The TikTok Cinnamon Hack To Eliminate Fishy Kitchen Odors
A fresh fish meal can be incredibly nutritious and exceptionally tasty. Fish is full of beneficial nutrients and omega-3 fatty acids, and is a good source of lean protein, all of which makes it a great addition to a weekly meal plan. But frying up fish for dinner isn't without its drawbacks. For one thing, it can downright stink up the house. Fortunately, with the help of a common spice you likely have in your pantry, you can kiss those offensive smells goodbye.
TikTok user @cheftatayoyo posted a brief video of how to rid your kitchen of lingering fish smells, which can sometimes last for days. Simply add a couple of teaspoons of ground cinnamon to boiling water on the stove in a saucepan. Set the saucepan to the side and let the cinnamon-scented aroma fill the air and overpower the aftereffects of your fish dinner.
The reason fishy smells can be so overpowering is because fish contains a compound called trimethylamine oxide, and when a dead fish makes contact with air, the compound converts to trimethylamine (TMA). When TMA comes into contact with heat, it really amps up the smell factor.
Pre-plan for bad smells
If you are planning on preparing fish for dinner, there are some steps you can take to make the lingering smells less offensive. For starters, it helps to have a lot of air flowing through the kitchen while you're cooking, so open up the windows and turn on a fan if the outside weather allows. The way you cook your fish will also make a difference in the amount of odor that your meal will give off. Poaching will result in minimal (if any) odors, and grilling outdoors is obviously another way to keep the smell out of the house.
@cheftatayoyo THE SECRET TO GETTING RID of the smell after frying fish #fishsmell #howto #friedfish #hacks #kitchenhacks
Baked fish will keep much of any fishy odors confined — while pan frying, sauteing, and deep frying fish will give off the most smell. If these are your preferred methods, try turning your range vent fan on or running an air purifier in the kitchen. Any residual smells can be blotted out by the cinnamon and water boiling method — you can even use cinnamon sticks and enjoy a cup of cinnamon tea after letting the mix simmer for a while. You don't need to stop at fish, though. Any foods that give off particularly strong smells like burnt food, cruciferous veggies (think broccoli and brussels sprouts), and bacon can be combated with this concoction.
No cinnamon? No problem
The smell of cinnamon is particularly warm and comforting, giving off cozy holiday vibes. But it's not the only ingredient you can work with if you're suffering from lingering food smells. Citrus works really well also — especially the peels. Take lemon, orange, or grapefruit peels and put them in some boiling water for a similar result. Pure essential citrus oils would also work great. If you like to drink coffee after dinner, you're one step ahead of the game because coffee aromas will also cover up strong fish smells. If you have a pot of cinnamon water boiling away at the same time, your kitchen should smell positively amazing.
Boiling cloves or ginger will give you similar results as cinnamon, but you could also customize your own personal potpourri by heating any combination of citrus and spices. Believe it or not, there is an additional, rather potent kitchen ingredient that will also get rid of fishy smells — and that's vinegar. Boiling a quarter of a cup of vinegar and two cups of water together will neutralize fish smells in the house. Finally, if you're out of cinnamon, put all those scented candles you've ordered from the neighbor kid's fundraisers to good use and light them up the next time you treat the family to a fish fry.