Why Does My Whole House Smell When I Cook? 

There’s nothing better than sitting down for a nice home-cooked meal — unless making that food causes the whole house to smell. These odors can linger for hours after the meal is over. Have you ever wondered why the house smells like food after cooking? The likely culprit is poor ventilation.

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You may notice that certain foods have a stronger odor than others. For instance, fried fish and strong spices, such as curry or garlic, may have a more noticeable smell. The good news is that there are things you can do to prevent these odors from spreading throughout your home.

Keep reading to learn more about why your house smells like food after cooking and what steps you can take to prevent this issue.

Why Does My Whole House Smell Like Food After Cooking in the Kitchen?

There are several reasons your whole house may smell like food after cooking in the kitchen.

First, food particles often enter the air when cooking, especially when frying foods such as fish. These particles can travel throughout your home and give off an odor.

Secondly, heating oils can also cause cooking smells to linger. This occurs because fats and oils vaporize into aerosols during cooking. Aerosols often have strong odors and can spread throughout the house. These odors can also absorb into several areas of the home, including sofas, upholstered chairs, curtains and carpets.

Finally, if your home lacks proper ventilation, these food particles and aerosols have no way to escape. They become trapped in your home, which causes the odors to linger longer.

What Are Some Ways to Prevent Kitchen Smells From Going Throughout My House?

The best way to ensure your house doesn’t smell after cooking is to take preventive measures. There are several things you can do to keep kitchen smells from spreading throughout your home.

• Use the range hood vent. Using the vent above your cooking range can improve the ventilation in your kitchen area. This step can prevent these odors from becoming trapped in your home. It’s best to turn the vent on before cooking and leave it running for at least 15 minutes afterward. Also, be sure to keep your vent clean. Otherwise, grease can build up and cause other odors.

• Open windows. If you don’t have a range hood vent or believe your vents aren’t strong enough, you can open several windows in your home. If possible, open the windows in or closest to your kitchen. This step works best if you open the windows prior to cooking and leave them open until the smell goes away.

• Use baking soda. Another great option is setting a bowl of baking soda on your kitchen counter. Baking soda is known to absorb odors. This can prevent any food smells from traveling throughout your home. White vinegar is another substance that can absorb odors.

• Clean immediately. If your house smells like food after cooking, it’s important to clean the area as quickly as possible. This includes removing all the food scraps from your home, washing the dishes and wiping down your counters and stovetop. Cleaning immediately after cooking can remove some of the lingering smells.

• Use coffee grounds. Placing a bowl of coffee grounds on your kitchen counter while cooking can eliminate these smells. Coffee grounds help neutralize odors, including kitchen smells, and leave behind the pleasant smell of coffee.

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How Can I Make My House Smell Better?

Taking steps to prevent cooking odors from lingering in your home is a great first step. There are additional things you can do to make your house smell better during and after cooking.

Investing in an air purifier can help eliminate all types of odors, including cooking smells. You can choose a small air purifier to keep in the kitchen area or a whole-house purifier that can keep your entire home smelling fresh.

Another option is to simmer a pot of potpourri on your stovetop. Spices like cinnamon, mint, clove, rose petals and citrus peels, including orange and lemon peels, are good options to use in your potpourri. You can add your potpourri mixture to 2 to 3 cups of water and simmer for one or two hours.