Cancelling out spicy odors?

October 22, 2007 1:36 AM

Is it possible to make Indian food without smelling up the joint?

Last time I cooked up a spicy chicken curry, my apartment smelled for 3 weeks. I've seen this thread, which seemed to be about a more permanent odor. In my case, I can't steam-clean the carpets and degrease the house every time I cook.

I'm sure this happens with other types of meals, but I specifically notice it with the curry spices the most. As much as I enjoy them, I don't enjoy the smell on a daily basis. Any chefs out there with tips on neutralizing odor after meal, or preventing the odor from occurring in the first place?

posted by knave to food & drink (7 comments total)

Opening the windows and doors while we cook seems to do the trick when we cook Indian food (often), but maybe we're so used to the smell we don't notice it anymore and our house is quite a bit larger than a normal apartment. Do you have a cooking fan, at least? I've found that, that goes someways in getting rid of the scent.
posted by liquorice at 1:38 AM on October 22, 2007

I do have a range hood w/exhaust fan, which probably helps somewhat. While the weather's been unusually good so far this autumn, opening windows won't be an option in the winter.
posted by knave at 1:42 AM on October 22, 2007

Does the layout of your apartment allow for, say, shutting a kitchen door whilst cooking? Barring that, can you hang some sort of curtain scheme to create a barrier between the kitchen and the rest of the house?

Perhaps aiming a fan at the doorway, into the kitchen, might induce the aromas to stay in the kitchen area ...
posted by the luke parker fiasco at 2:06 AM on October 22, 2007

Keep your pots covered with lids as much as possible during the cooking process. Also, shut all doors in the apartment, both those leading into the kitchen and doors down the hall to other rooms (even if they seem far away).
posted by Gordion Knott at 3:17 AM on October 22, 2007

Bring a small pot of white vinegar to a low boil when you're done. Let the smell permeate the house.

Worked for me! Your apartment will reek of vinegar for an hour or so, but it takes all the curry smells away.

(Alternative explanation: it burned my olfactory nerves out.)
posted by generichuman at 3:28 AM on October 22, 2007

You can get activated charcoal/carbon range hood filters. They can't be washed, like aluminum mesh ones often supplied as original equipment for range hoods, but they do absorb odors if replaced regularly. Alternatively, many general purpose HEPA air filters have carbon pre-filters over the HEPA paper filter, that do a pretty good job of absorbing odors in the air.
posted by paulsc at 4:33 AM on October 22, 2007

I don't know if this will work for Indian food, but when I'm chopping onions I light a (non-scented) tea light and keep it burning next to my work area. The flame somehow burns the onion smell off and I don't cry or stink.

(Sorry; I read that somewhere years ago and don't remember the particulars)

Maybe give that a shot. More / bigger candles, natch.
posted by ImJustRick at 9:05 AM on October 22, 2007