How To Get Rid Of Lingering Fried Food Smells In The Kitchen - Tasting Table

""The best preventative solution is to run your range hood fan," Uebergang tells Tasting Table. "This shapes the airflow to direct the airborne particles away from porous surfaces that are so good at absorbing [odors]," she adds. The main reason why fried food smells linger is that pan-frying creates tiny droplets of grease and moisture that can land on towels, curtains, and any other nearby surfaces."

"Turning on your range hood fan, preferably to its highest setting when frying foods, literally sucks up these aerosolized droplets, or at least most of them if the fan has been properly maintained, before they reach any absorbent material. A range hood also plays a bigger role than you might expect. It helps reduce the harmful pollutants that are emitted by frying, not just the smell. These can include nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide."

"Using a range hood fan is only a part of the solution, albeit a major one. Uebergang also suggests opening a few windows to get rid of the overwhelming odor. This is "to create airflow that sucks air out of the house, but this can be unpredictable as the outside air may just push back the particles and circulate them," she says. For this reason, a range hood fan is your first line of defense."

Run the range hood fan while frying, preferably on its highest setting, to shape airflow and capture aerosolized grease and moisture droplets before they contact porous surfaces. Pan-frying creates tiny grease and moisture aerosols that settle on towels, curtains, and nearby materials, causing persistent odors. A properly maintained hood also reduces harmful pollutants emitted during frying, including nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide. Opening windows can create cross-ventilation to remove odors but can be unpredictable if outside air pushes particles back. Boiling vinegar or similar odor-neutralizing methods can help as a supplementary measure.

Read at Tasting Table