Boil the mixture for several minutes until steam comes out. The steam that includes vinegar is effective in neutralizing foul smells.
• Use your exhaust fan - Of course, an exhaust fan is the most immediate means of preventing kitchen smell. Every time you are cooking, make sure that it is running. It would expel smoke and prevent odor from permeating. In this way, your kitchen maintains clean, breathable air.

Other Ways to Remove Cooking Smell in Your Home

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It is always likely that the food that comes into your kitchen will be diffused throughout your home. And regardless of how tasty your meals are, their after-scent may not be that welcoming to the nose.

Aside from having an air purifier, the following methods should be able to help you deal with the odorous kitchen smell:

Opening the Windows

One of the best ways to remove the cooking smell is to push them outside. The trick here is quite simple. You simply have to open the windows in your kitchen so that the air would be blown outside.

You can also open the windows in other parts of your house if the smell reaches there. But make sure that there's a limit to how long you are going to open the windows. You can have them open for 30 minutes at most. In this way , you'll not be inviting outdoor contaminants, such as pollens, molds, and vehicular combustion.

If you are residing somewhere that is quite polluted, it would be best not to open your windows. Just use an air purifier, and the smell should subside.

Clean Your Kitchen Regularly

Cleaning your kitchen can help minimize any stinking smell. After you prepare food or take your meals, it is essential that you do the proper clean-up.

For instance, wash the splatters that are stuck on the countertop and stoves. Don't forget to wash the cooking pans, especially if they gather excessive residues like grease.

Don't delay the cleaning. If you wait overnight, the smell of the leftovers and kitchen mess will certainly emanate throughout your home! Also, you should not forget to remove the leftover food from the sink. Empty the garbage bin and make sure that you do proper disposal to prevent the smell!

Utilize a Bowl of Baking Soda and Vinegar

Some smells can be pretty stubborn. That's for certain. Fortunately, their removal isn't impossible, and you don't actually need to do anything drastic here.

You can neutralize foul odor in the air by leaving a bowl full of baking soda and vinegar. Place the bowl in the area where the smell is strong. For instance, if the odor is coming from your kitchen sink, then you should put the bowl near the area. 

Leave the bowl overnight so that the vinegar or the baking soda will be able to absorb the foul odor produced by the food you prepared. You can repeat this process to prevent any scent from coming back.

Be a Coffee Lover

Having a smelly kitchen can be an excuse to be a coffee lover. It sounds ridiculous, right? But you see, there's a science behind it.

Specifically, what we are after here are the spent grounds. After all, coffee is rich in nitrogen, which is efficient in neutralizing foul odors. What you need to do here is to wet the coffee grounds and spread them on a baking sheet. Leave the latter overnight so that the coffee ground can absorb any lingering smell.

Conclusion

Here, we have seen several methods for removing foul odor in your kitchen. Through these tested-and-tried strategies, you will free your kitchen from the smell generated by the food you prepared and eaten.

Among the solutions we listed here, air purifiers are considered to be the most effective. These devices can effectively absorb foul odor in the air through the use of their carbon filters. When it comes to air purifiers, HisoAir is a brand that you can trust. It is a manufacturer of medical-grade air purifiers used in commercial and residential applications. Visit HisoAir and learn more about its provisions. 

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