While bingeing on a plate of piping hot pakodas or enjoying a thick steak of fried pomfret with your dal-chawal for lunch, can only be associated with unprecedented joy, often times the odour that lingers long after food has been fried and consumed, can tend to be unpleasant. The smell of oil, when left unattended, can transform into a rancid smell that might make your kitchen feel like an uncomfortable space to be around, while also clinging on to any exposed objects that may be lying around. Here are some inexpensive but effective ways to combat and get rid of the smell of frying from your kitchen.
Proper Ventilation
Open windows and doors to allow fresh air to circulate and push out the odours. Using exhaust fans or range hoods to direct the cooking odours outside also help in reducing the lingering smell of frying, while it takes place. Making sure these kitchen appliances are clean and functioning properly is crucial in order to keep unpleasant odours at bay.
Boiling Acidic Liquids
Boil a mixture of water and vinegar or water and lemon slices on the stovetop as the natural acids in vinegar and lemon can help neutralize odours. You could also leave the pot of boiling liquid lying around for a couple of hours, so that the smell of frying is neutralised completely. Add fresh herbs, vanilla extract or orange peels for some extra aromatic essence.
Simmer Potpourri
Create a simmering potpourri by simmering a mixture of water, citrus peels, cinnamon sticks, and cloves. The pleasant aroma masks or eliminate frying odours effectively, while also making your kitchen smell pleasant and welcoming. You could also steep aromatic whole spices in some water and spray the solution in the air, once you complete cooking, to mask the smell of used oil.
Baking Soda
Place bowls of baking soda around the kitchen as it can help absorb and neutralize odours over time. You could also leave leftover coffee grounds in small bowls on the kitchen counter as they are equally effective in absorbing unpleasant smells, leaving a lingering coffee smell that is mellow and pleasant.
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Use Natural Odour Absorbers
Using ingredients like white vinegar, sliced onions, or sliced apples in the kitchen enable the absorption and neutralisation of oil odours in the kitchen. Placing a few slices of onions or apples on a small saucer and leaving it lying around, for a couple of hours is a great way to get rid of flash frying smells or anything that has been cooked with a fairly less amount of oil.
Scented Candles
Close your windows and turn off the fan in your kitchen, before lighting up a scented candle and leaving it to burn for a few hours. As the aromas from the candle permeate the space, it adds a pleasant fragrance, eliminating the smell, leaving your kitchen to be refreshed and ready for another round of cooking.