Are you a fan of fish? Great, because it’s good for your health! Unfortunately, fish often leaves unpleasant smells that can linger in the kitchen for several days! Sometimes, all the rooms in your house are affected, and the smell of fish has even permeated your partner’s clothes… not very pleasant. To continue eating fish without the lingering odors, here are 10 tips to eliminate them.
1/ Vinegar to combat fish odor in the kitchen
This is a trick that also works very well against unpleasant odors from fresh paint! Boil water in a pot and add white vinegar. Used both preventively during cooking and afterwards to eliminate unpleasant fumes, the smell of this mixture of boiled water and vinegar will mask the fish odor in the kitchen as well as in the rest of the house. Vinegar is an excellent natural deodorizer, so it will definitely work well.
2/ Fresh ginger for prevention
Ginger, like fish, is a healthy food. While cooking your fish in the oven or in a pan, add a piece of fresh ginger in the oil or near your fish. This will prevent the unpleasant smell from spreading! Plus, it will add a pleasant flavor to the dish.
3/ Orange candles
Citrus fruits are particularly effective against fish odors. Light orange-scented candles at the start of the preparation, this will mask the smell. You can also try using a lemon-scented candle.
4/ Essential oils
Add a few drops of essential oil to a small bowl at the beginning of cooking. The smell of essential oils will overpower that of the fish, but be careful not to overdo it. At a too high dose, essential oils can in turn become unpleasant odors.
5/ Cooking in parchment paper, ideal for reducing the fish odor
Cooking fish in parchment paper limits the spread of odors while retaining the flavor and moisture of the fish.
6/ Cloves and oranges
Cut an orange in half, squeeze it into a pot of water. Keep the orange peels and in each one, insert cloves then place them in the pot. Bring to a simmer and the bad smells will disappear.
7/ Bay leaves or thyme
Simmer aromatic herbs such as bay leaves, thyme, or rosemary in a pot of water. The vapors from the herbs indeed emit pleasant scents that can mask the fish smell. This way, the vapors will eliminate the odors. Preferably, do this at the beginning of cooking fish to limit the appearance of bad odors.
8/ Lemon
Squeeze lemon juice on the fish before cooking. The lemon will help reduce odors and add a fresh flavor to the dish. This is ideal for enhancing the taste of the fish. Alternatively, boil lemon slices in water during cooking to diffuse a pleasant smell in the kitchen.
9/ Matches
The matchstick technique is a well-known grandmother’s trick. The smell of lit matches is very effective against the bad odors in your home. In fact, some people always keep a box in the bathroom in case of a big job! Simply light a few in the room to combat bad odors without chemical air fresheners.
10/ The hood and good habits against the fish odor
Remember to turn on your kitchen hood 10 minutes before you start cooking the fish. This will prevent the odor from spreading throughout the house. Then, keep your extractor hood on throughout the cooking process to extract odors. Also, make sure that the kitchen is well ventilated and open the windows to allow fresh air to circulate. And preferably, close the kitchen door to avoid spreading the fish odor.
Good to know: some fish have less odor when cooked and can help avoid the smell!
Opt for white-fleshed fish like tilapia, sole, halibut, and cod, which produce less odor. Salmon and haddock are also good options. In addition, fresh fish generally have less strong odors than those close to their expiration date. Choosing fresh fish from a trusted fishmonger and cooking them quickly after purchase helps minimize odors.
