Fish fan? So much the better, because it’s good for your health! Unfortunately, fish often leaves unpleasant odors that can last for several days in the kitchen! Sometimes, every room in your house is affected, the fishy smell has even permeated your partner’s clothes… not very pleasant. To continue eating fish without having the odors that go with it, here are 10 tips to eliminate them.
Also discover our tips for eliminating bad fishy odors on your fingers.
How to eliminate bad fish smell?
1/ Vinegar against fish smell in the kitchen
This is a tip that also works very well against unpleasant smells of fresh paint! Boil water in a pot of water and add white vinegar. Used both for prevention during cooking and after to eliminate unpleasant odors, the smell of this mixture of water and boiled vinegar will camouflage the smell of fish in the kitchen as well as in the rest of the house. The vinegar being an excellent natural deodorizerthere is no doubt that it will work very well.
2/ Fresh ginger for prevention
Ginger, like fish, is a healthy food. While your fish is cooking whether in the oven or in the pan, add a piece of fresh ginger in the oil or near your fish. That will prevent the unpleasant bad smell from spreading ! In addition, this will add a pleasant flavor to the dish.
3/ Orange candles
Citrus fruits are particularly effective against fishy odors. Light orange-scented candles at the start of the preparation, this will camouflage the smell. You can also try with a lemon candle.
4/ Essential oils
Pour a few drops of essential oil into a small dish at the start of cooking. The smell of the essential oils will overpower that of the fish, but be careful not to overdo it. In too high a dose, essential oils can in turn become unpleasant odors.
5/ Cooking in foil, ideal for limiting the smell of fish
Cooking the fish in foil (i.e. wrapped in parchment paper) limits the dispersion of odors while retaining the flavor and moisture of the fish.
6/ Cloves and orange
Cut an orange in half, squeeze it into a pot of water. Keep the orange peels and plant the cloves in each one then place them in the saucepan. Boil over low heat and bad odors will disappear.
7/ Bay leaf or thyme
Simmer aromatic herbs like bay leaves, thyme, or rosemary in a pot of water. The vapors from the herbs actually release pleasant scents that can mask fishy odor. This way, the vapors will eliminate odors. Preferably, do this from the start of cooking the fish to limit the appearance of bad odors.
8/ Lemon
Squeeze lemon juice over the fish before cooking. Lemon will help reduce odors and adds fresh flavor to the dish. It is therefore ideal for enhancing the taste of fish. Alternatively, boil lemon slices in water while cooking to diffuse a pleasant scent in the kitchen.
9/ Matches
The matchstick technique is a grandmother’s trick that everyone knows. The smell of burning matches is very effective against bad odors in your home. Moreover, some people always keep a box in the toilet in case of a big commission! Just crack a few in the room to combat bad odors without chemical deodorizer.
10/ The hood and good habits against fish odor
Think about turn on your kitchen hood 10 minutes before starting to cook fish. This will prevent the odor from spreading throughout the house. Next, keep your extractor hood on throughout cooking to extract odors. Also make sure the kitchen is well ventilated and open windows to allow fresh air to circulate. And preferably, close the kitchen door to avoid dispersing the fishy smell.
Good to know: some fish smell less strong when cooking and can help avoid the smell!
Opt for white-fleshed fish such as tilapia, sole, halibut and cod which emit less odor. Salmon and cod are also good options. Furthermore, the fresh fish generally smells less strong than those which are close to their expiration date. Choosing very fresh fish from a trusted fish store and cooking it quickly after purchase therefore helps to minimize odors.