Love the Food, Hate the Smell: 10 Easy Tips to Eliminate Stubborn Cooking Odors

Homemade fish and chips might be a delicious dinner, but the lingering scent in your Springs luxury apartment home can be anything but appetizing. Here are some tried-and-true tips to eliminate cooking smells that overstay their welcome.

1. Open the Windows

Open the windows before you begin cooking to let fresh air move in and replace the stale air. If you have a room fan, place it pointing out from the window to help the process along. Running the air conditioning also keeps air circulating.

2. Close Bedroom, Kitchen and Closet Doors

Fabric quickly absorbs odors, which you understand all too well if you've ever spent time in a smoke-filled room. Keep all the doors in your apartment closed to prevent clothes, towels and linens from retaining cooking smells.

3. Clean Up Promptly

The longer cookware and food scraps sit around, the more time the odors have to set. Rinse pots, pans and utensils and wipe down counters as soon as possible. Wooden cutting boards are particularly susceptible, so soak them in water overnight and let them air-dry.

4. Turn On the Oven

• Unlike many cooking methods, baking releases mouth-watering aromas. As a bonus, you'll have fresh cookies or other baked treats to satisfy a sweet tooth.
• Watching your carbs? Get the same effect by lining a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and placing butter, sugar and cinnamon on top. Bake at 200 degrees for about an hour.

5. Cooking Add-Ons

Control pungent odors while cooking vegetables such as cabbage or Brussels sprouts by placing a slice or two of bread on top of the food or adding a couple of slices of red pepper to the pot.

6. The Power of Vinegar

Vinegar is a remarkably versatile product that has a number of household applications beyond cooking. Place a bowl of vinegar on the kitchen counter and let it sit overnight to absorb unwanted odors. Coffee grounds or baking soda are effective substitutes.

7. "Cook Up" a Solution

Use the stovetop or a slow cooker to heat up some inexpensive and natural DIY potpourri. Try cinnamon and peppermint for the holidays or mint and lime for summer.

8. High Tech Help

Electric odor eliminators are compact but powerful, and they're available for less than $25.

9. Light Candles

Scented candles are a convenient and popular way to keep indoor air smelling fresh. Be sure to wait until dinner is over before lighting them to avoid interference with flavors.

10. Cut the Grease

It may not be visible to the eye, but cooking grease and oil can accumulate on nearby surfaces. Wipe them down regularly with fresh-scented cleaning sheets.

Share your favorite kitchen-deodorizing tips with us in the comments!